Do you ever wonder how (American) English sounds to a non-native? Does it sound romantic? Harsh? Awkward? Does it have a natural flow?
As a person who understands the language, it's hard to separate the language sounds from the meaning of the words being said. So the second you try to just hear to the sounds, it's easy to get distracted and start listening.
Maybe these videos will help shed some light on this mystery?
In 1972, an Italian singer, Adriano Celentano, wrote a song full of gibberish (in any language), but has enough American-sounding syllables to pass as an "English" song. It's called "Prisencolinensinainciusol":
I've only listened to it once and it's already in my head.
Similarly, a pair of London filmmakers, brian & karl, made a short film called "Skwerl" in 2011, where a couple has some pretty convincing English conversations... all while not really saying anything:
And then there is this, where a Finnish woman imitates all sorts of accents (via huffingtonpost):
(American English at 1:12)
Feeling like your ears can relate more to our international friends'? Eh illy cope to dew!
I love being concise (although you probably wouldn't know it from speaking with me!), so welcome to my 4th entry with short words in other languages that have amazingly specific meanings!
I heard the following segment on Michigan Radio this morning. It gives a couple of new examples of the elasticity of the American English language and how popular work usage, not grammatical rules or language origins, tend to shape the meanings of words.
This time on "That's What They Say," host Rina Miller and University of Michigan Professor Anne Curzan discuss the colloquial "gonna" and "wanna," and how these words are not just mispronunciations of their original verbs, but are developing their own distinct meanings.
"If you think about the verb 'go' as a main verb, it has directionality to it. So I could say 'I'm going to swim,' which would imply some kind of direction," explains Curzan. "But if I say 'I'm gonna swim,' that means at some point in the future, I'm gonna swim."
Curzan says that this evolution of the meaning of the verbs is due to the lack of definitive future-tense construction in the English language.
"Interestingly in English, some people would say that we don't have future-tense because we only have one tense marker, which is'ed' for the past-tense. To talk about the future, we use these little auxiliary verbs like 'will,' which also used to be a main verb. Now 'go' is becoming an auxiliary verb. So this is now one of the ways we talk about the future," Curzan says.
"Wanna," says Curzan, is also developing a new auxiliary verb meaning.
"If you say something like, 'You're gonna wanna take a left up there,' it doesn't probably mean that you actually want to take a left; it's a piece of advice. I'm advising you to take a left. It's developed into an auxiliary that has an advice meaning component to it," says Curzan.
This "grammaticalization" of content words into grammatical constructions is fairly common in today's English.
"We hear this happening with 'hafta,' which is replacing 'must.' Some people say 'suposta,' as in 'I'm suposta do that,' Curzan says.
Guess if you wanna change the language, all you hafta do is popularize new phrases or slang. Maybe one day there won't be any more rules left!
Have you ever wondered what the classic "Code Red" means when you hear it announced in the background of your favorite hospital television show? Or maybe you've actually heard a "code" announcement at your hospital?
Reader's Digest to the rescue! Below are the definitions of the common hospital codes that they published in their May 2012 issue (although codes can vary).
CODE:
RED: fire BLUE: adult medical emergency
WHITE: pediatric medical emergency PURPLE: child abduction GRAY: combative person SILVER: combative person with a weapon and/or hostage YELLOW: bomb threat PINK: infant abduction ORANGE: hazardous-materials spill BROWN: bed full of excrement
Actually, those all sound awful! Let's just hope and pray that we all only reference this guide because we hear them on tv!
I am always on the lookout for words that can save me time and energy. Oftentimes, unfortunately, the most "efficient" new words I learn only exist in other languages. Maybe if we all work together, we can popularize them in the melting-pot English language?
Reader's Digest appears to share my love for these words. Last year, I posted some they found. In their April 2012 issue, they published some more in an editorial humor section written by Andy Simmons, so I thought I'd pass them along to you, too:
Cotisuelto: One who wears his shirttail outside his trousers.
(Caribbean Spanish)
Bakku-shan: The experience of seeing a woman who appears pretty from behind but not from the front.
(Japanese)
Pesamenteiro: Someone who joins a funeral party just for the refreshments.
(Portuguese)
Zeg: The day after tomorrow.
(Georgian)
I am sure these will save you tons of words when texting, as you probably use these phrases all of the time.
ie. Dale, a contisuelto, was so upset about the bakku-shan, he became a pesamenteiro and gained a ton of kummerspeck. He's going to another funeral zeg! words saved: approx. 39
:)
The next in our Reader's Digest series, the "Texting Cheat Sheet" from their October issue.
I am a frequent texter, and I definitely didn't know most of these - I have been using so many characters unnecessarily! :)
*$: Starbucks B4N: Bye for now BCNU: Be seeing you BG: Be good DQMOT: Don't quote me on this HMU: Hit me up IDC: I don't care IDK: I don't know IMHO: In my humble opinion IMNSHO: In my not so humble opinion ILY: I love you IMY: I miss you IRL: In real life JK: Just kidding KWIM: Know what I mean? LQTS: Laughing quietly to myself MYOB: Mind your own business NMU: Not much, you? ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing TTYL: Talk to you later UW: You're welcome W/E: Whatever WYWH: Wish you were here
Hello, all! Long time no see. Don't worry, I haven't stopped learning things. I've simply run out of time to share them. :)
To catch you up, I am going to make a flurry of posts describing a couple of the things I've learned over the past six months from my favorite little magazine, Reader's Digest. It's always jam-packed with interesting facts. Hope you get to learn something, too!
This first post is about something I know I get wrong all of the time: using "lay" and "lie" correctly.
Here's an excerpt from Reader's Digest's "Word Power" from last summer:
This month, we revisit lay and lie, specifically in the phrase lay/lie low. Lie low is the correct present-tense form. Why? Standard usage still applies: Lie doesn't require an object ("go lie down"); lay does ("lay your head down"). In the past tense, lie becomes lay; lay becomes laid. So a wily predator might lie low as it stalks its prey.
present: lay
present participle: laying
past/past participle: laid
Examples the site gives:
- Once you lay (place) a book on the desk, it is lying (resting) there.
- For your vacation, you spend your time lying (reclining) on the beach [to get a suntan].
- You lie down (recline) on the sofa to watch TV and spend the entire evening lying (reclining) there
- If you see something lying on the ground, it is just resting there; if you see something laying on the ground, it must be doing something else, such as "laying eggs".
I think I just need to make myself some flash cards. :)
A rap is "a negative and often
undeserved reputation or charge —often used with bum or bad"
A rep is slang for "reputation; especially: status
in a group (as a gang)"
So, from these definitions and other things I've read:
- If someone has a "bad rap", it's typically
because that person is getting blamed for or associated with negativity for
something that person may not have done.
- If someone has a "bad rep", others also think
poorly of that person, but likely for something that person did, or for a track
record of sketchy behavior.
Of course, in this day and age, the meaning of phrases can
change with how the populace uses them - so don't be surprised if some find
these interchangeable!
My brother once told me that adult cats only meow to talk to humans, so I decided to see if he was right. And he seems to be!
What are you saying, kitty?
Here are the ways that cats communicate:
1. Meowing
They naturally meow just as kittens to get their mother's attention. But as a result of domestication, it appears that they have learned to meow at humans for the same reason!
2. Purring
Most of the time, cats purr because they are happy. They sometimes purr when they are feeling sick or during stressful moments.
3. Hissing/Growling
Cats hiss or growl when they are angry or want to threaten other animals or humans. They typically will attack with their claws and paws if whoever they are hissing at doesn't back off.
4. Chirping/Chattering
This is a "bird-like" noise that cats can make while watching potential prey. Some have thought that the cats are imitating birds or mice, but the accepted theory is actually that they are simulating the biting motions they'd do if they actually caught the prey.
5. Caterwaul
Cats make this "crying baby" or howling noise to signal to other cats that they are in heat. In rarer occasions, cats will caterwaul to get their owner's attention, like if they are behind a door and need to be loud.
6. Body Language
There are so many ways cats use their body to communicate, I feel as though it may be their primary source of communicating, especially with other cats, who instinctively know what their bodies are saying. Here are a few examples, some of which could be confusing to humans:
Lying on their back: this could mean submission and trust, or that they want to attack with all four claws, or just that's how they feel comfortable
Puffed tail: the cat is surprised or scared; they can also arch their backs and puff out their back hair to look bigger to whatever they feel threatened by
Tail-twitching: this could mean they are hunting, or they are irritated, or they are excited, or they are playing
Flattened ears: the cat is feeling threatened
Nose-touching: this could just be a friendly greeting, or they are marking their territory
Licking: the cat is trying to bond with another cat or sometimes with their human owner
Pawing: this could mean they are showing affection or contentment or curiosity, or that they are comforting themselves, or that they are marking their territory
There are tons of other ways cats communicate to each other by whisker position, tail height, and other body movements.
7. Scent
Cats claim territory by territorial marking or by rubbing their scent on people or objects.
All that to say (since it seems I have strayed from the original question): it appears that past kitten-hood, cats mainly meow to humans, and use a variety of other methods of communication to deal with other cats and other animals.
It's pretty smart of them, actually. Cats must have figured out at some point that humans communicate well with noise... and don't always read their body movements correctly!
ps. Check out this cat who somehow learned to bark... yet didn't want their human owner know! I guess cats have a great ability to learn how to communicate the most effectively.
Bribery: "The offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of something of value for the purpose of influencing the action of an official in the discharge of his or her public or legal duties."
Extortion: "The obtaining of property from another induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right."
Blackmail: "The crime involving a threat for purposes of compelling a person to do an act against his or her will, or for purposes of taking the person's money or property."
Bribe, verb:
1. (Legal) A benefit (as money) given, promised, or offered in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust (as an official or witness)
2. To influence or try to influence dishonestly by giving or promising something
Bribe, noun:
1. (Legal) A benefit (as money) given, promised, or offered in order to influence the judgment or conduct of a person in a position of trust (as an official or witness)
2. Something given or promised to a person in order to influence dishonestly a decision or action.
Extort, verb:
1. (Legal) To obtain (as money) from a person by force, intimidation, or undue or unlawful use of authority or power
2. To gain especially by ingenuity or compelling argument
Blackmail, noun: 1. (Legal) Extortion or coercion by often written threats especially of public exposure, physical harm, or criminal prosecution
2. The payment that is extorted
Blackmail, verb: 1. To threaten to reveal a secret unless something is done (as paying money)
As you can see, they are all related, and all seem to involve some sort of deception or threat in order for a criminal to get what s/he wants from another person. The differences seem to lie in who the crime is against and what is at stake for the victim.
If you understand the differences, please post examples so we can help each other distinguish between them.
Last year, I posted a couple of words that exist in other languages that could help make American English more concise. Reader's Digest did something similar last month!
Here are some of my favorites from their article:
Iktsuarpok,Inuit: To go outside to check if anyone is coming.
Jayus,Indonesian: A joke so poorly told and so unfunny that one cannot help but laugh.
Tartle,Scottish: The act of hesitating while introducing someone because you've forgotten his name.
Cafune, Brazillian Portuguese: The act of tenderly running one's fingers through someone's hair.
Tingo,Pascuense, Easter Island: The act of taking objects one desires from the house of a friend by gradually borrowing all of them.
:)
Love it. These will come in handy on Twitter! Must save characters whenever possible!
This last explanation comes from the Puff Daddy & The Family song, "It's All About The Benjamins (Remix)":
My west coast shorty push the chrome 740
Meaning: "The female I associate with while I am spending time in California is driving a high-end BMW brand automobile, which I may have purchased for or loaned to her, and that has had a special coating applied to give it an extremely bright, silver, mirrorlike finish."
This explanation comes from the Dr. Dre song, "Forgot About Dre":
I was strapped wit' gats when you were cuddling a Cabbage Patch
Meaning: "When you were still a child and had no concerns other than playing with dolls in the comfort and safety of your home, I was carrying guns around to defend myself in my dangerous urban neighborhood."
Today's explanation comes from the Fabolous song, "Throw It In The Bag":
Bag full of chips -- we ain't talkin' Ruffles
Meaning: "I have a bag that contains a large amount of paper money that I am describing by using a term that stems from the circular disks casinos use as in-house currency, clarifying that it is not a particular brand of thin crinkle-cut potato slices that you may have thought I was referring to."
I know, I know, it sounds like a simple question... but I've heard it used to describe "twice per month" and "every other month". That can be a big difference!
No wonder I'm confused when I hear something happens "bimonthly"! I guess you're supposed to tell the meaning by the context? The same goes for biweekly, biannually, etc.
As far as I can see, the word originally (1846) was supposed to mean "occurring every two months", hence the prefix "bi" (meaning "two, twice, double," etc.). I imagine that at some point people got confused when they heard "twice monthly" and started using it to mean twice per month, too. And you know how the English language works - enough people use a word (even if it's wrong) and that defines it.
In case you want to be "more" correct, you can try these alternatives for twice per month:
Did you know that some people who say the verb "flounder" actually mean "founder"?
This kind of thing always blows my mind. After I used flounder incorrectly at work, one of my bosses showed me the following entry in a book, 100 Words Almost Everyone Mixes Up or Mangles, that she purchased for me a few months ago. :)
Flounder, verb:
1. To move clumsily or with little progress, as through water or mud.
2. To act or function in a confused or directionless manner; struggle.
Founder, verb:
1. To sink below the surface of the water.
2. To cave in, sink.
3. To fail utterly, collapse.
Example:
"If a student is foundering in Chemistry 101, he had better drop the course; if he is floundering, he may yet pull through."
Since I didn't know that founder the verb existed until now, I definitely have been using flounder for all of those meanings!
Think about this: if a person flounders in the water, that person will likely founder at times.
Do you know what the difference is between these things?
As my former student Andrew pointed out, I have no real idea. :) So let's learn!
According to him:
Copyrights are for protecting an artists' creative works. ie. J.K. Rowling has the copyright to the Harry Potter series.
Trademarks are for protecting the names and identifying marks used in commercial activity. ie. The Target Corporation owns the trademark for its bulls-eye-target icon.
Patents are for scientific inventions, including machines, drugs, and the like. ie. Apple has the patent for the iPod (and lucky them!).
Trademarks and copyrights don't need to be registered, though you get extra enforcement rights if you do register them. Patents have to go through the United States Patent & Trademark Office, and they have reviewers who look at applications and check to see whether the invention is actually new enough for a patent.
I could look all of this stuff up for you to name a source, but I believe Andrew! Thanks!
Here are some sleep-related words and their meanings that you can throw around during this hibernation season:
Somniloquist, noun: sleep talker
Hypnopompic, adj: prewaking
Torpor, noun: state of sluggishness
Quiescent, adj: at rest
Bruxism, noun: teeth grinding
Soporific, adj: sleep-inducing
Did you know there were words for all these things? Feel free to use them to impress your friends. For example:
"Danny's wife's bruxism often woke him throughout the night, so he found himself in a torpor most days. If that wasn't enough, she was also a somniloquist in her hypnopompic state! Danny loved his wife, but he cherished Sunday afternoons when he could read a boring soporific book and finally be quiescent napping on the couch."
See? You probably wouldn't have understood that story at all 24 hours ago. :)
As my friend Seth proposed via twitter, what's the difference between a shiv and a shank?
And I am here with answers for you all! There is a subtle difference:
Shiv, n: a slang term for something that can be used as knife.
Shank, n: a slang term for a knife that's typically made from something else. A shank can be considered a type of shiv.
So bottom line is that they are both types of homemade knives. A shiv, though, is usually made from something already sharp, like it can be a razor blade attached to the handle of a toothbrush. A shank, however, would be the end of a toothbrush handle meticulously filed down to a sharp point. Make sense?
