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Monthly Archives: January 2019
Expressions
My Spanish grandson, a computer science student, reads novels in English by authors such as Ken Follett to sharpen his skills in that language. He wrestles with colloquialisms and slang expressions that he encounters. The one he mentioned specifically was … Continue reading
Traduced in Translation
m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOTc1MjY0ODA4MF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjQyNTQ3NjM@._V1_.jpg In the film, set in Mexico City in the 1970s, the actors speak Mexican Spanish and the indigenous Mixtec language. For that Spanish, Netflix added subtitles in Castilian, Spain’s main dialect, for the release in that country. On Wednesday, … Continue reading
Thank you for asking
“How many Likes?” It behooves me not to get fouled up in the stats. This blog is a self-pleasuring diary with benefits. I intend to let it spurt beyond my passing for a beat, then go poof with me into … Continue reading
Old English “Kennings”
s3.amazonaws.com/libapps/accounts/35417/images/sutton_hoo_bigger.jpg There are ways of expressing feeling in the Old English kennings that do not exist in the formal English of today. Even if I were to dream up some delicious new portmanteau here — some melding of “history,” “poignant” … Continue reading
Language and Music
mediad.publicbroadcasting.net/p/wvxu/files/styles/small/public/201810/otis_rush.cobra_cover.jpg THE SONG BEGINS with a great resonating shout of joy and pain that resolves into the word “Well,” swooping down from a soaring A flat to E flat. “I can’t quit you, baby,” the singer continues, the band entering … Continue reading
The Anal Linguist Rides Again
Despite being sequenced, there are still many questions that remain unanswered about the 1918 strain, such as where it originated *from*. (Nicole Karlis, “The same flu virus that caused the 1918 pandemic is back this year,” Salon, 1-3-19) That “from” … Continue reading
Spot On
i.pinimg.com/236x/af/0a/5e/af0a5e1f54ce7bd39bdacda274b78d97–iris-murdoch-irish-people.jpg Dame Iris Murdoch had been a philosophy don at Oxford before she became a novelist, and as far as I was concerned, her philosophy of life was spot on, as someone in a British novel might say. (Susan Scarf … Continue reading
A Good Guitar
I bought this guitar new at a music store in Reus (Catalonia – Spain) for 260 euros. The brand is “Alhambra,” not one I was familiar with. Made in Spain. I must give it its due here and say that … Continue reading
Losing It
“I completely understand — it’s the two greatest players of all time,” Mouratoglou said of the attention. “But I’m really focused on the singles, because my goal is that she [Williams] wins the Australian Open.” (Ben Rothenberg, “Serena Williams and … Continue reading
Draw It, Remember It
In other words, drawing out the things we want to remember can be a powerful technique to combat our natural declines in memory, better even than repeatedly writing them down or listing characteristics and descriptors. (Tim Herrera, “A Simple Way … Continue reading →