Tag Archives: language

The Gallego

Posted on August 6, 2018 by JMN

The Gallego, or native of Galicia, is by nature very reserved. For example, if you meet a Gallego in the stairwell, you will not know whether he’s going up or going down. [Copyright (c) James Mansfield Nichols. All rights reserved.]

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Poetaster

Posted on August 4, 2018 by JMN

More joy courtesy of Blake Gopnik, “In His Films, Brancusi Takes Flight,” NYTimes. Given all the chestnuts in this show, the challenge is to see if we can still find a way to be astonished by them, as we were … Continue reading →

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Jolly Comeuppance

Posted on August 4, 2018 by JMN

I was a retentive student. I would remember being exposed to the political geography of the kingdom across the English Channel from Europe. I was not exposed to that geography. Yesterday I learned that “Great Britain” consists of England, Scotland … Continue reading →

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“Toot Toot Tutu Toodle-oo.”

Posted on August 2, 2018 by JMN

New words encountered! Courtesy of Roberta Smith, “Painting: An (Incomplete) Survey of the State of the Art,” NYTimes. “gamin” — Ms. Hearne was a gamin performance artist turned art dealer with an audacious eye… [I knew this word from French … Continue reading →

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Onward and Upward with the Language

Posted on August 1, 2018 by JMN

I learned a new word today: “derp,” meaning “foolishness or stupidity.” Here’s the context: So that’s why I’m a crypto skeptic. Could I be wrong? Of course. But if you want to argue that I’m wrong, please answer the question, … Continue reading →

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Enough About Me

Posted on July 29, 2018 by JMN

The Supreme Court in its five-four wiseness has ruled that money is speech and therefore protected under the “free” clause. I rule that image is language and therefore commentable under the “thoughts on art and language” clause. And thus I … Continue reading →

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On Mistranslation

Posted on July 29, 2018 by JMN

When Jerome, the patron saint of translators, rendered the Bible into Latin, he introduced a pun that created one of the most potent symbols of Christian iconography, turning the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (“malus”) into the … Continue reading →

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LinkedIn Just Gave You a New Reason to Make Fun of LinkedIn

Posted on July 28, 2018 by JMN

LinkedIn, a social network for people who enjoy soul-crushing banality, knows you get more than a few emails from randos wanting to add you to their “professional network.” Sick of reading messages from these random acquaintances looking to discuss synergy-based … Continue reading →

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Dear Mother… Charles

Posted on July 17, 2018 by JMN

Charles gave me a copy of his “translation” of Arthur Rimbaud’s “Le bateau ivre” (The Drunken Boat). I put “translation” in quotes because Charles readily admits that his version derives from other English versions of the poem, since he doesn’t … Continue reading →

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“She’s so competitive”

Posted on July 17, 2018 by JMN

“It’s funny when they talk about women, saying, ‘Oh, she’s so competitive,’ and it’s almost a put-down… For me, what’s the alternative? To try to lose, or to not give your best? ‘Competitive’ means you’re concentrating, and you do everything … Continue reading →

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