This book closes the gap for beginners who want to study the Amharic language and had difficulties in finding the right grammar for this purpose: The first grammar of Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia, was published by Hiob Ludolf in 1698. The Amharic grammar published by Praetorius in 1879 is based on Amharic religious texts and on scattered material, usually composed by missionaries. A milestone in the study of Amharic is Marcel Cohen's Traite de langue amharique (1936), but this grammar, too is not completely suited for beginners since the author's generalizations are at times aimed at linguists. The grammar that comes closest to the concept of a beginner's grammar is that of C.H. Dawkin (1960), yet this grammar is extremely short, does not give examples and does not introduce the student to the intricacies of the language.The new book gives all the grammatical forms and the sentences of the present grammar in Amharic script and in phonetic transcription. The illustrative examples have a free and a literal translation. This procedure should likewise prove to be useful for the Semitist as well as for the general linguist.

Drawing on original research from social scientists working on twelve countries this book explores the key issues faced by nations and citizens as they struggle to rediscover, reaffirm or reconstruct their sense of national identities in the face of globalizing forces. Some nations and peoples experience the fragmentation of once certain identities as threatening and likely to generate political and social breakdown. Others encounter globalization as a challenge which brings uncertainties but also opportunities for adaptation, the evolution of hybrid identities or new forms of protest.

Written as a tutorial to explore and understand the power of R for machine learning. This practical guide that covers all of the need to know topics in a very systematic way. For each machine learning approach, each step in the process is detailed, from preparing the data for analysis to evaluating the results. These steps will build the knowledge you need to apply them to your own data science tasks.Intended for those who want to learn how to use R's machine learning capabilities and gain insight from your data. Perhaps you already know a bit about machine learning, but have never used R; or perhaps you know a little R but are new to machine learning. In either case, this book will get you up and running quickly. It would be helpful to have a bit of familiarity with basic programming concepts, but no prior experience is required.

If we do not remember our childhoods do they still exist?Shifting is the true story of two children growing up in the aftermath of the Second World War. Attracted like a law of nature, Serge, a boy born in northern Italy and Helen, a girl born in Australia are inextricably drawn to each other in a changing world. A social history of the west of Melbourne in the 1950s-1960s, it is also a unique love story.This collaborative autobiography, told from a male and female perspective, explores the dynamics of family life, the importance of place and cultural dislocation in shaping identity. Understated and simply told, this is an evocative narrative about the emotional, social and psychological changes of two individuals maturing into adulthood. A fine and impressive work. It is accomplished at a high literary standard, with an acute understanding of the way fictive-literary stratagems can be incorporated in an autobiographical work to achieve an engaging and richly rewarding text for the reader.' - Kevin Brophy The vivid and detailed recreation of the texture of the decades through which the characters live is one of the strengths of the novel. - Jeri Kroll Shifting skilfully weaves and patterns two distinct voices and cultures ... to create a tapestry full of evocative detail and memorable characters struggling with loss, new beginnings and love. - Tom Petsinis

Joyful Reading offers teachers a differentiated instructional approach for motivating students at varied levels to discover the rewards and delights of reading appropriately challenging books. Authored by Sally M. Reis, an acclaimed scholar of gifted and talented education, the book describes the Schoolwide Enrichment Model for Reading (SEM-R), an easy-to-implement program that encourages students to read independently for a period of time during the school day on books of their own choice while supporting them in learning comprehension strategies. The program includes three phases: a Book Hook component in which the teacher reads aloud from a high-interest book while engaging the class in critical thinking responses a Supported Independent Reading component in which students are encouraged to select and read progressively challenging books while the teacher offers instruction through individualized confer-ences a Special Interest component in which students engage in reading-enrichment activities The SEM-R program has been shown by research to improve students' fluency and comprehension as well as their attitudes toward reading and is praised by teachers for getting students excited about books. The book includes a DVD showing teachers using the program. A companion book, The Joyful Reading Resource Kit, is also available.

Italian comedians attracted audiences to performances at every level, from the magnificent Italian, German and French court festival appearances of Orlando di Lasso or Isabella Andreini, to the humble street trestle lazzi of anonymous quacks. The characters they inspired continue to exercise a profound cultural influence, and an understanding of the commedia dell'arte and its visual record is fundamental for scholars of post-1550 European drama, literature, art and music. The 340 plates presented here are considered in the light of the rise and spread of commedia stock types, and especially Harlequin, Zanni and the actresses. Intensively researched in public and private collections in Oxford, Munich, Florence, Venice, Paris and elsewhere, they complement the familiar images of Jacques Callot and the Stockholm Recueil Fossard within a framework of hundreds of significant pictures still virtually unknown in this context. These range from anonymous popular prints to pictures by artists such as Ambrogio Brambilla, Sebastian Vrancx, Jan Bruegel, Louis de Caulery, Marten de Vos, and members of the Valckenborch and Francken clans. This volume, essential for commedia dell'arte specialists, represents an invaluable reference resource for scholars, students, theatre practitioners and artists concerned with commedia-related aspects of visual, dramatic and festival culture, in and beyond Italy.