"Close Encounters with English Dialects"

The glow I feel upon returning from a fifteen day trip to Europe surrounds me as I reflect on the people, sights, and memories that are still hovering in my mind.  Four days in London, England, staying with a longtime friend, five days on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, in a hotel with an ocean view, one too short day and night in Inverness, Scotland, and three nights in downtown Dublin, Ireland. What I especially enjoyed was the opportunity to hear the English language spoken in a variety of ways.

The term "dialect" for many people has a negative connotation as in, "I speak proper English; he speaks a dialect."  But for linguists, dialects are merely alternate forms of a language.  They all communicate meaning to their speakers equally well.  I was fortunate enough to hear the English language as spoken by the English, the Scots and the Irish.  Naturally, within these dialects, many variations exist, depending on factors such as region, socioeconomic status, education, and age of speakers.  I listened very closely for choices in pronunciation, grammar usage, and word selection that differed from my own dialect of English, which is West Texan.

Iconic London phone booth

The first time I visited London many years ago, I found myself embarrassed by my Texas accent.  It seemed to me that everyone in Britain sounded much more sophisticated than I did. I am pretty much over that neurosis, although I did notice that some speakers express themselves more formally than I do, and at greater length.  I also found myself wishing some of the English had a volume button that I could turn up.  Texans, in contrast, generally speak rather loudly!  And, yes, the English really do use "whilst"  (pronounced with a long "i" ) for our American "while."

I picked up several expressions in London that I intend to add to my vocabulary.  One is the very useful phrase "off the boil" which describes the optimum point of boiling water for making tea or coffee.  (My husband Wayne and I had been burning our coffee for years until we realized that we should not allow the kettle to reach full steam.) I heard the word "rubbish" used frequently to make a negative statement about something, as in "You sure do watch a lot of rubbish on the tele."  I found the phrase 'bin it" to mean "throw it away" short and useful.  And I loved buying a "concessionaire" ticket instead of a "senior ."  So much more dignified!    

Harbor at Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland

The next stop on the journey, the Highlands of Scotland, was a delight in so many ways, language being only one of them.  Twice I gave my breakfast order as "oatmeal" instead of "porridge," even though I knew better.  I loved what several speakers did to the "r" sound in "Granny."  It wasn't an American "r," nor a Spanish rolled "r," but more of a tap sound.  I was asked by a kind church lady, "When are you going away?"  I was taken a bit aback until I realized that she was just asking how long I would be staying on Skye.  An American couple at a B&B confided that they had taken a great tour of the Highlands and had understood about 60% of what their guide had said. Wayne congratulated them on that high percentage!  The beautiful Scottish dialect is still playing in my head.

Guinness Brewery, Dublin, Ireland

I was very excited to arrive in Dublin, Ireland, where Irish is an official language, because I have been studying Irish (Gaelic) on Duolingo for about a year.  All signs were in both Irish and English, which was a good thing, because I understood very little Irish!  Irish is a Celtic language and differs considerably from English and Latin-based languages, such as French and Spanish.  A shopkeeper gave me some interesting information about Irish. She said that she had studied Irish in school, but that each class had been given by a teacher with a different Irish dialect, so she never achieved any proficiency. The English dialect spoken by the Irish has what I might describe as a soft lilt, which may be the influence of the lyrical Irish language.

Experiencing English language dialects spoken in three different countries was a language aficionado's dream come true.  I feel fortunate to be a native speaker of a language that can accommodate different spoken accents, varying grammar usages, and a wealth of individual vocabulary while still allowing its speakers to communicate (well, usually!).

    

One very creative use of language

One of my greatest joys is listening to conversations on the radio.  It gives me the opportunity to concentrate on the creative language people use without the visual distractions of other media.

Recently, a live interview with a local artist about his career produced a creative use of language that made me laugh out loud because it was so delightful.  Here is an approximation of part of the conversation.

Interviewer:  How did you develop a relationship with your mentor?

Artist:  Well, I had known him for a long time, but I didn't know know him until we worked together.

Did he say "know know"?  Yes, he did!  I'm guessing the artist was expressing the idea that the verb "to know" has several layers of meaning.  We can be familiar with someone's name, in which case we generally say, "I know of him."  We can have a mutual relationship with another person.  "I know Professor Smith; he was my instructor."  Or we can know someone on a deeper level, which this artist chose to express by "know know."   

After a little googling, I discovered that the doubling of a word to create a new meaning is described in the field of Linguistics as "contrastive reduplication"  (those linguists love esoteric labels!). And an interesting note is that the emphasis is always placed on the first word of the pair, KNOW know. Contrastive reduplication is usually found in informal spoken language, because emphasis is an important part of the expression.

I found a Facebook Community page entitled "Doubling up your words to add extra emphasis." Unfortunately, all it yielded was this one great cartoon.

So hunger comes in degrees. from being peckish, as I believe the British say, to being hungry enough to eat a bear, which would be more used in the American Southwest.

And I found this Zits cartoon of my favorite teenager.

"Up up" would be a great phrase to use when a friend in another time zone calls you at 5:00 am and asks if you are up yet.  You may be up enough to answer to phone but not up putting the coffee on yet.  

Here are a few other examples of contrastive reduplication:

"Do you like him or like like him?"

"Is it an e-book or a book book?'

"I can't go to the movies.  I have work to do."  "Housework or work work?"  (This is a conversation my husband and I often had when I was teaching.)

Other world languages use reduplication for other purposes, such as making the plural form of a word, describing a repeated action, or indicating that something is smaller or cuter.

But I like our American English use of doubled words to express a nuanced meaning of a common word. IKEA must have liked the idea as well, because they recently advertised an IKEA book book, with no new technology involved.   IKEA Advertisement 

What? The English language isn't perfect?

For those of you who lie awake at night wondering if you used the correct pronoun in a sentence you wrote or spoke recently (yes, I know you are out there), this blog post is written especially for you.

"No student wishing to take the exam will be admitted without ____ voucher."

Which possessive pronoun would you choose to fill in the blank?

Most of us, especially if we are speaking informally, would probably insert "their" in the blank.  "No student wishing to take the exam will be admitted without their voucher."  This sentence is comprehensible to any native English speaker.  Agreed?  But does it set off any grammar alarms in your head? What if you are writing that sentence to include in an official student manual for your school?

Here is the grammar difficulty that may be putting you between a rock and a hard place (as we say in West Texas).  If you insert "his" in the blank, what about the exam takers who are female? Should you hedge your bets by using two pronouns, "his or her," in the blank?  You may get points for political correctness, but probably not for style (it's awkward, especially if you are speaking). Okay, how about "one"?  It's gender-free.  "No student wishing to take the exam will be admitted with one's voucher."  Doesn't work and sounds strange.

So yes, the English language is not perfect.  The choice of a pronoun to use in order to include both genders is not obvious.  In contrast, I would like to point out that the Spanish language does not embroil its speakers in a quandary in similar situations.  In Spanish, "su comprobante " can mean either "his voucher" or "her voucher." Problem solved.

Now you can see why "their" had a good ring to it when inserted in the blank.  "Their" is gender free. The controversy arises because "their" is usually thought of as a plural word, and its antecedent (what is refers to) is singular in the sentence we have been discussing.  Singular antecedents ("no student") and plural pronouns ("their") run up red flags for many usage experts. The observation that such illustrious writers as William Shakespeare and Jane Austen used "their" in a singular sense does not quiet the opponents of "their" for our sentence.

Steven Pinker, in The Sense of Style:  the Thinking Person's Guide to Writing in the 21st Century, writes that changing the original sentence so that it has a plural subject is one solution to this grammar conundrum.  "No students wishing to take the exam will be admitted without their vouchers."  That works.  Pinker also suggests changing the sentence to read, "No student wishing to take the exam will be admitted without a voucher," although a clever student might insist on taking the exam using someone else's voucher, since "a" is non-specific.

My decision is made.  If I am speaking or writing informally, I am going to use "their" (and other words like "they" and "themselves") as both a singular and a plural form.  But if I am writing a formal document, I will take the coward's way out and reword the sentence so that I don't lie awake nights fearing that someone (heaven forbid!) will criticize my English grammar usage!

Using He or She - Are you confused?

A cryptic text message from my son read "Look up non-binary pronouns."  And I did.  What an intriguing topic.  The linguistic label for this class of words is a bit prissy, but the concept deals with much discussed topics in today's society.

First, in case you (understandably) slept through explanations of parts of speech in Freshman English, a simplified definition of a pronoun is a word that can be used in place of a noun.

The English pronouns "he" and "she," which are classified as binary pronouns. are often targets of current controversies.  Here's the issue.     

To refer to a third person with a pronoun, traditional English grammar forces us to decide if that person is male (he) or female (she).  This is not true of all world languages.   The Hawaiian language, for example, has one word, "ia," often written as "o ia,"  which can be translated as "he," she," or "it."

In today's American society, there are increasing numbers of people who self-identify as transgender.

Many attempts have been made recently to introduce new gender-neutral or non-binary pronouns.

One recommendation is to use what are called "splat pronouns," such as "*e" for either "he" or "she." The asterisk indicates ambiguity between male and female. Another formulation of less specific pronouns, "spivak pronouns," came into being in an online chat room where participants did not want to disclose their genders. These pronouns, such as "E" ("he, "she," "it), are attributed to Michael Spivak.

Still other trans-gender individuals use the pronoun "they" in a singular sense. "They,"of course, is gender-free.

You may wonder why American language has not caught up with the social acceptance of varying types of gender.  The answer may be because pronouns are classified as function words, along with other words such as conjunctions, prepositions, and articles.   These words contrast with content words, such as nouns, verbs, and adjectives.  (Stick with me here.) 

New content words come into our language at a dizzying speed.  Do you know the meaning of "crowdfund," "e-cigarette," or "jeggings"?  These new content words enter our language easily.

Linguists tell us that pronouns, being function words, belong to a closed class of words that seldom admits new members. When is the last time you learned of a new pronoun? I can remember an attempt by the Feminist Movement of the 1960's and 70's to introduce "s/he" as a neutral pronoun, but I don't believe the new pronoun caught on in widespread use.  So the numerous suggestions now being offered for non-binary pronouns may not enter the mainstream quickly. 

Until English grammar books catch up with societal mores, wearing name tags has been suggested as a way of training others to use new forms of address.

Now, who said pronouns were a dull, pedantic topic?  

Can introverts learn foreign languages?

"What is the best way to learn a foreign language?" people ask me, knowing that I am a language nerd.  If I only had a foolproof answer to that question!

I look at every piece of advice offered about language learning in books and magazines and online. One of the most common suggestions is to begin engaging in conversations with native speakers of the language. Who could argue with that?  Sounds like a no-brainer, right?  But what if you are an introvert?

Introverts are often accused of being shy, unfriendly, and antisocial. Oh, how misunderstood we are! Several good books have come out recently in defense of introversion.

I don't think introversion needs more defense on my part, maybe just a little understanding by the extroverts in the world who get so energized by conversation.  This is the issue:  introverts do not enjoy making small talk!  Small talk drains their energy, just like a cellphone battery loses energy when engaged. 

So you can see the dilemma the introverted language learner faces.  It would be great to strike up conversations with those who speak the new language.  Every conversation will be a mini language lesson. But the conversations will of necessity be small talk.  New language learners don't have the grammar or vocabulary to go into very deep subjects!  

For example, one suggestion I read recently was for the new language learner to ask people on the street what time it is (whether you really need to know the time or not) just for language practice. I can't see myself asking a stranger on the street about anything in any language!  It would make me very uncomfortable.  

So what is the introverted language learner to do? After all,  having conversations is definitely a way to expand language proficiency.  Here are three suggestions for fellow introverts:

* Realize that short conversation exchanges in the new language are good for you, and consider them the same way you would a shot of antibiotics at the doctor's office - not pleasant, but suffered for a good cause.

* Find another introverted person to practice the new language with.  Maybe you can even set a time limit so you both will know that the  small talk will end soon.

* Write more emails and text messages in the new language.  Emails and texts are not exactly like face to face conversations, but they generally use informal language.  And you have a chance to think about what you are saying!

Yes, of course introverts can learn foreign languages.  We can focus well on new information, we are persistent, and we are creative, all necessary character traits for successful language learning.  We just have to find our own ways of learning language. 

  

Language learning may change your brain and personality!

Yet another article touting the benefits of language learning caught my eye recently,  How to learn 30 languages by David Robson on BBC.com. He states that language learning is "arguably the best brain training you can try." Since I  enjoy the process of studying languages anyway, it is heartening to think that I am also giving my brain what Robson describes as a "tough mental workout." I may be strengthening attention and memory and even delaying the onset of dementia.

Another key idea is that of multiple languages providing learners with "a new cultural skin." You may have experienced the sensation of adopting a new identity when you speak another language.  I certainly have, but only with certain languages.

When I speak Spanish rather than my native English, I soften my expression to be more polite. I find that I invade others' personal space by giving more abrazos to my speaking companions. ( Abrazo is translated into English as "hug" or "embrace," but I would never give a hug to someone I just met when speaking English; however, I might give an abrazo in the same situation when speaking Spanish.)  My expression is less abrupt in Spanish; for example, I  answer questions in English with a "yeah," or an "uh-uh", while in Spanish, I might say "Sí, ¿cómo no? (yes, of course), or "No, gracias" (no, thanks)

The Portuguese language has an even more noticeable effect on my reticent personality.  I love to speak Portuguese. The sounds are pleasing to the ear, and I can produce all Portuguese sounds with some resemblance to the original.   The grammar is playful.  Can grammar really be described as playful?  I think so.  I enjoy leaving out the word "it" when not required for meaning, as in the response, "Tenho, sim." (Yes, I have it).  I think it is cool to have a special subjunctive tense to express future doubt.  "If I speak Portuguese" becomes "Se eu falar português," and it feels like I have gotten away with not conjugating the ver "falar." Yes, a bit geeky, I'll admit.

When I speak Portuguese, memories of when and how I first learned Portuguese come to mind.  For a few minutes at least, I can again be a young language teacher on an NEH-sponsored trip to Brazil to learn Portuguese.  I can buy a morning café com leite (coffee with milk) from the nuns at a small stand in front of the university.  And I can smile at the Brazilian immigration officer who remarked that I spoke pretty good Portuguese as I was leaving the country. 

The two other languages I work on every day, French and Irish Gaelic, are mainly for brain training. I never expect to be fluent in either language, but I enjoy the challenge on Duolingo of analyzing how these two somewhat complex languages express meaning.

So, thanks to the BBC article for helping me justify the amount of time and energy I spend on language learning. I have high hopes that my brain and personality are changing for the better with each passing day!

Snowclones for summer entertainment

No, the word "snowclones" in the title is not a typo.  It is an invented word announced by linguist Geoffrey Pullum in Language Log to describe an observable language phenomenon.

Granted that eating a snow cone

on a blazing hot summer day may be a bit more fun than looking for examples of snowclones in modern communication,  I still think discovering snowclones is amusing.

The term "snowclone" was inspired by the mistaken notion that Eskimos have many more words for snow than other languages (I'll spare you the details). A less complicated example of a snowclone is "X is the new Y."  You are probably familiar with "Orange is the new black," or "50 is the new 40."

Snowclones are described as a kind of cliché that can be used as a template for new expressions, much like fill in the blank expressions.  Sometimes snowclones are described as a type of word play and other times less positively as the result of  lazy communication.

I learned about snowclones about a week ago through a text from my son, who knows I am a sucker for any new concept about language.  Sure enough, I have been able to identify three snowclones already.

The first is "Keep calm and carry on," the phrase used in Britain during WWII to inspire the British public.  I have seen numerous examples of the same phrase with a new ending, many dispensing advice.

Next, I recently read an article entitled,    "This is your brain on Jane Austen."  The original slogan, "This is your brain on drugs" originated during the 1987 Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

The use of the phrase to describe positive changes in the brain during focused reading of classic literature moves a negative experience into a positive one. 

And finally, have you noticed how the days of the week are now being designated for certain activities?  "Casual Fridays," the idea of dressing less formally at work once a week, is an example. And in my home town of El Paso, Texas, located on the border with Mexico, restaurants offer "Taco Tuesdays" with many varieties of this tasty snack for as little as $1.00  apiece.

I'll be trying to identify more snowclones in the future.  They are a great reminder that language is a creative process, ever-changing, and available for all of us to enjoy.  Let me know please if you make a snowclone discovery (or eat an awesome snow cone)!