LIFE AND LITERATURE

                                                TRANSCRIPTION OF WORDS                 Phonetic vs. Phonemic Transcription ‘Narrow’ phonetic transcription notes the words a speaker says as a series of sounds. Every sound has its own symbol. This can lead to a very complex transcription document. There is a simpler way to transcribe these sounds: phonemic (‘broad’) transcription. With phonemic transcription, two similar sounds may share the same symbol if the difference between the sounds does not change the word’s meaning. Thus, phonemic transcription is less nuanced than phonetic one. A broad transcription can be a useful compromise between a narrow transcription and an orthographic one. However, it might not have as much detail as some specialists need.  VOWELS AND DIPHTHONGS (DOUBLE VOWELS )  iː seat /siːt/, feel /fiːl/ ɪ sit /sɪt/, in /ɪn/ e set /set/, any /ˈeni/ æ sat /sæt/, match /mætʃ/ ɑː march /mɑːtʃ/, after /ˈɑftə(r)/ ɒ pot /pɒt/, gone /ɡɒn/ ɔː port /pɔːt/, law /lɔː/ ʊ good /g

 AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE      For the better part of the 17th and 18th centuries, the relationship between Great Britain and her North American colonies was firm, robust, and peaceable. The colonies enjoyed a period of “salutary neglect”; meaning that the colonial governments were more or less able to self-govern without intervention from Parliament. This laissez-faire approach allowed the colonies to flourish financially, which in turn proved profitable for the mother country as well. However, this period of tranquility and prosperity would not last.      Great Britain had amassed an enormous debt following the French and Indian War; so, as a means to help alleviate at least some of the financial burden, they expected the American colonies to shoulder their share. Beginning in 1763, Great Britain instituted a series of parliamentary acts for taxing the American colonies. Though seemingly a reasonable course of action – considering the British had come to the defense of the coloni

                                                                    HUMAN CHAIN                                                                                                                                                                  SEAMIS HEANEY   Human Chain  for Terence Brown Seeing the bags of meal passed hand to hand In close-up by the aid workers, and soldiers Firing over the mob, I was braced again With a grip on two sack corners, Two packed wads of grain I’d worked to lugs To give me purchase, ready for the heave – The eye-to-eye, one-two, one-two upswing On to the trailer, then the stoop and drag and drain Of the next lift. Nothing surpassed That quick unburdening, backbreak’s truest payback, A letting go which will not come again. Or it will, once. And for all.   About this poem This poem is included in the anthology Tools of the Trade: Poems for new doctors (Scottish Poetry Library, 2014). The anthology was edited by Dr Lesley Morrison, GP; D