That’s quite a good idea:
Trying to get a word into the dictionary.
They actually are words missing and that are so easy to make (using the stem form with a prefix or a suffix)
At the same time, some made-up words tend to invade our newspapers and it’s a loss (Anybody else is allergic to the verb “to impact”?)
What are your thoughts? Any word you would gladly add to the English language?
After two weeks in Madrid learning Spanish at Inhispania, it felt good coming back home – if it was not for the snow. The so-called intensive class (3 hours a day) taught me a bit of grammar and let me practise spoken Spanish quite a lot, which was badly needed. But I learned a lot more. Read the rest of this entry »
I think this will be my first non-fiction book review, even though the title of the book, What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew might let one think otherwise. Daniel Pool’s book has nothing to do with literature or fiction per se. But if you’Re wondering what did Austen eat in her time, then this book is for you. Read the rest of this entry »
That title may make you wonder what this has to do with languages, unless of course I was writing an essay about the translation of the Bible, but there have been many of them already and by scholars who know the Book a lot better than I do.
I actually don’t know the bible very well. I have heard of some of the famous stories it contains, I have read about references to it that can be found in most of the classic literature, but that’s about it.
I am probably not the only one, far from it and still, the Bible is the most printed and quite likely still the most read publication to date (the Ikea catalog might catch up one day). Read the rest of this entry »
As with most things, “gaming” (or being engaged in video games) has both positives and negatives when it comes to developing minds. Too much gaming, and the positive effects are overshadowed by the negative.
Yet, the right balance can add another avenue for pursuing educational goals and achievement. As a result, more and more programs are using gaming to reach and teach students in ways they never could before.
I just finished Paulo Coelho’ The Witch of Portobello and it was quite an exhausting read. I thought it would never come to an end and the book is only 250 pages.
While I did find the style interesting – a compilation of various interviews from all the protagonists except the main one – the rhythm never picked up. Read the rest of this entry »
It might be easier not to greet at all and stay at home, being a hermit, cut off from all social bonds. It sounds harsh, but it’s a lot safer and prevents you from offending anyone by greeting them the wrong way.
Or you might be brave and dare try your luck with a random choice of kiss, hug, handshake or similar. Read the rest of this entry »
