All right, so today I got an email in my SPAM folder which notified me that my email address was randomly drawn in a promotional lottery, and that I am entitled to some large sum. Just the usual spam, hit delete and forget about it, you think? Never ever even react to it? Oh no, not in this case!
You see, the email explicitly told me that I have won, and that I am entitled to the money. This is important in so far that they make a promise in this email. They have worded it in a way that can't be mistaken for something else. In their email, they asked me to contact them as soon as possible to receive further information as to how to receive my money. I did; I sent them an email with the required information (name, address, phone number, email address, occupation, my ticket numer which they sent in their email). All information that is available online anyway.
Then, I sent another email, this time to my union. You have to know, in Germany, there have been several law suits against companies like this, promising money they don't intend to pay out. Those companies have lost every law suit so far (as far as I know, I found several cases online). I don't know about American law, but I could easily imagine that law suits like those would be successful in the United States as well.
Anyway, I forwarded both the winning notification and my response to my union, asking them whether they would take on the case and sue the company on my behalf. I offered them 50% of any money I'd get from that company, a promise I intend to keep since they already have done a lot for me, and I wouldn't be able to sue them without their help.
Sure, the question is whether I'd see any money from them at all even with court ruling against them, but hey, they have to learn they can't just pull this BS, right?
I guess what I want to tell you with this story is that you should always watch how you word things, or how your business partners word things. Sometimes, a slightly different wording can result in quite different results, and especially in business, communication should be as clear as possible to ensure both parties are satisfied in the end. Then, on another note, I guess my message is just: If someone tries to take advantage of you and you have a means of paying them back legally, go for it!
Language ... the bridge of communication, the magic creator of worlds, the brush and paint of authors. Language is magic. It gives us power. It is something you just have to love.
Monday 31 October 2011
Saturday 29 October 2011
Word of the Week ... XIX
Today's word is
"to eavesdrop"
The past week, it bugged me that I couldn't remember if it was "eavesdrop" or "eardrop". Somehow, it made more sense to me that it should contain the word "ear" since that is the body part we use to eavesdrop. However, my mind and guts told me it was eavesdrop, so I finally looked it up. My curiosity was spiked, and I wanted to know more about the etymology of this word. Here's what I found out: The eavesdrop referred to the place next to a house where you were still sheltered from rain since most houses had slanted roofs whose eaves projected beyond the walls. The meaning of "to eavesdrop" is supposed to have developed since you could overhear conversations going on inside the house when you stood there.
Meaning: to listen to somebody, often secretly, to overhear others' conversations without being caught, or to actively listen for something
Example: He eavesdropped on his parents last night to find out what they had bought for his birthday.
Can you come up with more examples?
"to eavesdrop"
The past week, it bugged me that I couldn't remember if it was "eavesdrop" or "eardrop". Somehow, it made more sense to me that it should contain the word "ear" since that is the body part we use to eavesdrop. However, my mind and guts told me it was eavesdrop, so I finally looked it up. My curiosity was spiked, and I wanted to know more about the etymology of this word. Here's what I found out: The eavesdrop referred to the place next to a house where you were still sheltered from rain since most houses had slanted roofs whose eaves projected beyond the walls. The meaning of "to eavesdrop" is supposed to have developed since you could overhear conversations going on inside the house when you stood there.
Meaning: to listen to somebody, often secretly, to overhear others' conversations without being caught, or to actively listen for something
Example: He eavesdropped on his parents last night to find out what they had bought for his birthday.
Can you come up with more examples?
Wednesday 26 October 2011
Baby Talk
Have you ever listened to a baby when they first start making sounds, long before they actually start talking (in words we understand, that is)? It is cute, and often hilarious.
I have noticed that babies seem to start out with only one or two syllables. They mumble, coo, squeal and say them over and over again, with various intonations and facial expressions. After some time, they increase their repertoire by another syllable, then another one, and another one...until, one day, they say their first real word.
What is even more interesting, though, is the fact that they indeed try to mimic us to a certain degree. If you say a word which contains new syllables over and over again, they will try to repeat the new syllable (usually the first syllable of the word). At some point, they might even understand that some strange new word is your name, and try to get the syllable(s) right when they see you (even before they have managed to say their first word).
On another note, whoever says babies can't understand what you are saying is wrong. Have you ever tried to get across the meaning of "no", not only by saying it (probably even while laughing because it is just too funny what the baby did, even though it shouldn't do it) but by actually emphasising the meaning with your intonation and facial expression, maybe even shaking your head? It works.
However, back to the funny part. Talking to a baby is usually very funny and relaxing. When they react to your voice and actions with delightful screams or just a big smile, or seem to enter a "real" conversation with you (one that makes no sense because no one actually understands the sounds), you just can't help but smile. And who knows, maybe they are indeed telling us some fairy tale when they start cooing and babbling just before falling asleep, or they tell us about a nice dream they had when they wake up cooing and "talking" in the morning.
Do you have any interesting personal experiences regarding baby talk? If so, please tell us abou them!
I have noticed that babies seem to start out with only one or two syllables. They mumble, coo, squeal and say them over and over again, with various intonations and facial expressions. After some time, they increase their repertoire by another syllable, then another one, and another one...until, one day, they say their first real word.
What is even more interesting, though, is the fact that they indeed try to mimic us to a certain degree. If you say a word which contains new syllables over and over again, they will try to repeat the new syllable (usually the first syllable of the word). At some point, they might even understand that some strange new word is your name, and try to get the syllable(s) right when they see you (even before they have managed to say their first word).
On another note, whoever says babies can't understand what you are saying is wrong. Have you ever tried to get across the meaning of "no", not only by saying it (probably even while laughing because it is just too funny what the baby did, even though it shouldn't do it) but by actually emphasising the meaning with your intonation and facial expression, maybe even shaking your head? It works.
However, back to the funny part. Talking to a baby is usually very funny and relaxing. When they react to your voice and actions with delightful screams or just a big smile, or seem to enter a "real" conversation with you (one that makes no sense because no one actually understands the sounds), you just can't help but smile. And who knows, maybe they are indeed telling us some fairy tale when they start cooing and babbling just before falling asleep, or they tell us about a nice dream they had when they wake up cooing and "talking" in the morning.
Do you have any interesting personal experiences regarding baby talk? If so, please tell us abou them!
Monday 24 October 2011
Words out of Nowhere?
I've recently seen a discussion in my writers forum which sparked my interest. It started with the headline "Have you ever used a word..." and went on to describe this weird occurence when you write away on your story and use words because they fit, and later discover that you have no clue what those words actually mean.
I was surprised to discover that this phenomenon happens even to native speakers of English (I always thought it happened to me because I learnt English as a second language--if it happens to me in German too, I haven't noticed it yet).
Strange enough, in most of the cases, the unknown word fits perfectly (as verified with a dictionary).
How can this be? Magic? A muse with a good dictionary whispering words into our ears?
Although I like the idea of my muse sitting on my shoulder and leafing through a dictionary to find the right word for me, there is a simple explanation for this. When we read or hear a new word, our brain saves it somewhere. Most of the time, we can't remember the meaning when we come across it for the second time although we might vaguely remember having it seen or heard somewhere before. It usually takes about three times before a new word wanders into our passive memory, meaning that we are able to recognise it and remember its meaning when we come across it. At that point, we are usually not able to actively use this word in writing or in a conversation because we just won't remember it on our own. To be saved in our active memory, we need to come across it six times or more.
Now, when this phenomenon happens, it certainly is strange enough since it means we unconsciously used a word that wasn't yet stored in our active memory, maybe not even in our passive memory. However, it is not magic. To be able to use a word at all, we must have come across it before, even though we might not remember it.
So, while my muse isn't sitting on my shoulder leafing through a dictionary, she might well be surfing my brain for the best-fitting word....
I was surprised to discover that this phenomenon happens even to native speakers of English (I always thought it happened to me because I learnt English as a second language--if it happens to me in German too, I haven't noticed it yet).
Strange enough, in most of the cases, the unknown word fits perfectly (as verified with a dictionary).
How can this be? Magic? A muse with a good dictionary whispering words into our ears?
Although I like the idea of my muse sitting on my shoulder and leafing through a dictionary to find the right word for me, there is a simple explanation for this. When we read or hear a new word, our brain saves it somewhere. Most of the time, we can't remember the meaning when we come across it for the second time although we might vaguely remember having it seen or heard somewhere before. It usually takes about three times before a new word wanders into our passive memory, meaning that we are able to recognise it and remember its meaning when we come across it. At that point, we are usually not able to actively use this word in writing or in a conversation because we just won't remember it on our own. To be saved in our active memory, we need to come across it six times or more.
Now, when this phenomenon happens, it certainly is strange enough since it means we unconsciously used a word that wasn't yet stored in our active memory, maybe not even in our passive memory. However, it is not magic. To be able to use a word at all, we must have come across it before, even though we might not remember it.
So, while my muse isn't sitting on my shoulder leafing through a dictionary, she might well be surfing my brain for the best-fitting word....
Saturday 22 October 2011
Word of the Week ... XVIII
This week's word is a word I have heard for the first time and immediately thought, 'I have to look it up, and if it's something useful, it will go on my blog!' Well, here it is:
"trepidation"
Meaning: It someone has trepidations about something, he is prejudiced and somehow afraid of it, doesn't trust it and/or has a bad feeling about it.
Example: Whenever she sees a black cat in the morning, she has trepidations for the rest of the day.
Did you know this word before, and if so, in which context(s) do you use it?
"trepidation"
Meaning: It someone has trepidations about something, he is prejudiced and somehow afraid of it, doesn't trust it and/or has a bad feeling about it.
Example: Whenever she sees a black cat in the morning, she has trepidations for the rest of the day.
Did you know this word before, and if so, in which context(s) do you use it?
Wednesday 19 October 2011
Letters and Numbers
Have you ever wondered where our letters and numbers come from? Maybe you have cursed at how difficult writing is at some point, or you hated maths back in school. Let me tell you: It could have been worse, much worse!
As it is, we got our letters from the Romans, and our numbers from the Arabs. We definitely got the better from both cultures. Our numbers use the decimal system, which makes it easy to calculate with them. Take written additions and subtraction, for example. Since you have the ones, tens, hundreds and so on neatly one below the other, it doesn't take much effort to add or subtract even large numbers.
Our letters, on the other hand, may be complicated for children when they first start learning them, but they are pretty easy to distinguish from one another.
Now imagine we had got our numbers from the Romans and our letters from the Arabs. Have you ever had to calculate with Roman numbers? German school children are required to do it in sixth year, and let me tell you, it is very confusing. To give you an example of what our maths lessons could have been all those years:
1 = I
5 = V
10 = X
Now, some easy additions:
2+2=4 -- II+II=IV
4+6=10 -- IV+VI=X
4+8=12 -- IV+VIII=XII
Confused? Let's continue with some easy subtractions:
5-1=4 -- V-I=IV
7-4=3 -- VII-IV=III
23-5=17 -- XXIII-V=XVII
Now, if you have ever seen Arabic writing, you will probably appreciate that our ancestors decided to use Latin letters instead. It looks beautiful, but at least to me, it also looks very difficult.
Seems like our ancestors made some good decisions, huh?
As it is, we got our letters from the Romans, and our numbers from the Arabs. We definitely got the better from both cultures. Our numbers use the decimal system, which makes it easy to calculate with them. Take written additions and subtraction, for example. Since you have the ones, tens, hundreds and so on neatly one below the other, it doesn't take much effort to add or subtract even large numbers.
Our letters, on the other hand, may be complicated for children when they first start learning them, but they are pretty easy to distinguish from one another.
Now imagine we had got our numbers from the Romans and our letters from the Arabs. Have you ever had to calculate with Roman numbers? German school children are required to do it in sixth year, and let me tell you, it is very confusing. To give you an example of what our maths lessons could have been all those years:
1 = I
5 = V
10 = X
Now, some easy additions:
2+2=4 -- II+II=IV
4+6=10 -- IV+VI=X
4+8=12 -- IV+VIII=XII
Confused? Let's continue with some easy subtractions:
5-1=4 -- V-I=IV
7-4=3 -- VII-IV=III
23-5=17 -- XXIII-V=XVII
Now, if you have ever seen Arabic writing, you will probably appreciate that our ancestors decided to use Latin letters instead. It looks beautiful, but at least to me, it also looks very difficult.
Seems like our ancestors made some good decisions, huh?
Monday 17 October 2011
Language Education in Germany
It recently struck me just how lucky I am that I went to school in Germany. I mean, don't get me wrong, there were many things I hated, and I envy American pupils for some of their possibilities; however, I love languages, and for that matter, growing up in Germany was great.
You see, children in Germany are required to take lessons in at least one foreign language--usually English--throughout their school education. Back in my days, we started in fifth year; nowadays, children start to learn English in first year. That does not mean that everyone in Germany can speak English well, let alone fluently. After all, not everyone taking maths lessons becomes a maths genius, right? But, every pupil in Germany has the chance to acquire good English skills, and a certain level of language comprehension is necessary to graduate from secondary school (no matter which type of secondary school--there are several in Germany).
And it doesn't end there. If you want to graduate with Abitur (which is necessary to go to university, unless you want to be restricted in the subjects you can study), you are required to have taken lessons in a second foreign language for at least three years. The most common choices offered by German grammar schools are French and Latin, although there are grammar schools which offer a different set of foreign languages to choose from (such as Spanish, Italian, Russian or even Old Greek). Some grammar schools, for example, teach Latin or French as first foreign language, and in some regions close to the borders, other foreign languages (such as French) are mandatory from first year on (instead of English). The second foreign language is usually taught from seventh year on, for at least four years.
Many grammar schools even offer lessons in a third foreign language from ninth year on. You can usually choose to take lessons in the other language offered in seventh year (as opposed to the one you chose), and many grammar schools offer another language to choose from at this point (for example Spanish, Italian or Russian on grammar schools where French and Latin were the choices offered in seventh year).
As it was, I learnt three languages in grammar school: English (from fifth till eleventh year), French (from seventh till eleventh year) and Spanish (from ninth till tenth year). The only reason why I only took two years in Spanish was that our Spanish course wasn't offered in eleventh year due to course size (only about a third of our course wanted to continue). Usually, I would have stayed in grammar school for two more years (till after year thirteen) to acquire Abitur, but I chose to change to a vocational school after eleventh year.
At my vocational school, I took lessons in five foreign languages over the course of two years, two of which were mandatory for my certification as foreign language assistant (including business communications and business translations in German and both foreign languages). I started out with English and French in my first year. Since part of my form had Spanish as second foreign language (instead of French, which was only offered for those who had already taken four years of French at secondary school, while Spanish was a beginner's course) and I wanted to improve my Spanish as well, I talked to the Spanish teacher and was allowed to take their exams, and hand in my homework for correction, in addition to my French lessons and exams.
Through my German teacher, who also taught Italian to a different form, I ended up participating in their Italian lessons too (which were in the afternoon after my normal lessons). I took the exams in Italian along with the others, and got a certificate stating my Italian marks at the end of the school year since that course was not part of my normal school report.
In my second year at vocational school, I switched my second foreign language completely to Spanish (and graduated in English and Spanish). I continued with Italian lessons, and even took a ten-week-course in Chinese (Mandarin) which was offered at our school.
All right, and now some vocabulary help since educational terms vary greatly from BE to AE:
BE -- AE
year -- grade
form -- class
lesson -- class
marks -- grades
school report -- report card
grammar school -- high school (the secondary school that leads to German Abitur)
pupil -- student
(Somehow, the BE terms seem to be clearer.... I mean, there are four different words where AE only has two words....)
You see, children in Germany are required to take lessons in at least one foreign language--usually English--throughout their school education. Back in my days, we started in fifth year; nowadays, children start to learn English in first year. That does not mean that everyone in Germany can speak English well, let alone fluently. After all, not everyone taking maths lessons becomes a maths genius, right? But, every pupil in Germany has the chance to acquire good English skills, and a certain level of language comprehension is necessary to graduate from secondary school (no matter which type of secondary school--there are several in Germany).
And it doesn't end there. If you want to graduate with Abitur (which is necessary to go to university, unless you want to be restricted in the subjects you can study), you are required to have taken lessons in a second foreign language for at least three years. The most common choices offered by German grammar schools are French and Latin, although there are grammar schools which offer a different set of foreign languages to choose from (such as Spanish, Italian, Russian or even Old Greek). Some grammar schools, for example, teach Latin or French as first foreign language, and in some regions close to the borders, other foreign languages (such as French) are mandatory from first year on (instead of English). The second foreign language is usually taught from seventh year on, for at least four years.
Many grammar schools even offer lessons in a third foreign language from ninth year on. You can usually choose to take lessons in the other language offered in seventh year (as opposed to the one you chose), and many grammar schools offer another language to choose from at this point (for example Spanish, Italian or Russian on grammar schools where French and Latin were the choices offered in seventh year).
As it was, I learnt three languages in grammar school: English (from fifth till eleventh year), French (from seventh till eleventh year) and Spanish (from ninth till tenth year). The only reason why I only took two years in Spanish was that our Spanish course wasn't offered in eleventh year due to course size (only about a third of our course wanted to continue). Usually, I would have stayed in grammar school for two more years (till after year thirteen) to acquire Abitur, but I chose to change to a vocational school after eleventh year.
At my vocational school, I took lessons in five foreign languages over the course of two years, two of which were mandatory for my certification as foreign language assistant (including business communications and business translations in German and both foreign languages). I started out with English and French in my first year. Since part of my form had Spanish as second foreign language (instead of French, which was only offered for those who had already taken four years of French at secondary school, while Spanish was a beginner's course) and I wanted to improve my Spanish as well, I talked to the Spanish teacher and was allowed to take their exams, and hand in my homework for correction, in addition to my French lessons and exams.
Through my German teacher, who also taught Italian to a different form, I ended up participating in their Italian lessons too (which were in the afternoon after my normal lessons). I took the exams in Italian along with the others, and got a certificate stating my Italian marks at the end of the school year since that course was not part of my normal school report.
In my second year at vocational school, I switched my second foreign language completely to Spanish (and graduated in English and Spanish). I continued with Italian lessons, and even took a ten-week-course in Chinese (Mandarin) which was offered at our school.
All right, and now some vocabulary help since educational terms vary greatly from BE to AE:
BE -- AE
year -- grade
form -- class
lesson -- class
marks -- grades
school report -- report card
grammar school -- high school (the secondary school that leads to German Abitur)
pupil -- student
(Somehow, the BE terms seem to be clearer.... I mean, there are four different words where AE only has two words....)
Saturday 15 October 2011
My Two Cents ... XXV
This week's phrase is
"the die has been cast"
What does it mean?
It means that an irrevocable decision has been made, something that can't be taken back or changed.
Where does it come from?
It is supposed to go back to Julius Caesar, who uttered the Latin equivalent when crossing the Rubicon. There are no written records of this use, however, and the phrase he used wasn't in English. The first English record of this phrase dates back to 1634 and a book written by Sir Thomas Herbert.
My two cents:
I really like this idiom since it reminds me of tabletop gaming. Yes, I'm a total geek, I know. Still, it fits. If you cast your die, you can't take it back, nor change the outcome. The die may, depending on the circumstances, decide your character's fate.
"the die has been cast"
What does it mean?
It means that an irrevocable decision has been made, something that can't be taken back or changed.
Where does it come from?
It is supposed to go back to Julius Caesar, who uttered the Latin equivalent when crossing the Rubicon. There are no written records of this use, however, and the phrase he used wasn't in English. The first English record of this phrase dates back to 1634 and a book written by Sir Thomas Herbert.
My two cents:
I really like this idiom since it reminds me of tabletop gaming. Yes, I'm a total geek, I know. Still, it fits. If you cast your die, you can't take it back, nor change the outcome. The die may, depending on the circumstances, decide your character's fate.
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Speech Verbs--What?!?
Since I mentioned verbs that could be used with direct speech in Monday's post, I thought it might be time to clarify this one.
A speech verb is a verb that can be used with direct speech. The best-known speech verb surely is "to say": "I can't do this," he said.
In writing, it is a common beginner's mistake to use each and every verb as a speech verb, regardless of whether or not it can be used that way. I see it regularly when I am reading texts from aspiring writers, and when I think back, I have to admit that I made the same mistake in my texts. It took some time and experience, and learning from other writers, until I noticed my mistakes and was able to avoid them.
People in those texts "sigh" something, "laugh" something or "sob" something. Honestly, have you ever tried to laugh the sentence "Oh, that was funny"? You can say it while laughing, but you certainly can't laugh it (and if you could, you would probably posess a very rare talent indeed and should be on TV with it...).
So, how can you find out whether or not a verb is a speech verb?
The safest bet is to get a good dictionary (probably a monolingual one) which indicates speech verbs. Mine, for example, lists [+ speech] if a verb can be used as speech verb.
If you don't have access to a dictionary which lists this, you can either try out whether or not you can actually ... something (insert the verb you want to use as speech verb), or you just stick with the ones you know for sure to be on the safe side.
Some of the most common speech verbs:
to say
to ask
to answer
to whisper
to shout
Do you have more questions on this topic? Go ahead and post them in the comments section!
A speech verb is a verb that can be used with direct speech. The best-known speech verb surely is "to say": "I can't do this," he said.
In writing, it is a common beginner's mistake to use each and every verb as a speech verb, regardless of whether or not it can be used that way. I see it regularly when I am reading texts from aspiring writers, and when I think back, I have to admit that I made the same mistake in my texts. It took some time and experience, and learning from other writers, until I noticed my mistakes and was able to avoid them.
People in those texts "sigh" something, "laugh" something or "sob" something. Honestly, have you ever tried to laugh the sentence "Oh, that was funny"? You can say it while laughing, but you certainly can't laugh it (and if you could, you would probably posess a very rare talent indeed and should be on TV with it...).
So, how can you find out whether or not a verb is a speech verb?
The safest bet is to get a good dictionary (probably a monolingual one) which indicates speech verbs. Mine, for example, lists [+ speech] if a verb can be used as speech verb.
If you don't have access to a dictionary which lists this, you can either try out whether or not you can actually ... something (insert the verb you want to use as speech verb), or you just stick with the ones you know for sure to be on the safe side.
Some of the most common speech verbs:
to say
to ask
to answer
to whisper
to shout
Do you have more questions on this topic? Go ahead and post them in the comments section!
Monday 10 October 2011
The Virtues of a Good Monolingual Dictionary
When I corrected the proof copy of my children's book about Miro the Dragon, I encountered some cases where I wasn't 100% sure about a preposition, or the right use of a word. No big deal, I thought, and asked my boyfriend, who is a native English speaker and pretty smart. However, he wasn't absolutely sure in every of the cases either. Boy, I missed my monlingual dictionary at that point!
The greatest thing about my monolingual dictionary is that it actually gives example sentences for the use of words, and those sentences almost always include the correct prepositions to go with it. That way, I dont only get an example of the context(s) in which a word is used, but also the correct preposition(s), and whether it is followed by a to-infinitive or a gerund.
It also gives me phrasal meanings, that is, an alphabetical list of uses for this word (with prepositions etc which take on a different meaning).
Another thing I don't want to miss is the indication of whether or not a verb can be used with direct speech (like "to say", "to ask").
Last but not least, my monolingual dictionary tells me when a word, a spelling or pronunciation is only used in British English or American English (I think it even indicates Australian English use only).
All in all, my monolingual dictionary has become a trusted and valuable asset for writing and editing. It's a Cambridge Dictionary (from PONS, I think), by the way, for those of you who are interested, and it's already some years old. In fact, it has accompanied me through the last couple of my school years and all my freelancing life, and it's almost letter-size and has several hundred pages. It's paperback, though, so unlike my other dictionaries, this one wouldn't make a good weapon against robbers....
Do you have a monolingual dictionary you use for reading/writing/editing or anything else? If so, tell us about it!
The greatest thing about my monolingual dictionary is that it actually gives example sentences for the use of words, and those sentences almost always include the correct prepositions to go with it. That way, I dont only get an example of the context(s) in which a word is used, but also the correct preposition(s), and whether it is followed by a to-infinitive or a gerund.
It also gives me phrasal meanings, that is, an alphabetical list of uses for this word (with prepositions etc which take on a different meaning).
Another thing I don't want to miss is the indication of whether or not a verb can be used with direct speech (like "to say", "to ask").
Last but not least, my monolingual dictionary tells me when a word, a spelling or pronunciation is only used in British English or American English (I think it even indicates Australian English use only).
All in all, my monolingual dictionary has become a trusted and valuable asset for writing and editing. It's a Cambridge Dictionary (from PONS, I think), by the way, for those of you who are interested, and it's already some years old. In fact, it has accompanied me through the last couple of my school years and all my freelancing life, and it's almost letter-size and has several hundred pages. It's paperback, though, so unlike my other dictionaries, this one wouldn't make a good weapon against robbers....
Do you have a monolingual dictionary you use for reading/writing/editing or anything else? If so, tell us about it!
Saturday 8 October 2011
Word of the Week ... XVII
This week's word is
"serenity"
I'm thinking of it right now while I write my blog post because it is the way I feel. It is a lovely autumn morning, the sun is shining down and a cool breeze keeps the temperatures just low enough to utterly enjoy the day. I came back from a nice morning walk about half an hour ago, grabbed some of the world's best cappuccino on the way, and am now sitting in the dining room, the window in my back open, birds singing and an adorable baby sleeping peacefully on me, her head resting on my chest. Forgotten last night's stress while trying to get some more work done, forgotten the lack of sleep, just living in the moment and thoroughly enjoying it. I feel completely at ease with me and the world right now. And that is what "serenity" means for me: to be at ease, not to worry about anything, just enjoying the moment.
I know that this week's post has a slightly different layout, but I thought this word (and the state of mind associated with it) could be better explained in above paragraph than in just a short example or two.
Enjoy your day, everyone!
"serenity"
I'm thinking of it right now while I write my blog post because it is the way I feel. It is a lovely autumn morning, the sun is shining down and a cool breeze keeps the temperatures just low enough to utterly enjoy the day. I came back from a nice morning walk about half an hour ago, grabbed some of the world's best cappuccino on the way, and am now sitting in the dining room, the window in my back open, birds singing and an adorable baby sleeping peacefully on me, her head resting on my chest. Forgotten last night's stress while trying to get some more work done, forgotten the lack of sleep, just living in the moment and thoroughly enjoying it. I feel completely at ease with me and the world right now. And that is what "serenity" means for me: to be at ease, not to worry about anything, just enjoying the moment.
I know that this week's post has a slightly different layout, but I thought this word (and the state of mind associated with it) could be better explained in above paragraph than in just a short example or two.
Enjoy your day, everyone!
Wednesday 5 October 2011
The World's Most Powerful Language
If you think about the world's most powerful language, what comes to your mind first of all?
I thought about this for a moment. My first thought: money. But then, I looked at the sleeping baby on my chest and realised that the strongest and most powerful language of all is the language of love. Even money can't corrupt true love.
You ask why I come up with this topic, and what it has to do with languages? Well, granted, neither money nor love are languages in the closer sense of the word. However, you can communicate a whole lot with both, without ever using a single word from another language. And isn't that exactly what defines a language, the power to communicate with it?
When money is used as a means of communication, it can convey both positive and negative meanings. If someone gives you money to help you out, it is definitely a positive meaning, a sense of friendship and trust. If someone pays you for a service, it communicates valuation of your services, often combined with appreciation. However, if someone withholds money due, or asks for money in order to "protect" you or to keep quiet, money can suddenly become a means of negative communication. There is someone who thinks your services are not worth the money agreed on, or someone who threatens you and wants money in order to keep from fulfilling his threat.
Love, on the other hand, is a language designed to make us feel good. A single smile, a gentle touch or a kiss can say more than 1,000 words (yes, I know, this is a cliché...but it fits here). It tells you that you are loved, cherished and wanted. Even if you felt really bad just a moment ago, the language of love can make you feel good again in a matter of seconds.
I thought about this for a moment. My first thought: money. But then, I looked at the sleeping baby on my chest and realised that the strongest and most powerful language of all is the language of love. Even money can't corrupt true love.
You ask why I come up with this topic, and what it has to do with languages? Well, granted, neither money nor love are languages in the closer sense of the word. However, you can communicate a whole lot with both, without ever using a single word from another language. And isn't that exactly what defines a language, the power to communicate with it?
When money is used as a means of communication, it can convey both positive and negative meanings. If someone gives you money to help you out, it is definitely a positive meaning, a sense of friendship and trust. If someone pays you for a service, it communicates valuation of your services, often combined with appreciation. However, if someone withholds money due, or asks for money in order to "protect" you or to keep quiet, money can suddenly become a means of negative communication. There is someone who thinks your services are not worth the money agreed on, or someone who threatens you and wants money in order to keep from fulfilling his threat.
Love, on the other hand, is a language designed to make us feel good. A single smile, a gentle touch or a kiss can say more than 1,000 words (yes, I know, this is a cliché...but it fits here). It tells you that you are loved, cherished and wanted. Even if you felt really bad just a moment ago, the language of love can make you feel good again in a matter of seconds.
Monday 3 October 2011
Dying Languages
Did you know there are actually languages with only a handful of speakers left? Or, more correctly, two elderly men who don't even talk to each other? It must be depressing to watch your native language die, knowing full well that you might take it to the grave with you when you die. I can't even imagine having no one to talk to or write with in my native language, although I love English. It would feel weird, to say the least.
It must be even worse if the only other person still speaking your native language fluently doesn't talk to you -- for whatever reason. I mean, can you imagine never hearing your native language again? And if you talk to someone else who might just understand enough, you get a response in a different language.
This really makes me wonder how many languages die out every year. The article in the Guardian (see link above) was the first article of this kind I've read, although when I think about it, I'm pretty sure that languages die out constantly. The only difference: Normally, the broader public doesn't notice, yes, doesn't even know the language ever existed. There are so many languages which are almost completely unknown outside the area in which they are spoken (tribal languages in Africa, for example) that I'm actually wondering whether we will ever be able to tell exactly how many languages exist on earth.
What are the criteria for a language, anyway? When does a dialect become a language in its own right? Who has the right or power to decide? I mean, if you think about how close some languages are, like Spanish and Portuguese, and how strange and different some dialects sound even to native speakers.... An example from my own life: When I was younger, I was able to have a simple conversation with my best friend's mother, speaking Spanish while she spoke Portuguese. However, when I was on holiday in Bavaria, I tried to talk (or rather listen) to an elderly woman who spoke the Bavarian dialect. I wasn't able to tell what she was saying, although German is my native language and Bavarian supposed to be a German dialect.
Do you have your own experiences with cross-language conversations or dialects you didn't understand? Or do you know of a language which is endangered? Please share with us!
It must be even worse if the only other person still speaking your native language fluently doesn't talk to you -- for whatever reason. I mean, can you imagine never hearing your native language again? And if you talk to someone else who might just understand enough, you get a response in a different language.
This really makes me wonder how many languages die out every year. The article in the Guardian (see link above) was the first article of this kind I've read, although when I think about it, I'm pretty sure that languages die out constantly. The only difference: Normally, the broader public doesn't notice, yes, doesn't even know the language ever existed. There are so many languages which are almost completely unknown outside the area in which they are spoken (tribal languages in Africa, for example) that I'm actually wondering whether we will ever be able to tell exactly how many languages exist on earth.
What are the criteria for a language, anyway? When does a dialect become a language in its own right? Who has the right or power to decide? I mean, if you think about how close some languages are, like Spanish and Portuguese, and how strange and different some dialects sound even to native speakers.... An example from my own life: When I was younger, I was able to have a simple conversation with my best friend's mother, speaking Spanish while she spoke Portuguese. However, when I was on holiday in Bavaria, I tried to talk (or rather listen) to an elderly woman who spoke the Bavarian dialect. I wasn't able to tell what she was saying, although German is my native language and Bavarian supposed to be a German dialect.
Do you have your own experiences with cross-language conversations or dialects you didn't understand? Or do you know of a language which is endangered? Please share with us!
Saturday 1 October 2011
Word of the Week ... XVI
Today's word of the week:
"virago"
Until recently, I thought "Virago" was simply a motorbike. What a surprise to find out (thanks to another writer who used it in a writers forum) that it actually is a real English word!
Meaning: A virago is a cantancerous female, often the spouse or mother in law of someone, who makes life hard for those living with her.
Example: So, Paul, how do you get along with your new mother in law?--Oh, don't mention her...she's a real virago; you better don't cross her. Or, best, avoid meeting her!
Can you come up with another example, or maybe with a funny story about a virago you have met/known/heard about?
"virago"
Until recently, I thought "Virago" was simply a motorbike. What a surprise to find out (thanks to another writer who used it in a writers forum) that it actually is a real English word!
Meaning: A virago is a cantancerous female, often the spouse or mother in law of someone, who makes life hard for those living with her.
Example: So, Paul, how do you get along with your new mother in law?--Oh, don't mention her...she's a real virago; you better don't cross her. Or, best, avoid meeting her!
Can you come up with another example, or maybe with a funny story about a virago you have met/known/heard about?
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