Uptake Post 11

 my brain after this semester:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NATSpYWERIE

uptake post 10

 Hello my wonderful, loyal viewers (aka Ashton) This is Uptake Post #10. Wow. Year is almost over and I am getting to this post quite late, and my article is already complete, so i am just gonna partake in some reflecting. 

When brainstorming my Grassroots Journal, I immediately knew I wanted to write about the hard of hearing community. I have multiple connections to the community, including a very close friend of mine who requires a hearing aid. It seemed like the best decision for me. 

As I was writing my journal, it definitely expanded my understanding of translingualism, as well as global englishes very well. To study a language that requires zero spoken words, it really affects your view of what language as a whole really means. I treally enjoyed the knowledge I gained from studying this. I feel very in tune with deaf culture, moreso than I was, which is great. 

Uptake Post 9

 Wow I really don't feel like writing right now hhehehahahah.

Alright so, different englishes, what the heck is that, what does that even mean.

Well, I'm the only one here and I'm asking the question to myself so...allow me to explain. English is one language...yes and no. It takes on many forms depending on where it is

For example, british english users call garbage cans "rubbish bins" or cotton candy "candy floss."Similarly, Southerners typically say "coke" while midwesterners typically say "pop."

These terms are all clearly english, but they change and adapt depending on what region they are being used.

Easy peasy

These literate practices obviously don't just apply to english, language is a constantly changing thing.

Speaking of literate practices, literate practices don't just involve literature and language, they can be images, sounds, sights, and even symbols like flags! (exclamation mark for intense enthusiasm)

I'm supposed to write something about translingualism which means accross language. I'm hoping that is good enough because I honestly don't know what else to say about it. I'm still not quite understanding it.

Anyways yayyy done with uptake blogs for now! See you next time homie 

Uptake Post 8

 Alright folks...today we are talking about Translation.

I know I know, basic, boring, predictible, but just hold on.

Now originally, I believed translation to be the simple changing of one word to a different language, but I know now it is definitely much more than that.

Translation takes into account meaning, slang, culture, and the many other aspects of language that we don't initially think of.

Translation is about conveying a message, not just the translating of words or sentences. Sometimes multiple words are needed simply to express one word depending on the language and vice versa.

Simple enough...right? Hold on...what the heck is that?

This Just in! New Language Unlocked! 

. -. --. .-.. .. ... .... / .. ... / ... --- / ..-. ..- -.

wow...is- is that morse code? Are you serious? How original...ugh hold on.

"English is so fun"?...That is the translation. Wow I totally can't sense the sarcasm through the dots and dashes.

*ahem* ANYWAYS. Translation has always been extremely useful, and I feel we are learning more and more about it as we discover and learn the conventions of language!

How fun!

Uptake Post 6

     Translingualism....that is a pretty big and scary word if I'm being honest. I'm gonna try and define it to the best of my ability as well as provide some interesting examples...so here we go

To break down the word itself, the prefix "trans" can mean across, and obviously "lingual" means language, so we can deduce that this word loosely means "across language," but...what does that phrase entail? I would say that translingualism is the fact that language is constantly evolving, changing, and moving. Overall, language serves a purpose, no matter what language it is. Furthermore, everyone speaks some type of language, even if it is not a formal language, and each of these languages influence one another.

so, for example, the language "spanglish" is a combination of Spanish and English, and many people would say that this is its own language. It involves its own words, phrases and understanding. This is a prime example of translingualism. 

If I'm being completely honest, it is still a difficult concept for me to grasp, especially because language is such a big and broad thing. I also tend to mix up the term with "Global Englishes" which I feel they are both relevent when it comes to translingualism, but it is still hard for me to differentiate. 

I'm hoping in the lessons to come I will develop a much better understanding of translingualism, I'm sure I will, but in the meantime I got no clue what the heck I'm doing 

Uptake Post 7

    Over the course of this semester, my identity as a writer-researcherhas changed a lot. I honestly think the main way it has changed is through my method of research and research regurgitation. What I mean by that is my means of presenting my research has changed a lot. Usually, I am very used to writing very formal research papers, and here I am now making podcasts, blog posts, and other fun forms of media. To me, genre research is the process of analyzing a genre in a somewhat professional manner. To refresh your memory, genre is any form of media that serves a purpose. This could be a tiktok, an article, a recipe, etc. When it comes to research, finding reliable sources is always very important. A good source helps to validate your research. The best way to research, I feel, is to do your own research. Conduct your own interviews, observe your subject through your own lens and not through the lens of another researcher.

Depending on the subject, this form of research can be the most effective AND the most fun. I connect this to my own identity as a researcher because, so far, I have done a lot of my own research and observation and it has really been super fun. I love being able to gather my own information about a subject and then talk or write about it. This quality is a huge part of my writer-researcher identity. It helps me to feel original, which is something that I deeply value.

Uptake Post 5

 Alright...let's talk about multimodality.

Like me, you probably have no recollection of this word or what it means, so allow me to explain

Multimodality is the incorporation of multiple modes into one final product. 

"ok well what the heck is a mode?" Yeah...I hear you.

A mode is just the term used for modes of communication in the context of media, and there are five of them. 

"jeez, first seven chat terms, now five modes? I don't think I can keep up with this" 

shut up inner conflict, no one likes you.

Anyways, the five modes of communication consist of alphanumeric, visual, aural, oral, and symbolic. It is honestly a pretty easy concept

did I know anything about it before this class? 

lol no

However, that is the beauty of learning and acquiring knowledge...I guess.

The biggest factor of confusion, for me, is just how the heck the brain can pick up on so many things just based off of single modes. It is absolutely insane. 

I mean I know this isn't a psychology class, but I want answers! 

Humans are so weird and gross and smart. Ugh.

Take this Fleet Foxes song for example. Based off of this song I can pick up that this is one of the most beautifully poetic songs on the face of the Earth.

Ok maybe I am a little biased.

Let me explain.

Montezuma is a beautiful song, even just looking at the album cover, I can see that this is a wonderful combination of mourning, the lure of generations passed, the beauty of nature, and ultimately, humanity

this song is so much deeper than that. The lyrics are vague, and they leave a lot to be interpreted, but this is what I adore about "Montezuma". It expresses the mourning of one's youth, wishing to go back and change the decisions you have made, yearning for someone to love and not just possessions to be coveted. It is a devastating display of the contribution that decisions play in the life that we create. It is a wonderful warning, as if to say "true riches lie within your loved ones, not in your material assets. So love." The overarching theme being that we all will run out of time. Love while you can, for being buried with a heart full of love is significantly more valuable than being buried with a crown of solid gold.

Overall, this song is a wonderful example of the power of multimodality. It's poetic "alphanumeric" expression is powerful on its own, but the composition of the instrumentals to form a magnificent aural experience leaves the listener in awe.

Uptake Post 3 :]

 I'm gonna be completely honest...

I feel like before this class, I had a very good grasp of what the word genre meant.

It is simply a form of categorization of media...right?

Well...kind of 

when you think of the word genre, you specifically think of literature or movies or music

but if I told you that "genre" wasn't just limited to those things, but it is a spectrum of the forms of literature, symbols, and many other types of media we consume regularly, would you think I'm crazy?

I mean, heck, I thought it was crazy when we talked about it in class, it is at least a little crazy, but as I think about it more, it really starts to make sense.

As I have learned more throughout this class and put my antecedent knowledge of genre behind me, it has given me a new understanding of what genre truly is, and how the world thrives off of literacy.

To put it simply, I would say genre is any form of media that serves a purpose, such as a map, a menu, a street sign, or even a stupid meme online for that matter. It is all a genre in its own right. 

The reality is, we interact with genres on a daily basis. I mean, seriously, they help us to navigate life and even decide right from wrong.

That sign in the movie theater telling you "hey! put your phone away you attention deficit freak of nature!" Well...It sets the standard for the environment, and as good abiding citizens, we conform to this genre. We conform to the purpose it serves. 

Or, even those Pokémon cards you collected as a kid but inevitably shoved in a box and stored under your bed...even those are a genre! They serve a purpose! I mean, maybe not anymore, but they once were the height of excitement in your childhood, the feeling of possessing that one rare card, it just couldn't be beat.

This is what genre is, it is personalized and it is flexible, and overall it is a part of anything and everything you can think of.

Uptake Post 2

     In my previous blog post, I talked about uptake, what it is, and how it applies to my life. Today I am talking about CHAT. Now, what exactly *is* CHAT? The formal definition of CHAT is: Cultural-Historical Activity Theory. What does this mean entirely? 

Let's break it down.

 Activity theory part of CHAT is the idea that many things must come together in order to fulfill a specific objective. 

The cultural-historical part of CHAT is basically the fact that the resources we use to fulfill said objectives are reflective of our cultural values at a given time in history. For example, lets say I decided to eat ramen for lunch. I decided this because, at this time in history, it is a quick and cheap meal, it is not a scarce resource in our society, it is easy to come by, and it doesn't require much thought in order to make it. All of these reasons are affected by my cultural values and environment and therefore affect my end "product."

This part of CHAT is something that makes perfect sense to me. Of course many things go into making an end product. Its nearly impossible for an end product to be produced and perfected without the involvement of multiple different factors. 

    However, the specifications tend to confuse me a little bit. The process of CHAT is broken up into seven different sub-concepts. These concepts consist of production, distribution, reception, representation, ecology, activity, and socialization. Why is it broken up this way? I feel like it overcomplicates the process of creation. It honestly is a little exhausting thinking about ALL the factors that go into an end product. It makes you think about processes you wouldn't normally consider.

I honestly have no idea how I am going to end up using CHAT in this class yet, but I'm sure as I develop in my uptake journey, I will find many ways to apply this to my learning as an ever-changing writer.

Uptake Post 1

    After years of life and brain development, we make many snap decisions and often assumptions about the world and actions that take place around us. Oftentimes we don't even pay attention to all of the little conjectures we form on a day to day basis. They happen naturally. This especially applies to the way our brain works in learning environments. These ideas are why it is important to know and define the word uptake.

WHAT THE HECK IS UPTAKE?

From what I have gathered, uptake is the thought process behind making decisions based on prior, or antecedent, knowledge. 

So, how could this amount to anything important? Why is it important for us to know and understand uptake? 

We must understand it because it is a vital part of our waking lives. It is how we work to understand things, and it is extremely individualized. Uptake is different for everyone, and it is different in every situation.

FOR EXAMPLE:

I know for me personally, uptake applies to multiple situations in my life such as my feelings about my surroundings. If someone gives me a dirty look, my immediate assumption is something about me. Do I look bad? Did I accidentally look at them? Are they just an a-hole? 

In reality, maybe they were having a bad day and just happened to look at me. Maybe they just have resting b**** face. The point is: based on antecedent knowledge, I assumed that there was something wrong with me or them, even if that may not be the case. All of these explanations that I formed in my head were ways that helped me to better understand *why* this person may have given me a dirty look. This is exactly what uptake is all about. It is all about thinking about things until they make sense. In this case a bit of overthinking may have taken place, but even so. It was a process of rationalizing, which is the whole point of uptake. 

In conclusion: I wrote way too much, dear god.