SKIPA Fulfilling promises to myself as a soon-to-be graduate COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

SKIPA Fulfilling promises to myself as a soon-to-be graduate COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Julia Chung is born and raised in New Jersey, but hopes to be considered an honorary New Yorker. She is a second year MPA student concentrating in Urban and Social Policy and specializing in Technology, Media, and Communications. After graduating from Vassar College with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Asian Studies, Julia worked at various nonprofits in New York City on issues including housing, immigration, education, and civic engagement. As I enter my final semester, I promised myself that I would make the most of my last five months at SIPA. This semester is going to be the one when I take the classes in topics I haven’t explored before like impact investing, energy policy, and negotiations. I will go to all the talks that seem interesting (There’s an exciting one on the Green New Deal next week!). And I will take advantage of the resources that the Office of Career Services can provide (I signed up for a resume workshop and the public service networking event!). But, SIPA is not only about academia and the job search. It’s also about living in NYC with some of my closest friends with the flexibility in our student schedules to truly enjoy the time we have together. And so I will go to all the restaurants and museums I haven’t been to yet. I will go to all my favorite SIPA events like the Publique parties and formal Gala thrown by our student government. And, not to sound corny, I will say yes to new experiences. One of the new experiences I signed up for was this past weekend. I went to SKIPA, our student-run, three-day ski trip. I haven’t skied in over twenty years and all I remember is falling a lot and being cold. But, I knew it was going to be a great way to see my friends before the semester gets busy and a good memory before I graduate. Also, some of my classmates from warmer climates have never skied before, so I knew I’d have some company on the bunny slopes! We drove up to Killington, Vermont, on Thursday night and us sixty Seeples stayed in condos just at the foot of the mountain. On Friday morning, my friend, who has been skiing since she was 2 years old, gave me with a much-needed lesson on how to pizza and control the skis. I stayed on that bunny slope the whole day but met up with everybody for lunch at the top of the mountain for some chili and mac n cheese. The evenings were just good fun with classmates packing the hot tub with 20+ Seeples, hanging out around the fire and drinking hot chocolate, and going out to eat at local restaurants. We repeated the same Saturday ski, hot tub, and food. I must say that I was quite proud that by the end of trip, I was able to go to on something other than the bunny slopes. We drove back on Sunday morning, in time to do some reading for my Monday class before the Superbowl! I must say that SKIPA trip, unexpectedly, has been MVP of the semester thus far. To see the calendar of events at SIPA, visit the calendar here!

Nonverbal Communication And Relationships With Family Members

Relationships are no walk in the park. If you want relationships to work everyone involved needs to put in the work to communicate and work at keeping the relationship going. In my essay about relationship stages I will discuss nonverbal communication in relationships, romantic relationships and, relationships with family members. Nonverbal communication is a way to communicate without speaking and communicating verbally. According to McCornack, â€Å"we define nonverbal communication as the intentional or unintentional transmission of meaning through an individuals non-spoken physical and behavioral cues† (211). In relationships, an outsider can observe two people and tell what kind of relationship they share without hearing the way they speak to each other. Nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication. Nonverbal communication crucially serves to create intimacy between two people (McCornack, 234). According to McCornack intimacy is â€Å"the feeling of closeness and â€Å"union† that exists between us and our partners† (234). I feel that young people, including myself, think that being intimate goes with having sex. I was corrected by a teacher in high school who shared with me that being intimate with someone is not having sex. Since then I have felt like I have had intimate relationships with not only my boyfriend but my best friend of 9 years. I share a bond with my best friend that is not like any other friendship I have. We self-disclose, and we have aShow MoreRelatedThe Blind Side Character Analysis1395 Words   |  6 Pagesa healthy relationship with both his parents. A woman named Leigh Tuohy, and her husband Sean Tuohy take Michael into their own home. Leigh, after spending time with Michael starts to feel like a mother to him, and Michael feels the same way about her. After they both create a bond with Michael, both Leigh and Sean become legal guardians of Michael. With Michael growing up in poverty, and not having a positive relationship with his parents, he gets introduced to a positive relationship with bothRead MoreDirect And Indirect Verbal Communication1682 Words   |  7 PagesVerbal Communication The family shows both direct and indirect verbal communication. The direct communication is seen more often, as they are usually speaking face to face or to one another on the phone. It is rare that they will say something to one family member that is actually intended for another. When this does happen however, indirect communication can be seen. The indirect communication happens within the family when one member is upset about something that another member has done orRead MoreA Research Study On Group Therapy1178 Words   |  5 Pagesbeneficial in helping this population gain acceptance from their family and peers. Many children and adolescents have a short attention span and group therapy provides more of a structure setting and interaction. The purpose of the group is to assist children and adolescents in group counseling with strategies and interventions to cope with anxiety that may be triggered from various circumstances such as social and issues, family issues, school, self-esteem issues, and bullying. This therapeuticRead MoreCommunication Competence Scale Assessment On Myself And Calculated My Total Score863 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Communication Competence Scale assessment on myself and calculated my total score to be 98, a low score. I also had a family member complete the same assessment based on his perceptions of my communication competence and that score totaled 132, a high score. The significant disparity of the scores indicates that we definitely have different perceptions about my communication competence. I think this is a very interesting assignment to begin our learning on interpersonal communications, asRead MoreThe Importance Of Verbal And Nonverbal Communication1421 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å" Communication is an integral part of life; without it, we would not survive†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Communication is needed not only to send and receive information and knowledge, but the most important aspect of communication is the ability to connect with other human beings around the world regarding the topics of relationships, families, organizations, cultures and nations (Vertino, 2014). A nurse must provide care that treats the whole person, not just the physical body. This concept is known as holistic care (BlairRead MoreThe Effects Of Nonverbal Messages On Interpersonal, Organizational, And Public Communication1728 Words   |  7 PagesCommunication is generally defined as having both a verbal and nonverbal component. Whereas verbal communication often refers to the words we use in communication, nonverbal refers to communication that is produced by some means other than words (eye contact, body language or vocal cues, for example) (Knapp, 2002). In countless situations, it appears that an incredible volume of important interpersonal information is being quickly communicated, mostly nonverbally yet there is a great deal of misinformationRead MoreGeneral Systems Theory And Clinical Practice1546 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Numerous family theories have been adopted for use in clinical practice that help to focus on family centered care. Being familiar with the array of family theories helps the advance practice nurse (APN) to understand different viewpoints of family centered care and incorporate that knowledge into his or her clinical practice. Not one family theory model explains all family phenomena; therefore, being able to know the basics behind the different theories will help one to be a betterRead MoreEssay about Communication Climates, Responses, and Dynamics1700 Words   |  7 PagesCommunication Climates, Responses, and Dynamics COM 330 This paper will discuss small teams on a reality show called â€Å"There goes the Neighborhood†. This show is about a neighborhood that allows a brick wall to gate them in and they must learn to work together, not only as a family, but as neighbors too. In the beginning of the game, everything is taken away from them. For example, all of the luxuries such as appliances, televisions, snacks, video games, and children’s toys were all removedRead MoreAmerican Families At The University Of Mount Union1678 Words   |  7 PagesPrior to enrolling in American Families at The University of Mount Union, I had a predisposition to what I perceived a perfect family looked like. I envisioned a nuclear family with parents who are madly in love and children who thrive from tremendous emotional support. After weeks of studying the topic of American families more in depth in and outside of the classroom, my perception has changed. I have learned the important concept that every family is a unique, diverse unit. The service-learningRead MoreNonverbal Verbal And Verbal Communication957 Words   |  4 Pages Over this summer course I have learned a lot about communication. I learned how significant nonverbal and verbal communication is, along with listening. I never fully understood how big communication is in our daily lives. I now realize that it is a huge aspect of how we continue in our lives. This course has showed me different levels of communication. Nonverbal communication is behaviors and characteristics that convey meaning with out the use of words. Sometimes accompanying verbal

An Unpleasant Emotional Experience Of Anxiety, Fear, And...

Burger (2015) defines anxiety as â€Å"an unpleasant emotional experience where you have feelings of worry, panic, fear, and dread†. Burger (2015) proposes Sigmund Freud’s three categories of anxiety. The first he proposes is reality anxiety, or objective anxiety, which is usually experienced when someone feels threatened in the real world (Burger, 2015). The next anxiety he suggests is neurotic anxiety. Neurotic anxiety is experienced when unwanted id impluses are extremely close to breaking into consciousness (Burger, 2o15). Neurotic anxiety is the type of anxiety that leads to defense mechanisms. The last type of anxiety discussed is moral anxiety. Moral anxiety is brought about from the superego in reply to id impluses that disrupt the superego’s moral conduct (Burger, 2015). Moral anxiety is often experienced as guilt. People often handle anxiety differently. Defense mechanisms are the unconscious processes that are used when handling anxiety. Coping strategies are conscious efforts of handling anxiety. There are endless amount of coping strategies. For example, if you had a bad day at work you may indulge in some of your favorite candy to help you cope. Burger (2015) suggests three different types of coping strategies: problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidance strategies. Problem-focused strategies are considered to take care of the problem therefore eliminating the anxiety. Emotion-focused strategies are intended to diminish the emotional distress that escorts theShow MoreRelatedFear And Lack Of Failure1552 Words   |  7 PagesFear Have you ever been afraid at failing at something that you decided to give up? Or has the fear of failure let you hindered your own efforts subconsciously in order to avoid greater setbacks (â€Å"Overcoming Fear of Failure† par1). Many of us have experienced fear at some points in our lives; even the most courageous people know fears to overcome (How to Overcome Fear par 1). Fear can immobilize. But when we allow fear to hinder our forward progress in life, we are liable to miss some great opportunitiesRead MoreAmaxophobia: Definition and Symptoms1141 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Amaxophobia Definition: An irrational and exaggerated fear of riding in a vehicle or being in one.1 Amaxophobia is the fear of riding in a car. The origin of the word amaxo is Greek (meaning vehicle) and phobia is Greek (meaning fear).2 Amaxophobia is a persistent, abnormal, and unwarranted fear of walking, despite conscious understanding by the phobic individual and reassurance by others that there is no danger. An extreme unwarranted fear and/ or physical aversion to walking.3 Causes: It isRead MoreHow Fear Affects Us. Fear2726 Words   |  11 Pages How Fear Affects Us fear ˈfir/ noun 1.an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. Fear is an emotion or thought that is strange and at times indescribable, but often felt in our everyday lives. It is the profound feeling you get when you feel as if you are being threatened with danger or when you feel that something bad is going to happen. At times, fear can keep you from succeeding or doing what you need toRead MoreWhat Are Mental Prisons? Or Unnatural Fears, And The Process Of Liberation?1465 Words   |  6 PagesUnnatural Fears, and The Process of Liberation? †¢ People of modern age suffer from anxiety disorder the regular emotion of Anxiety which can be described as a subjective unpleasant state of inner turmoil, feeling of dread associated with anticipation of real or imaginative frequently accompanied by nervous demeanor, somatic discomforts, and rumination. 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However, if the feelings become too strong or go for too long, they can stop us from doing the things we want to and can make our lives miserable. A phobia is a fear of particular situations or things that are not dangerous and which most people do not find troublesome. MostRead MoreFactors that Causes Stress1513 Words   |  7 PagesIn the modern world, people experience stress in various forms throughout their daily lives. Stress in the medical world referred to as the â€Å"silent killer†. Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain usually caused by demanding situations, a traumatic experience and often times due to mental health issues namely anxiety. While perfectly normal to experience stress and sometimes beneficial in providing a person with needed focus in order to perform important tasks. However, this conditionRead MoreDiscuss the Relationship Between Stress, Anxiety, Habits and Describe How You Would Treat These Issues with Hypnotherapy2311 Words   |  10 Pagesâ€Å"Discuss the relationship between stress, anxiety, habits and describe how you would treat these issues with hypnotherapy†. Introduction Common requests for hypnotherapy treatment are those related to stress, anxiety, habits and phobias. An understanding of the relationship between these disorders, examining the similarities and the differences between each, provides the therapist with information useful in deciding how and if to treat these disorders. It could also be argued that the uniquenessRead MoreCauses Of Dental Phobia And Reasons Essay2245 Words   |  9 Pageslot of causes are unknown, there are some that are more obvious. Some people have a generalized fear of pain. This is a very common reason for an individual to skip the dentist office altogether. This reason of phobia is usually caused by an unpleased or painful previous dental experience or from someone else’s story about their negative experiences. An article from Web MD called Easing Dental Anxiety in Adults states, â€Å"Thanks to the many advances in dentistry made over the years, most of today’sRead MoreIllegal Drugs : Pcp Exp lored1627 Words   |  7 Pageslabs and sold under street names, such as, angel dust, ozone, wack, and rocket fuel. When mixed with Marijuana, PCP is sometimes referred to as killer joints or supergrass. The blending of strange ingredients is what gives way to PCP s unpleasant side effects. The chemicals that create PCP are readily available, and the mechanical devices needed to manufacture it are not hard to come by. PCP is not effectively characterized and ought to be considered independently from psychedelic medications

What Creates One’s Identity Free Essays

In the book, â€Å"a complicated kindness†, written by Miriam Toews, the main character, Nomi Nickel, fights through many obstacles in her life and learns what reality is. Her characteristics and identities are built in her by the places she lives. The struggling in living without her mother and older sister has made her doing so much than what she would. We will write a custom essay sample on What Creates One’s Identity or any similar topic only for you Order Now The small town and her religion have a huge impact in her, where she hates the place but she learns to love it. Her dream of being free has more inspiration in her which makes her wanting to go to the outside world. After learning so much as she has to, she becomes a responsible, kind and strong young adult. When one loss something they would always get something back in reverse, by which cases the one always learns from what she has to go through. In the book, Nomi’s sister and mother’s sudden disappearance has made her handle lot things that she wouldn’t do and handle by herself if she has a full family. â€Å"It’s been three years so far. My period started the day after Trudie left which means I’ve bled thirty-six times since they’ve been gone†(Toews, 5). The quote shows us that Nomi, the main character, has to handle suffers as being a female after her mom has left her. She has to handle it without anyone’s helping. It was the responsible she learns without noticing it herself. â€Å"Doing laundry can be a really interesting thing and intriguing process. Emptying people’s pockets, noticing odours and stains and items, folding the clothes afterwards, opening drawers, putting everything away†(Toews, 35). In the process of learning, Nomi has become responsible and enjoying what she is learning to do. An individual’s past always teaches them how to be a better and kind person. When one thinks about their past over with different point of views, they would realize what they had mistaken. From the book, Nomi often have flashbacks about what she did to others, she then could find the demerit she had done. She is a Mennonite, but she hated her own religion. After she’d look back what she did and how she treated some people, she has learnt how she should treat others nicely. â€Å"My guidance counselor has suggested to me that I change my attitude about this place and learn to love it. But I do, I told her. Oh, that’s rich, she said. That’s rich† (Toews, 8). â€Å"East village has given me the faith to believe in the possibility of happy family reunion someday† (Toews, 324). The quotes tells the change in Nomi, where she becomes someone different. From hating the village to loving it was by changing in herself. One’s dream leads possibilities to the one. The courage of people do something they were afraid has to come from what she believe. Nomi, the girl who lives in a religious town with lots of rules, wants to have freedom. She has a dream of being herself. She wants to get out of the town and a new life. After her father leaves her, which he knows he has to leave first to let go of Nomi, Nomi decide to go to the outside world with no fears. â€Å"I dream of escaping into the real world. I would love t read the diary of a girl my age- a girl from the city. Or a textbook on urban planning. Or a New York City phone book. I would be killed to own a New York City phone book† (Toews, 8). â€Å"I meant to thank you Ray for, in the midst of his own multitude of crap and bewilderment, knowing one true thing. That I would never have left him and that if I were ever to get out of that town, he would have to leave first† (Toews, 322). Nomi wants to go outside so much she would do anything to have freedom, but she promises her father that she’d never leave her father alone. But after her father left, she has noting to worry about. She has the courage of going outside. She is strong. One’s identity is built in them by many factors; life struggling, past and dream. All of the factors are based on realities. Dream is a big part of reality when one believes in themselves. An individual might not realize how dream works out for their identity, but it is the most important part of building their identities. How to cite What Creates One’s Identity, Papers

Personal Finance Plan Worksheet free essay sample

The process of creating a detailed plan to meet your financial needs and prepare for the future is called b. personal financial planning. 2. Which of the following is not one of the five major steps of the financial planning process? c. collect and organize your financial information 3. Which phase in life is commonly associated with focus on marriage, family, purchasing a home, and career development? c. ate 20’s through your 40’s 4. Which of the following is a benefit of having a college degree that can affect your financial planning? d. all the above 5. Which of the following elements of a comprehensive financial plan involves analyzing future needs, such as saving for retirement or college funding for dependents? d. protecting wealth and dependents Directions Respond to the following short-answer questions in 50-to 100-words: 6. People have different styles when it comes to handling their money. List the two things that affect your personal beliefs and opinions about financial planning. We will write a custom essay sample on Personal Finance Plan Worksheet or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page How well do you feel you manage your money? Can you spot areas for improvement in your money management style, and if so, where/how? a. Two things that affect my personal beliefs about financial planning are: my family composition and values. I want my family to be comfortable and I also save but not as much and often as I should. Making sure I save for hard time and my family stability is a must. Setting up a budget is a main topic in my household. b. I can do better and stop tapping into my savings. I do have a savings account that is linked to my account. Everytime I spend something a dollar is sent to my savings, so that also help me balance my account as well. I also need to focus on our needs and not what we want. c. Yes I could stop spending more money and save more which is hard because we just moved and we are buying the house we are renting. Im putting money into the house but bills still have to be paid. We are starting to do a budget to eliminate the how, who, when, and where. 7. Which element of the comprehensive financial plan focuses on your housing needs, setting aside money for emergencies, and establishing a career path? Consider your own finances. Do currectly own a vehicle and/or home? If yes, how well do you manage monthly home and auto expenses? How well do you save for unforeseen expenses? a. Securing basic needs b. I own two vehicles and purchasing a home. We pay our mortgage at the beginning of the month in which we split, we pay the bills as soon as we get the bills and we split those as well, then the car notes are split up, and at the end of the month our car insurance is due. c. We have a savings account that pulls money from our checking whenever we spend money nd then we literally have what I call a piggy bank and we save change as well. There is nothing wrong about saving change because it does add up. 8. The economy is unpredictable and can affect your personal financial planning. List one factor in economic conditions that may affect your financial future. How could you reduce the impact of that factor on your finances? a. Inflation b. To reduce the affect of inflation is to save and go on a budget. You can also shop smarter by shopping cheaper, like generic brands. Also using coupons and your rewards card to reduce the cost of groceries and gas. You can shop around for the cheapest prices and most of the time if you buy in bulk its cheaper. 9. Which step in the five-step financial planning process requires you to organize your financial information, create personal financial statements, and evaluate your current financial position? Have you ever completed this step? If so, is it still applicable to your current financial situation? If not, do you plan to do this soon? Why or why not? a. Step1: Analyze your current financial position. b. Yes I have done it before, but now we just moved and we are now creating a new budget. Since the bills have changed we have to do a new budget and gather our bank statements, bills, and calculater our income to be more financially stable and save more money. We are currently going over a new budget as we speak. 10. Step Five in the five-step financial planning process discusses the importance of regularly reevaluating and revising your plan because personal circumstances often change. List two life changes that may require you to update your financial plan. Have you recently experienced a change that requires you to reevaluate your financial plan? If so, what was it and how have you accommodated it? (Please share only what you are comfortable sharing) a. Marriage and children b. I just recently got married and we’re just purchasing a home. My husband just received social security and 100% in military disability and I work. This make it a little easier for us to make it. I do have children and one is disabled so its tough but we make it. We split everything down the middle so no one person would be overwhelmed with paying all the bills on their own. We try to do a budget and stick to it. We do bargin shop and try to limit where we go due to high gas prices. We also put money to the side for different things we want to do whether its go out to eat, go to the movies, or date night. We also put money back for food and gas. We include everything we do and everything that can happen in our budget and daily life.

Good and Well - Commonly Confused Words

Good and Well - Commonly Confused Words The common modifiers good and well are easily (and frequently) confused. Definitions Good is usually an adjective (a good book, a good job). Good can also function as a noun (the common good). Well is usually an adverb (runs well, a well-written essay). In formal speech and writing, the adjective good generally follows linking verbs such as be, seem, taste, and appear. See the usage notes below.The redundant expression (all) well and good means acceptable. Its often used before a statement that qualifies or contradicts whatever it is thats considered all well and good. Examples There was never a good war or a bad peace. (Benjamin Franklin)Experiment with recipes until you find what tastes good to you.The student officers displayed a remarkably good knowledge of the drill regulations.Coffee thrives remarkably well in Fiji.The students were asked to compose a well-organized essay in 30 minutes.On the cover, a well-adjusted-looking boy, hair stiff with hairspray, overalls starched, sat in a chair and puzzled over a Rubiks Cube.  He wore sensible shoes and an expression that said: This is  all well and good, but my real passion is long division.(David James Poissant, Refund.  The Heaven of Animals, 2014) Usage Notes Good/wellOf the two phrases I  feel good and I feel well, the first is the correct one if youre speaking of your state of health (physical or mental). Feel here is a linking verb and is followed by a predicate adjective. So if you mean that your health is good, your spirits are high, and your outlook is optimistic, say I feel good.On the other hand, if you use feel in its literal sense of touching something, like feeling for a light switch in the dark, say, I feel well.(William and Mary Morris, Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage. Harper Row, 1975)Today virtually everybody agrees that both good and well after feel and look are predicate adjectives. The years of disagreement over which was correct seem to have contributed to some differentiation. Look well and feel well tend to express good health. Feel good can express good health or it can suggest good spirits in addition to good health. Look good does not generally refer to health, it relates to some aspect of appearance.(Me rriam-Websters Dictionary of English Usage, 1994) Practice (a) A logical fallacy is a bad argument that looks _____.(b) The plants were all fairly large, with _____-developed leaves.(c) After a long week in the office, a day on the ocean sounded _____.(d) The chorus sang _____, with enthusiasm and expression. Answers to Practice Exercise (a) A logical fallacy is a bad argument that looks  good.(b) The plants were all fairly large, with  well-developed leaves.(c) After a long week in the office, a day on the ocean sounded  good.(d) The chorus sang  well, with enthusiasm and expression.

Divergence of Hungarian and Finnish Languages

Divergence of Hungarian and Finnish Languages Geographic isolation is a term commonly used in biogeography to explain how a species might diverge into two distinct species. What is often overlooked is how this mechanism serves as a major driving force for many cultural and linguistic differences among different human populations. This article explores one such case: the divergence of Hungarian and Finnish. Origins of the Finno-Ugrian Language Family Also known as the Finno-Ugrian language family, the Uralic language family consists of thirty-eight living languages. Today, the number of speakers of each language varies immensely from thirty (Votian) to fourteen million (Hungarian). Linguists unite these diverse tongues with a hypothetical common ancestor called the Proto-Uralic language. This common ancestral language is posited to have originated in the Ural Mountains between 7,000 to 10,000 years ago. The origin of the modern Hungarian people is theorized to be the Magyars who resided in the dense forests on the Western side of the Ural Mountains. For unknown reasons, they migrated to western Siberia at the beginning of the Christian era. There, they were vulnerable to the onslaught of military attacks by eastern armies such as the Huns. Later, the Magyars formed an alliance with the Turks and become a formidable military power that raided and fought throughout Europe. From this alliance, many Turkish influences are evident in the Hungarian language even today. After being driven out by the Pechenegs in 889 CE, the Magyar people searched for a new home, eventually settling on the outer slopes of Carpathians. Today, their descendants are the Hungarian people who still inhabit the Danube Valley. The Finnish people split off from the Proto-Uralic language group approximately 4,500 years ago, traveling west from the Ural Mountains to ​the south of the Gulf of Finland. There, this group split into two populations; one settled in what is now Estonia and the other moved northward to modern-day Finland. Through differences in region and over thousands of years, these languages diverged into unique languages, Finnish and Estonian. In the middle ages, Finland was under Swedish control, apparent from the significant Swedish influence present in the Finnish language today. The Divergence of Finnish and Hungarian The diaspora of the Uralic language family has led to geographic isolation between members. In fact, there is a clear pattern in this language family between distance and language divergence. One of the most obvious examples of this drastic divergence is the relationship between Finnish and Hungarian. These two major branches split approximately 4,500 years ago, compared with Germanic languages, whose divergence commenced an estimated 2,000 years ago. Dr. Gyula Weà ¶res, a lecturer at the University of Helsinki in the early twentieth century, published several books about Uralic linguistics. In Finland-Hungary Album (Suomi-Unkari Albumi), Dr. Weà ¶res explains that there are nine independent Uralic languages that form a language chain from the Danube valley to the coast of Finland. Hungarian and Finnish exist on the polar opposite ends of this language chain. Hungarian is even more isolated due to its peoples history of conquering while traveling across Europe toward Hungary. Excluding Hungarian, the Uralic languages form two geographically continuous language chains along major waterways. Coupling this vast geographic distance with several thousand years of independent development and vastly differing history, the extent of the language diversion between Finnish and Hungarian is not surprising. Finnish and Hungarian At first glance, the differences between Hungarian and Finnish seem overwhelming. In fact, not only are Finnish and Hungarian speakers are mutually unintelligible to each other, but Hungarian and Finnish differ significantly in basic word order, phonology, and vocabulary. For example, although both based on the Latin alphabet, Hungarian has 44 letters while Finnish has only 29 in comparison. Upon closer inspection of these languages, several patterns reveal their common origin. For example, both languages employ an elaborate case system. This case system uses a word root and then the speaker can add several prefixes and suffixes in order to tailor it for their specific needs. Such a system at times leads to extremely long words characteristic of many Uralic languages. For example, the Hungarian word megszentsà ©gtelenà ­thetetlensà ©ges translates to a thing that is almost impossible to make unholy, originally coming from the root word szent, meaning holy or sacred. Perhaps the most significant similarity between these two languages is the relatively large number of Hungarian words with Finnish counterparts and vice versa. These common words generally are not exactly alike  but can be traced to a common origin within the Uralic language family. Finnish and Hungarian share approximately 200 of these common words and concepts, most of which concern everyday concepts such as body parts, food, or family members. In conclusion, despite the mutual unintelligibility of Hungarian and Finnish speakers, both originated from a Proto-Uralic group that resided in the Ural Mountains. Differences in migration patterns and histories led to geographic isolation between language groups that in turn led to the independent evolution of language and culture.