Calling all language lovers!

[Gauchita]

I'll shamelessly plug a friend's blog here because it's great!

If you're interested in language, etymology, linguistics, etc, head this way.

She's an etymology addict (and doesn't mind me saying so ) and is teaching the rest of us a lot, so thank you Alex

alexpolistigers.wordpress.com/

[MmeLindor]

Joining in the Alex love, cause she is absolutely bloody marvellous.

We've been discussing all sorts of stuff at home because of her blog. DH is German and I've started to notice the idioms he uses more.

Currently wondering about 'licht aus, Affe tot', which he says when the DC go to bed.

[Gauchita]

Bumping it for the morning language-loving crowd...

I've loved the phrasal verbs posts; for non-natives phrasals can be a minefield. By explaining them in context, and in a sort of story, Alex managed to make them clear and not boring! Great material for EFL teachers too.

[Niarfi]

I like the ladybird article, that was very interesting, especially the San Antonio ladybird cow!

[WillieWaggledagger]

ooh lovely, will bookmark to read later

word of mouth on R4 from this week is definitely worth a listen btw

[cakesonatrain]

Bookmarked for later.

[Gauchita]

Oh, great more language lovers

Niarfi, mysterious name that one, isn't it? We're trying to get more reliable sources on this still.

I'll have a look at word of mouth.

[WillieWaggledagger]

one of the most interesting things i studied for a while was quechua, and it is so true that through learning a language you understand how a culture views and structures their world

e.g. in quechua there are two different pronouns (they actually appear as suffixes) meaning 'we' - inclusive and exclusive. so one version means 'us including you' and the other means 'us but not including you' for the person at whom it is directed. it is an insight into what they feel is an important distinction

language is so so fascinating

[HerbertGistcool]

Thanks for the link OP. Marking my place

[QueenofLouisiana]

Will have a nosy later, looking forward to it once DH has finally gone to play golf!

[HerbertGistcool]

Question from ds this morning: why does German have two words for holiday (Urlaub and Ferien) and English only has one?

[HorryIsUpduffed]

German distinguishes between holiday-from-work/school and going-on-holiday. Which is very logical IMHO.

[WillieWaggledagger]

i can't answer about the German, but English does have two in a sense, with different roots - 'holiday' (from holy day - old english / germanic) and 'vacation' (from the latin vacationem). because English has absorbed words from many other languages you often find two or more words meaning the same thing, one with a latin origin and one with an old english origin (or elsewhere).

[chocoluvva]

Great blog.

[WillieWaggledagger]

ah that's interesting horry, so it's the distinction between 'day off' and 'going away'

[Gauchita]

That's interesting.

MmeLindor will be able to discuss the German bit too (no German here, only SP, EN and PT).

I've also told Alex to join in the conversation so she should be here soon!

[MmeLindor]

Yes, 'Urlaub' is the trip you take during the 'Ferien'

Ferien denotes school holidays only, I think. You'd use Urlaub when talking about a work break.

I love the dandelion / dent de lion explanation. We realised the connection when we learned the French word, as it clearly connects to German Löwenzahn

[MmeLindor]

Ha. Gauchita. I'm impressed by your mind control powers.

[Gauchita]

Willie, loved that bit about Quechua. Agree re. language structures saying a lot about cultures/peoples.

[Gauchita]

MmeLindor, right on time!

[Gauchita]

Right, off to the park with the DC but will be back for lunch and some more language chat.

[alexpolistigers]

Hello, sorry to come late to the party!

Fascinating about Quechua. I've read that some south Asian languages have a similar feature.

Greek also differentiates between holidays, incidentally

[alexpolistigers]

And I liked the San Antonio ladybird, too!

[SmartiesMakeMeNaughty]

This blog is fantastic - thanks for posting the link.

[alexpolistigers]

although it does feel a bit cheeky coming on a thread that's promoting my own blog! Thankyou Gauchita and MmeLindor!

[Niarfi]

If you do find out more about the San Antonio cow, I would be very interested! Come back and start another thread!