June 2008

You Sound like You're Not from Around Here (June 7-13)

Within seconds of hearing someone speak, we make judgments about that person and their background, just based on their accent. Linguistics professor Steven Weinberger (George Mason University) explains how and when we develop accents and how these accents affect our identity.

Also: Written in early English, Geoffrey Chaucer’s fourteenth century writings may seem impenetrable, with strange pronunciation and incomprehensible phrases . English professor Alan Baragona (Virginia Military Institute) says the best way to approach Chaucer is to read it out loud and hear the musicality of the words.

WGR News Feature: Contrary to popular belief, regional accents are still very much a part of the American cultural landscape.  Nancy King, with the radio program "With Good Reason," found a Virginia linguist who is essentailly "collecting" accents. Listen to the two and a half minute feature.

Web Extras:

Empire Magazine’s ten worst movie accents, including Charlton Heston as a Mexican

GMU’s Speech Accent Archive hosts hundreds of different accents of English speech

Alan Baragona's Chaucer website

Good to Great for Non-Profits (June 14– 20 )

Best-selling business writer Jim Collins (Batten Institute) believes the special factors that lie at the heart of rare and truly great businesses are the same factors that make for the most successful organizations in the non-profit world—talented directors skilled at recruiting excellent staff who work for more than just their salary. Whether it is the best of the nation’s corporate giants, an elite symphony orchestra or an inner city school with a record of excellence, Collins’ research team found the most effective leaders are humble rather than charismatic and most came from within the organization itself.

WGR News Feature: The non-profit sector of the American economy continues to outstrip the growth of the business sector and the government.  But Nancy King, with the radio program "With Good Reason," reports on some growing pains within the community. Listen to the two and a half minute feature.

The Secret Life of Bees (June 21 - 27)

Air pollution is destroying the fragrance of flowers, scents that act as trails that pollinating insects follow to their source. Jose Fuentes (University of Virginia) says this could explain why bees and butterflies are dying off in some parts of the world, with potentially dire effects for our food supply.

Also: Scientists are learning that nano-particles may be speeding the spread of pollutants in rivers. Michael Hochella (Virginia Tech) has discovered how the tiny molecules can allow polluting metals to hitch a ride. 

And: David Schmale (Virginia Tech) is using remote controlled aircraft to study the diversity and function of microorganisms in the atmosphere. He's finding a tremendous diversity of bacteria and fungi tens to hundreds of meters above the ground in the Virginia.

WGR News Feature: Flowers may still smell sweet to our human noses, but the bees are having a tougher time trying to locate that rose in your garden.  Nancy King, with the radio program "With Good Reason," says air pollution is compromising the fragrance of flowers. Listen to the two and a half minute feature.

“Give me your tired, your poor…” (June 28 - July 4)

Children of Asian immigrants face tension between pressures at home and demands of the broader American culture. Social Worker Peter Nguyen ( Virginia Commonwealth University) says we need more culturally sensitive therapists and social workers to help parents and children work through the extremely tough task of living in two worlds. Also: America must compete internationally for the most talented workers. David Hart (George Mason University) says that since 9/11, America has sent mixed signals to skilled would-be immigrants.  Long delays for visas and residency are forcing talented workers to look for jobs in other countries.