Operations Management Principles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Operations Management Principles - Essay Example This essay explores the old Economic Order Quantities. I think it is an issue because old data about EOQs do not reflect the current state of affairs. The Economic Order Quantity model (EOQ) is a mathematical model for deriving the optimal purchase quantity. The EOQ model seeks to minimize total carrying and ordering costs by balancing purchase costs, ordering costs, carrying costs and stockout costs. In order to compute the economic order quantity, the supervisor needs the following information: forecasted demand during a period, cost of placing the order, that value of the purchase price, and the carrying cost for maintaining the total inventory. The fourth problem is the impossibility to engage trained or trainable temporary workers. I think it is associated with a lack of process planning and therefore should be solved in connection with it. I think that the plan must consist of strategic decisions that are made typically over a longer time horizon. These are closely linked to th e corporate strategy and guide supply chain policies from a design perspective. (Ganeshan & Harrison, 1995) The strategy includes the development of a management information system that will store the data about the company’s activity and help to make operational decisions. Management information systems (MIS) are information systems, typically computer-based, that are used within an organization. A management information system may be defined as "a system that collects and processes data (information) and provides it to managers at all levels that use it for decision making, planning, program implementation, and control." An information system is comprised of all the components that collect, manipulate, and disseminate data or information. It usually includes hardware, software, people, communications systems such as telephone lines, and the data itself. The activities involved include inputting data, processing of data into information, storage of data and information, and the production of outputs such as management reports. (Management information system from Wikipedia, 2006) A standard is any guideline established as the basis for measurement. It is a precise, explicit statement of expected results from a product, service, machine, individual, or organizational unit. It is usually expressed numerically and is set for quality, quantity, and time. Tolerance is a permissible deviation from the standard. (Allen, 1998) A set of controls should be developed. Time controls relate to deadlines and time constraints. Material controls relate to inventory and material-yield controls. Equipment controls are built into the machinery, imposed on the operator to protect the equipment or the process. Cost controls help ensure cost standards are met. Employee performance controls focus on the actions and behaviors of individuals and groups of employees. Examples include absences, tardiness, accidents, quality, and quantity of work. Budgets control cost or expense r elated standards. Financial controls facilitate achieving the organization's profit motive. One method of financial controls budgets.

Strategies For Reducing Violence Essay Example for Free

Strategies For Reducing Violence Essay There are many causes of death but violence can be considered one of the leading causes worldwide. The most recent violent act was a tragic event that took place at an elementary school in Connecticut that killed 28 children as well as some teachers. Violence can be defined as the use of physical force or power against oneself, another person or against a community of a group, which may result in injury, death, mental harm or physical harm. Acts of violence include suicide, terrorism, child abuse, rape, and bullying. This essay will explore how violence can be reduced through changing social and cultural norms, and the teaching of social skills. Violence can be reduced through different school programs that teach the students ways to reduce violence. Olweus (1972) conducted an experiment in schools in Norway and had the whole-school faculty participate. He developed a seminar that taught the school faculty how to deal with bullying which included strict supervision on playgrounds and lunchrooms. He advised that if any bulling took place, the counselors should conduct therapy with the bullies. Olweus reported that this program reduced 50% of all bullying activities. However, on the downside, this research only took place in Norway, which is a country that already emphasizes on social importance and bullying. This could mean that the research may just be adding on to the progress already made. In addition, the policies and programs may only be effective if everyone is aware and is committed in changing. This research is a qualitative research, which can lead to bias and there is no control group for this experiment. However, a nti-bullying programs have been shown to be effective. Another method to reduce violence is through the teaching of social skills. Aronson (1979) used cooperative activities in classroom with the idea that everyone must work together. He used jigsaw puzzles and allowed the class to work together to come to a common goal, or consensus. Everyone had something to contribute and students had to collaborate to move forward. This forced children to help one another and contributed towards the learning process. Aronson also found that this lowered the rate of bullying in schools and increased interaction between out groups. There are also more positive interaction between students. However, this research cannot measure the interaction between students outside of school because it was limited within school grounds. The research was qualitative research, which can lead to possible biases. Although the research emphasizes cooperation and collective norms that would reduce bullying, this research is 20 years old. But there are newer research conducted by Figueireido et al in 2007 with computer training which shows similar effects. This activity alone will not reduce violence because there should be school monitoring of the students. Overall, this method is quite effective and schools should emphasize in training the students. Violence can be reduced through the changing social and cultural norms. There have been many studies that show that norms can increase violence. For example, the American south have a culture of honor that forces men to not accept insults or inappropriate conducts from others. One way to change the social and cultural norms is through education. In a study conducted by Foshee et al where he aimed to prevent adolescent dating violence, the participants’ attitudes towards violence were measured through a series of questionnaires before and after the program. Foshee et al, found that there were less psychological abuse and sexual violence reported in the treatment than in the control group. However, these effects were only reported through questionnaires and the conclusions of the results were based on self-report, not actual behavior. In addition, the effects were explained by changes in the dating violence norms, awareness and gender stereotyping. But reducing the adolescent dating violence through education is a possible option to consider. In conclusion, violence can be reduced through educating children about bullying and changing social and cultural norms. These are the bases of whether a person will be violent or not. If the root cases of these bases are solved, then there will be less violence in the future. It is important for people to educate the young about violence but it is difficult to change a communities’ social norm. However, it is possible if people are cooperating, there will be less more tragic incidents like the shooting in Connecticut.

Critical Analysis Of The Ambush Marketing Events Media Essay

Critical Analysis Of The Ambush Marketing Events Media Essay The early days of sports marketing, during the 1950s and 1960s, witnessed a significant growth in sponsorship deals and those wanting to be sponsors, but during this period anyone who wanted to become a sponsor could organize some sort of deal. Accordingly, everyone was welcome and the varying levels of competition that existed meant that there was no need to ever ambush an event. The problem with this open access model was that it did not provide sufficient funds to host major sporting events and, in particular, the Olympic Games. By the late 1970s the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had serious financial problems. This meant that it was difficult to attract bids; indeed only Los Angeles bid for the 1984 Games. When Juan Antonio Samaranch took over as president of the IOC in 1980 he took a decision which transformed the finances of the Olympics and started a revolution in sports marketing. He introduced global sponsorship and broadcasting rights. This revolution was consolidat ed by Peter Ueberroth, president of the Organising Committee for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, who instituted three categories of sponsor: official sponsor, official supplier and official licensee. What Samaranch and Ueberroth had done was to introduce exclusivity as a central pillar of sponsorship deals. This meant that sponsors knew that if they entered a sponsorship deal they could get the benefits of association with the Games and the exclusion of their competitors. The strategy was very successful that the Los Angeles Games actually generated an extra as have consequent Games. But a side effect of this strategy was that the excluded competitors took steps to be associated with the Games without paying any sponsorship fee. Ambush marketing was born. Ambush marketing is a marketing campaign that takes place around an event but does not involve payment of a sponsorship fee to the event. For most events of any significance, one brand will pay to become the exclusive and official sponsor of the event in a particular category or categories, and this exclusivity creates a problem for one or more other brands. Those other brands then find ways to promote themselves in connection with the same event, without paying the sponsorship fee and without breaking any laws. The Olympic Games are one of the most effective international marketing platforms in the world, reaching billions of people in over two hundred countries and territories throughout the world. Support from the business community is crucial to the staging of the Games and the operations of every organisation within the Olympic Movement. 2Revenue generated by commercial partnerships accounts for more than forty percent of Olympic revenues  and partners provide vital technical services and product support to the whole of the Olympic  Family. Each level of sponsorship entitles companies to different marketing rights in various regions, category exclusivity and the use of designated Olympic images and marks.  [3]  Some corporations paid a multi-million dollar fee for the right to be part of The Olympic Partner (TOP) program. The TOP program, managed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), grants sponsors the exclusive worldwide marketing rights in their product categories for both the Winter and Summer Games. (The following companies are TOP Partners for the Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Olympic Games: Coca-Cola, Acer, McDonalds, Omega, Panasonic, and Samsung). Others will look for join their companies with the Olympics and capitalize on the attendant good will without authorization of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or payment of the mandatory sponsorship fees. This is generally referred to as ambush marketing.  [4]  This part will recognize the Olympic organizations that own and use the Olympic G ames intellectual property, how ambush marketing has been employed and challenged at prior Olympic Games and at the London Games, and the legal and ethical issues surrounding ambush marketing. The main question is the ambush marketing a legal or an illegal activity? Sport sponsorship is big business. The event owners need a huge amount money because of they try to collect the best sponsor for their sports event. The major competitions are good advertisement for the companies as well. The ambushers, those company who could not pay the expensive fees or just do not want to pay, are result huge risk for every single organizer and for the official sponsors. 5Despite the potentially large impact of the legal regulation of ambush marketing, financially and on fundamental freedoms, it is still not clear what constitutes ambush marketing. All forms of ambush marketing are bad? From the event owners point of view the ambush marketing is the worst thing ever because it threatens their ability to keep top-paying sponsors. In the same way, for the official sponsors ambush marketing is unwelcome because it increases the risk to their deal. The ambushers point of view that ambush marketing is an important commercial instrument and a natural result of free competition. Outside the sporting context ambush marketing is perfectly legitimate marketing activity. Everybody can find a lot of ambush marketing advertisements on the internet. As for the sport events, we find that ambush marketing has had some decent supporters over the years. For the reason that ambush marketing has not got a workable definition which is accepted by both of the branches. Th ere islegitimate ambush marketing. The main supporting companies such as Pepsi, Nike, Adidas, Subway, Fuji, Kodak, Wendys and Qantas have all engaged in it. Many companies who opposed ambush marketing for events which they officially sponsored have occupied in the practice themselves at other events. Before we would start to collect the arguments for and against ambush marketing in bigger deepness, it is important to mention a few well-known examples. 6The American Express advertising campaign in the Visa-sponsored 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics featured the perfect slogan If you are travelling to Lillehammer, you will need a passport, but you dont need a visa! 7Qantas Airlines 2000: Ansett was the official airline partner of the Sydney Olympic Games. Qantas ran a marketing campaign in the lead-up to the Games that included advertisements featuring Olympic athletes such as Cathy Freeman and using expressions such as we welcome the spirit of competition and Australia wide Olympic sale. More Australians believed that Qantas was a sponsor of the 2000 Olympics, rather than Ansett. 8In 1996 Olympics Games, Linford Christie arrived wearing the incredible electric blue contact lenses with a white Puma logo in the centre of each lens. Officially the Reebok was main sponsor of this Games. 9Pringles, Wimbledon Tennis Grand Slam, 2009: The Pringles chips are wrapped into a longish cylinder which is typical and well know thing as how the tennis balls are distributed. This comparison gave the idea of a campaign. The message was the following on the green boxes These are not tennis balls! The green boxes were the top of the cake because everybody knows that the players are playing on grass in Wimbledon. And a newest from the Football World Championship, from South-Africa (2010) where the authorized beer, the official sponsor was the Budweiser, who has paid millions for the privilege of exclusive representation during the whole competition.  [10]  But Bavarias campaign with 36 young ladies who were wearing mini-dresshas grabbed the attention. Even if the Bavarias board member said that the FIFAs reaction was ridiculous and even if it is true that the FIFA does not have got any monopoly on orange dress and people have freedom to wear what they want anytime and anywhere the FIFA is taking into consideration a legal action against the Dutch company. The Bavarias defence was not too bad, but tell the truth a bit unbelievable that 36 models at the same time would go to the football match just for supporting the Dutch team, wearing a same dress and sitting directly in front of the cameras and all of these things are just occasional 11It is not always easy to identify an ambush marketing activity. The European Sponsorship Association (ESA) has declared the following as examples of activities where the position is not so clear: Sponsoring media reporting of the event, without being an event sponsor Running generic football themed campaigns during the period of a major international football tournament (for example, the notable case of Lufthansa painting footballs on its aircraft during the 2006 World Cup). 12Governments began to outlaw almost all forms of ambush marketing for certain major sporting events at about the start of this decade. This trend was started by Australia when it had to defend the Sydney Olympic Games, the next one was South Africa in relation to the Cricket World Cup, and later the UK in relation to the London 2012 Olympic Games, and in recent times, New Zealand which last year introduced legislation aimed at protecting any major event. Such legislation often gives government ministers the power to state that key words will be protected. For example, Canadian legislation covering the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver will strictly limit people from using generic words such as winter, Vancouver, 2010 and games.  [13]  Despite this The Subway tried to snake out from the law. Tried to make a contact between the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games and its own trade mark with its newest advertisement in which Michael Phelps was the main character. McDonalds could not look at this with a good eye, because they were the executive fast food restaurant for the Olympic Games. The wonderful swimmers of our age, Michael Phelps, was swimming all the way through the indoor swimming pools walls on an animated map to Vancouver, where as the slogan said à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¾the big events of the this years winter happen. The place is not called by its name in the advertisement. But everybody can guess right that on the stylized map with three of the initials of the English name of Canada CAN -, the snowy mountain peaks and the slogan unmistakable telling to us that it just could be Vancouver. It is also a well know thing that Phelps one of the most successful Olympic athletes of the whole world with 16 of his own Olympic medals, from which 14 golds. The McDonalds states it is more than enough that everybody thinks the Subway representative Phelps is the face of the Olympic Games. And the McDonalds did not make a mistake with this. 14The London Olympic Games and Paralympics Games Act 2006 contains almost the same provisions to protect the typical Olympic words such as Gold, London, summer, Games and 2012. There are two lists of protected words. If the marketers will use any two of the A list words they will breach the rules. Also if they would like to use in their campaign one A listed with one or more B listed. As for me I am sure that the ambushers can get pass these lists of words.  [15]  Moreover, the Secretary of State can add to the list by order. The law states that any person who is not certified to make an image that may create an association between that person or company and the London Olympic Games in the mind of the public will be in fall foul of the Act. Further protection was added by the Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995 (the 1995 Act). (Rather than sign up to the Nairobi Treaty) In addition, legislation has been passed to provide added protection to the elements that comprise the Ol ympic brand, and the brand as a whole. This is the London Olympic Games and Paralympics Games Act 2006 (the 2006 Act). This Act gives the Games organizers (event owners) the power to award licence to official sponsors to use the symbols, words and logos of the event. Some governments have progressed to criminalise the ambush marketing. For the reason that South Africa organized the Cricket World Cup in 2003 it was the first who stated that ambush marketing a criminal offence when it introduced anti-ambush marketing legislation.  [16]  It has repeated in New Zealand when they ratified the Major Events Management Act 2007 for a World Cup. Although this new law was created with the 2011 Rugby World Cup in mind, it is not specific to that event. 17Can we seriously call the ambush marketing activity as a criminal action? I do not believe so.. 18My arguments against a ban on ambush marketing consist in answering three key questions. (I based my arguments on Pà ©ter Berkes professors statements) Does a ban on ambush marketing benefit the economy? Almost in all of the other sector of the economy ambush marketing is an acceptable practice which support the competition. Banning it would constitute a major control of trade and, by benefiting a few main companies at the expense of many others, could well be anti-competitive. The fact is that major sporting events typically give grow to a large amount of business opportunities across the wider economy. Which are the normal borders of the ambush marketing? How far can the anti-ambushers go? Ambush marketing has got a lot of forms. I have already mentioned a few examples. I could write several others which one may not normally connect with ambush marketing but which have nevertheless been targeted by anti-ambush laws.  [19]  If a school deciding to organize a competition series for their students during the summer which will be called Summer Games it will be illegal or not?! There is almost a same situation if a pub is putting a chalkboard in front of the place with this script for example watch the 2012 Games here is breaking the law if the name of the pub is on the board, but if it is not, then no rules breaching. These examples show how difficult to divide the real ambushers from the normal company. It also makes more difficulty if we start to think about using of generic words like Games and Summer Anyway it would be a good question as well that why do the governments believe that major sports events need such strict protection? Many sports events have in recent years been staged without the same protection, for example, the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2008 European Cup in Austria and Switzerland, the 2010 European Swimming Championship in Hungary, so it is obviously possible to finance and stage a successful major sporting event without that strict anti-ambush legislation. Does existing law effectively protect the legitimate interests of sponsors? The authorized sponsors already have intellectual property and unfair competition laws. Any symbols or logos particularly for a major sports event can be protected, by intellectual property especially by trademark or copyright. Unfair competition laws are turn up where a company connect in misleading or unreliable advertising. In summary we can say there is a small line between smarter marketing and breaking the strict rules. Unless the courts clear decision or any legislation, ambush marketing will continue and increase, even it is ethical or not, illegal or just simple a clever business practice. So called parasite marketing by its critics, claiming that companies are on purpose looking for easier ways to win on their rivals sponsorship of major sport events. Supporters of ambush marketing including me as well see it as smart business. I mean all of those rules, guidelines are important to protect the official sponsors, and the sport need these sponsors, because they are very essential according to the sport financial. Events like an Olympic Games and a World Cup are incredibly expensive to put on, so they need big-money sponsors and this in turn means that the organisers must protect hardly against ambush marketing. But it is true as well that ambush marketing makes available a positive free market. B y exposing to authorized sponsors and event owners the true scope of exclusivity that any sponsor can reasonably suppose to enjoy, ambushers in effect help count the true market value of Olympic sponsorship while participating in the marketing attack in a way they think most cost effective for their company. As it looks like very well to possible sponsors of future major sports events that event organizers will not be able to stop all ambush marketing efforts, this should be a reason that is accounted for in determining the fees to be paid for an executive sponsorship. I think even in London or in another major sports event the rules will be stricter than ever before, no one can stop the developing of ambush marketing. [Word Count: 3376]

Symbols, Symbolism and Irony in Thomas Manns Death in Venice Essay

Symbols, Symbolism and Irony in Thomas Mann's Death in Venice      Ã‚  Ã‚   In the novel Death in Venice, by Thomas Mann, an observer compliments the main character Gustave von Aschenbach by saying, " 'You see, Aschenbach has always lived like this '-here the speaker closed the fingers of his left hand to a fist-'never like this '-and he let his hand hang relaxed from the back of his chair" (p. 1069).   This is a perfect description of Aschenbach, a man set in convention, driven to succeed from an early age, quite dull really.   After all, his favorite motto was "hold fast" (p. 1070).   He has always kept his feelings in check, and never allowed himself to lose control of any aspect of his life.   As the story progresses, however, the fist that is Aschenbach slowly opens up until it finally releases all the pent-up emotion and desire.   Wrought with symbolism and irony, Death in Venice tells a tragic tale of unbridled lust, misspent youth, and the undoing of a man, once so firmly in control his life, as he ultimately surrenders to a pa ssion that overcomes him. Gustave von Aschenbach is a renowned and successful writer, yet he is losing any passion he might have once had for his craft.   He has always been driven to achieve, and thus has spent no time in the pursuit of happiness or even simple pleasures.   His life is entirely predictable. "Too busy with the tasks imposed upon him by his own ego and the European soul, too laden with the care and duty to create, too preoccupied to be an amateur of the gay outer world, he had been content to know as much of the worlds surface as he could without leaving his own sphere-had, indeed, never been tempted to leave Europe" (p. 1067).   But he becomes tired of his day-to-day existence, growing di... ...t in Othello, "If it were now to die, 'Twere now to be most happy."i[2]   Never again would Aschenbach experience such a moment of utter bliss and perfection; following this instant there was nothing left to live for.      Notes: 1 Mythology summaries taken from www.greekmythology.com 2 Othello, Act 2, Scene 1, lines 189-190 www.geocities.com/~spanoudi/quote-19c.html Works Cited: "Death in Venice," Thomas Mann, Michael Henry Heim (Translator) Publisher: Harper Perennial (May 31, 2005) Othello, Act 2, Scene 1, lines 189-190 www.geocities.com/~spanoudi/quote-19c.html Greek Mythology For Dummies www.greekmythology.com

HPE †Tennis Research Assignment Essay

By using my knowledge and understanding of skill acquisition principles, psychology of learning and biomechanics, I have produced a six-week tennis training program. Incorporated in this report are the types of feedback used, the research laboratories carried out, and the design, analysis and evaluation of my coaching program.  Research Laboratories  Three research laboratories (See Appendices A, B and C) were carried out to assist in the development of my coaching program. These laboratories were on different types of feedback, the importance of accurate feedback and the use of feedback in mental rehearsal. The results from these labs provided me with a guide as to which type and the amount of feedback needed for a successful coaching program. Background Overview  Types of Feedback  There are many different types of feedback that can be used to enhance one’s performance. Generally, â€Å"the more precise the feedback, the more accurate the performance will become.† (Amezdroz, G., Davis, D., Dickens, S., Hosford, G., 1999, 2001. Queensland Senior Physical Education, Macmillan Education Australia, South Yarra, Australia.) The types of feedback used in my coaching program were: Knowledge of performance-general performance – this was used for the early stage of my coaching program when I needed a clear picture in my head to compare my actual performance with, eg. correct stance when serving. This type of feedback was provided to me by the coach, teacher and/or fellow participants in my program. I also watched my performances on video so I actually saw where I was going wrong and could then work on my motor skills. Positive feedback – this was given when I successfully completed a task. Positive feedback encouraged me to try again and persevere with the learning. This was used throughout the whole duration of the coaching program.  Knowledge of performance-specific – this was used in the later stage of my program. When I completed executing a movement or skill I was told on what I was doing wrong, and what to do to improve on my performance, eg. my ball toss was too low and I would therefore rush to hit the ball or simply miss it. By throwing the ball higher I give myself ample time to raise the racquet to hit the ball. Knowledge of performance gave me more detailed technical information to improve my skills. Concurrent (continuous) feedback – this was, as the name states, a continuous form of feedback given throughout the coaching and practice sessions.  Augmented (external) feedback – this type of feedback was provided both visually and verbally. I viewed a video of my performance and analysed what I was doing in/correct.  Design and Analysis of Coaching Program  At the beginning of my training I was at the late Cognitive stage of learning. I had little experience and knowledge of the game of tennis. During the six weeks of training I learnt and began to understand the skills needed and the rules of the game. I have now progressed through to the early Associative stage as demonstrated by my ability to effectively serve in both courts. The coaching program was based on distributive practice. This is where I would have short, practice sessions of a skill followed by a short break. For example, after doing 10 serves in both right and left court I was given a 2 minute break. During the break I would visualise in my head, the skills I had just learnt, and then the correct way to execute it. After the rest interval I would then carry out the skills. Improvements could be seen by me placing 50% of first serves and 75% of second serves in court. Whole-part learning was incorporated into the coaching program. This is when I would learn the whole skill at once, then break it down and concentrate on certain components that I was having difficulty with. Eg., learning to serve in tennis:  1. An explanation and demonstration on how to serve the ball was given  2. I carried out the serve like I had been shown  3. The serve was broken down into each skill associated with it that I was having problems with. Ie, stance, ball toss.  4. Each skill was then learnt and completed with success  5. All skills were then put together and a full serve was executed Mental rehearsal was also a very important factor in improving my tennis performance. By ‘zoning out’ before a training session I would allow myself to block out all factors including spectators, noises, etc., and concentrate fully on the task at hand. An example of one of the main mental rehearsal activities I undertook was bouncing the tennis ball 2-4 times before serving. The research laboratories carried out gave an indication on why the types of practice and feedback I incorporated in my program would be more useful than any others. For example, a lab indicated that the more precise feedback we were given, the greater improvement we made on our performances.

100 Mostly Small But Expressive Interjections

100 Mostly Small But Expressive Interjections 100 Mostly Small But Expressive Interjections 100 Mostly Small But Expressive Interjections By Mark Nichol They often seem disreputable, like sullen idlers loitering in a public thoroughfare, but they actually do a lot of hard work and are usually persnickety about the tasks to which they are put. They are interjections one class of them, anyway: those lacking etymological origins but packed with meaning. But how do you know how to distinguish similar ones or spell them, for that matter? Here’s an incomplete inventory of interjections (not including variations of actual words such as yeah for yes or onomatopoeic echoes of externally produced sounds like boom): Ack communicates disgust or dismissal. Ah can denote positive emotions like relief or delight (generally, pronounced with a long a). Aha signals triumph or surprise, or perhaps derision. Ahem is employed to gain attention. Argh, often drawn out with additional h’s, is all about frustration. Aw can be dismissive or indicative of disappointment, or, when drawn out, expressive of sympathy or adoration. Aye denotes agreement. Bah is dismissive. Blah communicates boredom or disappointment. Blech (or bleah or bleh) implies nausea. Boo is an exclamation to provoke fright. Boo-hoo is imitative of crying and is derisive. Boo-ya (with several spelling variants) is a cry of triumph. Bwah-hah-hah (variously spelled, including mwah-hah-hah) facetiously mimics the stereotypical archvillain’s triumphant laugh. D’oh is the spelling for the muttering accompanying Homer Simpson’s trademark head-slapping self-abuse. Duh derides someone who seems dense. Eek indicates an unpleasant surprise. Eh, with a question mark, is a request for repetition or confirmation of what was just said; without, it is dismissive. Er (sometimes erm) plays for time. Ew denotes disgust, intensified by the addition of one or more e’s and/or w’s. Feh (and its cousin meh) is an indication of feeling underwhelmed or disappointed. Gak is an expression of disgust or distaste. Ha expresses joy or surprise, or perhaps triumph. Ha-ha (with possible redoubling) communicates laughter or derision. Hamana-hamana, variously spelled, and duplicated as needed, implies speechless embarrassment. Hardy-har-har, or har-har repeated as needed, communicates mock amusement. Hee-hee is a mischievous laugh, while its variants heh and heh-heh (and so on) can have a more derisive connotation. Hey can express surprise or exultation, or can be used to request repetition or call for attention. Hist signals the desire for silence. Hm, extended as needed, suggests curiosity, confusion, consternation, or skepticism. Hmph (also hrmph or humph) indicates displeasure or indignation. Ho-ho is expressive of mirth, or (along with its variant oh-ho) can indicate triumph of discovery. Ho-hum signals indifference or boredom. Hubba-hubba is the vocal equivalent of a leer. Huh (or hunh) is a sign of disbelief, confusion, or surprise, or, with a question mark, is a request for repetition. Hup, from the sound-off a military cadence chant, signals beginning an exerting task. Hurrah (also hoorah, hooray, and hurray, and even huzzah) is an exclamation of triumph or happiness. Ick signals disgust. Lah-de-dah denotes nonchalance or dismissal, or derision about pretension. Mm-hmm, variously spelled, is an affirmative or corroborating response. Mmm, extended as needed, conveys palatable or palpable pleasure. Mwah is suggestive of a kiss, often implying unctuous or exaggerated affection. Neener-neener, often uttered in a series of three repetitions, is a taunt. Now (often repeated â€Å"Now, now†) is uttered as an admonition. Oh is among the most versatile of interjections. Use it to indicate comprehension or acknowledgment (or, with a question mark, a request for verification), to preface direct address (â€Å"Oh, sir!†), as a sign of approximation or example (â€Å"Oh, about three days†), or to express emotion or serves as a response to a pain or pleasure. (Ooh is a variant useful for the last two purposes.) Oh-oh (or alternatives in which oh is followed by various words) is a warning response to something that will have negative repercussions. Olà ©, with an accent mark over the e, is borrowed from Spanish and is a vocal flourish to celebrate a deft or adroit maneuver. Ooh, with o’s repeated as needed, conveys interest or admiration, or, alternatively, disdain. Ooh-la-la is a response to an attempt to impress or gently mocks pretension or finery. Oops (and the jocular diminutive variation oopsie or oopsy and the variant whoops) calls attention to an error or fault. Ouch (or ow, extended as needed) signals pain or is a response to a harsh word or action. Oy, part of Yiddish expressions such as oy gevalt (equivalent to â€Å"Uh-oh†), is a lament of frustration, concern, or self-pity. Pff, extended as needed, expresses disappointment, disdain, or annoyance. Pfft, or phfft, communicates abrupt ending or departure or is a sardonic dismissal akin to pff. Phew, or pew, communicates disgust, fatigue, or relief. (Phooey, also spelled pfui, is a signal for disgust, too, and can denote dismissal as well. PU and P.U. are also variants.) Poof is imitative of a sudden disappearance, as if by magic. Pooh is a contemptuous exclamation. Pshaw denotes disbelief, disapproval, or irritation or, alternatively, communicates facetious self-consciousness. Psst calls for quiet. Rah, perhaps repeated, signals triumph. Shh (extended as necessary) is an imperative for silence. Sis boom bah is an outdated encouraging cry, most likely to be used mockingly now. Tchah communicates annoyance. Tsk-tsk and its even snootier variant tut-tut are condemnations or scoldings; the related sound tch is the teeth-and-tongue click of disapproval. Ugh is an exclamation of disgust. Uh is an expression of skepticism or a delaying tactic. Uh-huh indicates affirmation or agreement. Uh-oh signals concern or dismay. Uh-uh is the sound of negation or refusal. Um is a placeholder for a pause but also denotes skepticism. Va-va-voom is an old-fashioned exclamation denoting admiration of physical attractiveness. Whee is an exclamation of excitement or delight. Whew is a variant of phew but can also express amazement. Whoa is a call to halt or an exclamation of surprise or relief. Whoop-de-doo and its many variants convey mocking reaction to something meant to impress. Woo and woo-hoo (and variations like yahoo, yee-haw, and yippee) indicate excitement. (Woot, also spelled w00t among an online in-crowd, is a probably ephemeral variant.) Wow expresses surprise. Yay is a congratulatory exclamation. (Not to be confused with yeah, a variant of yes.) Yikes is an expression of fear or concern, often used facetiously. Yo-ho-ho is the traditional pirates’ refrain. Yoo-hoo attracts attention. Yow, or yowza, is an exclamation of surprise or conveys being impressed. Yuck (also spelled yech or yecch) signals disgust. (Not to be confused with yuk, a laugh.) Yum, or yummy, is a response to the taste of something delicious and, by extension, the sight of an attractive person. Zoinks is an expression of surprise or amazement popularized by the cartoon character Shaggy, of Scooby Doo fame. Zowie, often in combination following wowie, a variant of wow, expresses admiration or astonishment. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Definitely use "the" or "a"15 Great Word GamesWhat the heck are "learnings"?