© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue Page 1

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue Page 2

Welcome to “Foreign Language Fun” from Wiser Now On the following pages, you will find more than a dozen stories and exercises related to language – Spanish, French, German, Japanese – plus lots of British, Scottish, Irish and Aussie English phrases that prove the diversity even among English-speakers! We also have discussions on word origins, tricky translations and word myths that are sure to entertain you as you learn something new. All have been excerpted and adapted from past issues of our previous publication, Brain Aerobics Weekly

(www.WiserNow.com). Unlike most of our MindPlay ConnectionsTM products, this one contains only discussion topics and word quizzes, because they work best with the topic of language. We are certain they will also inspire you to do lots of reminiscing on the language gifts and gaffes that have affected you in your lifetime.

Foreign Language Fun is a perfect accompaniment to several other MindPlay Connections™ titles, such as:

Nifty Names

It’s All Relative (Parts 1 and 2)

Literature Light

School Daze We are adding new products every month to our Wiser Now store, so shop now and shop often. (http://shop.wisernow.com/) If you have exercises, resources, or ideas you want to add, please feel free to email me at Kathy@WiserNow.com.

An abbreviated Table of Contents:*

Discussion topics: 7, 22, 26, 28

Word games: 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 24

Resources: 30

Feel free to go beyond the suggested uses. For example, many of the exercises are likely to prompt reminiscences that can open up additional discussions. * A complete Table of Contents is listed on Page 30 under Sources.

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue Page 3

Word Game – World Hello Day

It’s only natural that our “Foreign Language Fun” booklet should begin with greetings upon meeting, although the official day for it is World Hello Day celebrated annually on November 21st. To honor the day by promoting world peace through civility, you are asked to greet 10 new people. People in many countries use a greeting that is the rough equivalent of the English “Hello,” or “Hi,” or “How are you?” Australians, of course, say “G’day, mate,” an abbreviated “Good day,” and Germans do the same with “Guten Tag” or just “Tag.” Many languages use some form of “peace” in their greetings, dating back centuries to when people who met on the road wanted to quickly establish the fact that they meant no harm as they passed one another. We don’t expect you to know all the answers to this exercise, but we do hope you have fun learning new words, and perhaps making some new connections!

Part 1: Can you match the language to the “hello” greeting?

1. Arabic ___ 2. Burmese ___ 3. Chinese, Mandarin

___ 4. Cree ___ 5. Fijian ___ 6. French ___ 7. Hawaiian ___ 8. Italian ___ 9. Latin, Classical ___

10. Polish ___ 11. Russian ___ 12. Spanish ___ 13. Swedish ___ 14. Turkish ___

15. Vietnamese ___

a. Aloha b. Bula Uro (Informal) c. Ciào - pronounced “chow” (informal); also

means "goodbye” d. Hej - pronounced “hey” (informal) e. Hola - pronounced “o-la” f. Marhaban g. Merhaba selam (formal) h. Mingalarba

i. 你好 - Nǐ hǎo - pronounced, “nee how”

j. Privet! pronounced as “pree-vyet” (informal) k. Salut - the “t” is silent (informal) l. Salve - pronounced “sal-way” or salvete -

pronounced “sal-way-tay” (1st is singular; 2nd is plural)

m. Tansi – pronounced “tawnsay” n. Witaj (hello) or cześć (hi) - pronounced,

"cheshch" o. Xin chào - pronounced “sin DJOW”

Salaam, which is part of the greeting in many Middle Eastern languages (Persian, Turkish, Urdu), and Shalom, which is the typical Jewish greeting, both have roots in the idea of peace. Actions may not show it, but in a way they speak the same language.

Common Islamic greeting: ك ي ل pronounced “Assalamou (peace be upon you) عAlykoum”

Common Yiddish greeting: Sholem aleikhem (may peace be unto you)

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue Page 4

Part 2: Can you match the language to these greetings?

1. Austrian/Swiss ___ 2. Greek ___ 3. Hindi ___ 4. Hopi ___ 5. Irish/Gaelic ___ 6. Japanese ___

7. Klingon ___ 8. Maldivian (Dhivehi) ___ 9. Maori/New Zealand ___

10. Swahili ___ 11. Tagalog/Philippines ___ 12. Zulu ___

a. Dia duit - pronounced "deah duit" (“God be with you”) b. Grüßgott (formal) - pronounced “grue-ss gott” (“God’s greetings”) c. Jambo? (“How are you?”) or Habari gani? (“What is the news?”)* d. Kia ora (“Be well/healthy”) e. Kihineth (“How" – sounds like a 1950s TV cowboy and Indian show, but

it’s the common way of greeting in this country)

f. 今日は Konnichi wa - pronounced “kong-nee-chee-wa” (essentially

means “Good day”) g. Kumusta ka? - pronounced "kuh-muh-stah kah", (informal, means "How

are you?")

h. , Namaste – pronounced “nah-mah-stay” (“I honor the spirit with

you,” accompanied by a bow – “nama” means “to bow”) i. NuqneH? – pronounced “nook-neck” (“What do you want?") j. Sawubona (singular) or sanibonani (plural) It means

“We see you” and you should respond by saying "yebo" – meaning “yes”'

k. Um waynuma? (“You're around?”) l. γεια σου - pronounced “yah-soo” (“Health to you”)

*In the Congo, “jambo” is replaced with “mambo”!

Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Say-Hello-in-Different-Languages

Answers, Part 1: 1. f 2. h 3. i

4. m 5. b 6. k

7. a 8. c 9. l

10. n 11. j 12. e

13. d 14. g 15. o

You can also get by with saying “hey” in Danish and Norwegian speaking countries.

Answers, Part 2: 1. b 2. l

3. h 4. k

5. a 6. f

7. i 8. e

9. d 10. c

11. g 12. j

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue Page 5

Word Game – The King’s English

When I traveled to England and Scotland with an Australian friend, it was obvious that we each have our own variation of English. Let’s begin this journey with England’s English. The inspiration for this quiz came from a card game called “The Queen’s English” (published in California) purchased at William Shakespeare’s birthplace gift shop. I like it because it translates colorful phrases from British English to colorful phrases in American English. For example, “Codswallup,” which means essentially nonsense or drivel, is translated as “guff, bunkum and baloney.” Find it at www.pomegranate.com. However, never satisfied with a single source, I have added samples from personal experiences and other websites (http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atlantis/2284/ and http://www.hps.com/~tpg/ukdict/index.php?file=ukdict-2). I hope you will also notice a delightful British sense of humor in all this. As for non-American readers, do you know the American equivalents of each?

Part 1: Match these American foods to their English equivalents

If you are feeling a bit peckish (hungry) and think it must be well past time for elevenses (morning coffee break) here are some ideas for ordering a snack, but beware that English appetizers are often called entrees, and if someone says it is “off” it does not mean spoiled, but unavailable:

1. A “brewski” or other alcoholic drink ___ 2. Chips ___ 3. Cookie ___ 4. Fizz ___ 5. Fried potatoes and greens (leftovers) ___ 6. French fries ___ 7. Hamburger bun ___ 8. Jello ___ 9. Jelly ___ 10. Sandwich ___ 11. Sausages ___ 12. Sausage in Yorkshire pudding ___

a. Bangers b. Bap c. Bevvy d. Biscuit e. Bubble and Squeak f. Butty g. Chips h. Crisps i. Jelly j. Jam k. Soft drink l. Toad in a hole

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue Page 6

Part 2: Match these American clothes to their English equivalents

In England, clothes are sometimes called “clobber.” You can see how Americans might become easily confused by overlapping terminology.

1. Boots ___ 2. Garter Belt ___ 3. Pants ___ 4. Sneakers ___ 5. Suspenders ___ 6. Sweater ___ 7. Tank top ___ 8. Tuxedo ___ 9. Undershirt ___

10. Underwear (men) ___ 11. Underpanties (women)

___ 12. Vest ___

a. Beetle crushers b. Boob tube c. Braces d. Dinner jacket e. Jumper

f. Knickers g. Pants h. Plimsolls, pumps i. Suspenders j. Trousers k. Vest

l. Waistcoat

Part 3: Match American driving terms to their English equivalents When English drivers say that their roadways are full of diversions, they don’t mean attractions, but detours. Here are other terms you should know if you’re planning to try driving on the left:

1. Black and white police cars in rural areas ___ 2. Crosswalk ___ 3. Dead-end street ___ 4. Divided highway ___ 5. Grassy median strip ___ 6. Gutter ___ 7. Hills ___ 8. On/Off Ramp ___ 9. Overpass ___ 10. Reflectors to denote the middle of the road at night ___ 11. Sidewalk ___ 12. Turn signals ___

a. Cat’s eyes b. Central reservation

c. Close d. Downs e. Dual carriageway f. Flyover g. Gully h. Pandas i. Pavement (often frighteningly narrow to Americans)

j. Slip road k. Winkers l. Zebra crossing

Answers, Part 1: 1.c 2.h 3.d 4.k 5.e 6.g 7.b 8.i 9.j 10.f 11.a 12.l

Answers, Part 2: 1.a 2.i 3.j 4.h 5.c 6.e 7.b 8.d 9.k 10.g 11.f 12.l

Answers, Part 3: 1.h 2.l 3.c 4.e 5.b 6.g 7.d 8.j 9.f 10.a 11.i 12.k

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue Page 7

Discussion: Aussie slang

I love Australia and Australians, but contrary to popular belief, Americans and Australians do not speak the same language. Anyone who says he understands every word has had foreign language training in Strine – Australian slang. (Australians think pronouncing all four syllables is a waste of time.)

Rule #1 for speaking Australian: Make everything possible into a joke.

This rule applies even to the most innocuous conversations. I have long said that the first thing out of an Australian man’s mouth is always a lie, but it is intended to be a funny lie. I once asked the clerk at a remote shop, “Do you ship to the U.S.?” and he immediately said, “Yes, of course,” but after I took the bait, he admitted, that, no, unfortunately, they did not. Never take an Australian’s opening bit of conversation at face value. In fact, the Australians have an expression for this: “to have a lend of you” which means to take advantage of your gullibility.

Lots of jokes are based on making fun of themselves and others in a good-natured way. People who live in tropical Queensland may be called “banana benders,” for example, and “The Aussie salute” is to brush flies away. Here are

some other Australian phrases that are their own jokes:

Bitzer = a mongrel dog (bits of this and bits of that)

Earbasher = nagging, non-stop chattering person; the verb is “to yabber”

Shark biscuit = somebody new to surfing

Stickybeak = nosy person

Technicolor yawn = throw up

To have kangaroos loose in the top paddock = to be less than bright

Rule #2: Abbreviate everything and try to add an “ie” or “y” to the end.

For example, an Australian = an Aussie (pronounced Ozzie; Ozzies called their homeland Oz or “The Lucky Country”). Pokies = poker machines, fruit machines, or gambling slot machines. Here are a few others:

Barbie = barbecue

Brekkie = breakfast

Chewie = chewing gum

Chokkie = chocolate

Chrissie = Christmas

Exy = something expensive

Footy = Australian Rules Football

Greenie = an environmentalist

Lollie = lollipop or candies

Mozzie = mosquito

Oldies = parents

Polly = politician

Postie = postman

Prezzy = present

Rellies = relatives

Sunnies = sunglasses

Uni = university

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue Page 8

Then there are words shortened with an “o” ending, such as avos for avocadoes, garbo for garbage collector, journo for journalist and milko for milkman. If an Australian abbreviates your name, he probably likes you. Rule #3: Oddly musical names are probably Aboriginal place names:

Like American Indian names, Aboriginal names frequently trip up the unfamiliar tongue, but here are some of the more musical places found on an Australian map. Try saying them out loud: Allawah Billimari Boolaroo Boroondara Canberra Coolamon Coonawarra Dubbo

Geelong Goondiwindi Jannali Kalamunda Kareela Karumba Kirrawee Maralinga

Mooloolaba Mullaloo Mundubbera Narrandera Nhulunbuy Panania Parramatta Perenjori

Taranna Turramurra Waroona Wollongong Woomera Woy Woy Yarra Yarrawonga

Many Australian words and phrases are related to body parts and functions that are not necessarily suitable for a G-rated publication, although it should be noted that “thongs” are cheap rubber backless sandals, and someone described as “pissed,” in Australia is drunk, not angry. (Much Australian slang is related to drinking alcohol.) To learn more, go to http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html

Talk about it

Have you ever been to Australia or met an Australian? Were you ever confused by what s/he was saying?

Do you find Aussies deserve their reputation for being easy-going, laid back and unassuming? Why or why not? Can you give examples?

Do you think Americans have colorful expressions that might be difficult for people from other countries to understand? Can you give examples?

Have you ever had an amusing experience triggered by misunderstandings of language? Tell your story.

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue Page 9

Word Game – More Strine

There are literally hundreds of Australian slang terms (Strine) that require translating, but if you understand Australian humor, you can figure out many of them.

Part 1: Try to match the Australian slang phrase to its meaning:

1. Ankle biter ___ 2. Bludger ___ 3. Bodgy ___ 4. Boomer ___ 5. Bush telly ___ 6. Cactus ___ 7. Click ___ 8. Clucky ___ 9. Coldie ___

10. Conch ___ 11. Crook ___ 12. Fair dinkum ___ 13. Flick ___ 14. Fossick ___ 15. Furphy ___ 16. Give it a burl ___

a. beer b. campfire c. conscientious person; somebody who

would rather work or study than go out and enjoy him/herself

d. dead, not functioning e. false or unreliable rumor f. feeling broody or maternal g. kilometer h. lazy person, somebody who always

relies on others to do for him i. large male kangaroo j. of inferior quality k. search, rummage (through drawers) or

prospect (e.g., for gold) l. sick, or badly made m. small child n. to get rid of him/her o. true, genuine p. try it, have a go

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue Page 10

Part 2: Try to match the Australian slang phrase to its meaning:

17. Feeling stuffed ___ 18. Gobsmacked ___ 19. Good oil ___ 20. Good onya ___ 21. Hooroo ___ 22. Lair ___ 23. Larrikin ___ 24. Lob, lob in ___

25. Ocker ___ 26. Offsider ___ 27. Op shop ___ 28. Plonk ___ 29. Shout ___ 30. Show pony ___ 31. Squizz ___ 32. Tall poppies ___

a. a flashily dressed young man of brash and vulgar behavior

b. assistant, helper c. cheap wine d. drop in to see

someone e. goodbye f. look g. person who is always enjoying

himself, harmless prankster

h. someone who tries hard, by his dress or behavior, to impress others

i. successful people j. surprised, astounded k. thrift store l. tired m. turn to buy n. unsophisticated person o. useful information, a good idea,

the truth p. well done, good for you

Source: http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html Answers. Part 1: 1. m 2. h

3. j 4. i

5. b 6. d

7. g 8. f

9. a 10. c

11. l 12. o

13. n, 14. k

15. e 16. p

Answers, Part 2: 17. l 18. j

19. o 20. p

21. e 22. a

23. g 24. d

25. n 26. b

27. k 28. c

29. m 30. h

31. f 32. i

Examples: 6. The washing machine is cactus 7. It’s 10 clicks away 13. Give him the flick 23. “Happy as a Larry” is a popular expression 27. Opportunity shop 29. Usually drinks – “Your shout”

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 11

Word Game – Scottish Word Origins

As anyone who has spent a wee bit of time in the presence of people from Scotland knows, they may speak English, but it’s a fascinating, more musical muddling of it than most of us are used to. The Scots have given us words like “cozy,” “tweed” and all things golf-related (first spelled “gowf”). Other words that have entered our language with their original meanings intact are:

Blether – chatter

Cooties – louse or nit

Dram – small amount of drink

Minging – putrid The word “whisky” (spelled without the “e” in Scotland) comes from a phrase meaning “water of life.” And did you ever wonder about the phrase “in the gloaming” from the musical “Brigadoon”? It means “at dusk.”

In the exercise below, check your knowledge of other words the Scots brought to English.

Choose the correct answer

1. The original meaning of gumption was a. bravery ___ b. common sense, shrewd ___

2. The original meaning of canny was a. to know how ___ b. clever

3. The original meaning of plaid was a. blanket ___ b. pattern ____

4. The original meaning of black mail was a. armor worn in the stealth of night ___ b. rent ___

5. The original meaning of galore was

a. many gifts ___ b. enough ___

6. The original meaning of glamour was a. magic, enchantment ___ b. immodest glitziness ___

7. The original meaning of slogan was

a. battle cry ___ b. slur ___

8. The original meaning of clan was a. tribe, band ___ b. offspring, descendants ___

9. The original meaning of gob, which was later changed to “gab,” as in “the gift of gab” was

a. mouth, beak ___ b. braggart ___

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 12

10. The original meaning of weird was a. surprising, fantastical ___ b. fate, destiny ___

Learning Scottish Gaelic

According to the website http://scotgaelic.tripod.com/phrases.html, you can learn Scottish Gaelic by remembering that spoken Gaelic flows seamlessly from word to word, so that the phrases below should be spoken as if each were a single, unbroken word. Also remember that "ch" always sounds like "Bach," and always “pop” your R’s (roll them slightly).

Try these useful phrases from the website:

"Ciamar a tha sibh?" (KIM-mer uh HAH shiv?) How are you?

"Tha gu math, tapadh leibh." (HAH guh MAH, TAH-puh LEH-eev) I'm well, thank you.

"Càit a bheil an taigh beag?" (KAHTCH uh vehl un tye bek?) Where's the bathroom?

"Slàinte mhòr agad!" (SLAHN-tchuh VORR AH-kut!) Great health to you! (Cheers!)

"Chan eil mi a' tuigsinn." (chan-yel mi uh-TOOK-shin) I don't understand.

"Gabhaibh mo leisgeul." (GAHV-iv moe LESH-kul) Excuse me.

"'S math sin!" (SMAH-shin)* Great! – Terrific!

"Ma 'se ur toil e." (mah sheh oor TUL-leh) Please.

"Tapadh leat." (TAH-puh LAHT – also – TAHplett) Thank you.

"'Se do bheatha." (sheh doe VEH-huh) You're welcome.

"Mar sin leibh an dràsda." (mahr shin LEH-eev un DRAHSS-tuh) Ta ta for now.

* Is this where “Smashing!” meaning “Terrific!” comes from?

Answers: 1. b 2. a

3. a 4. b

5. b 6. a

7. a 8. b

9. a 10. b

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 13

Word Games – Irish slang

We’ve covered Australian, Scottish, and British English, so we cannot ignore the Irish. According to the website http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A3225106, you will prove yourself to be hopelessly outdated if you go to Ireland and try to fit in using phrases like:

Begorrah

Top of the morning

Fine colleen On the other hand, you will be lost if you don’t understand current Irish slang. We don’t mean Gaelic phrases, which are no longer widely spoken, but simple everyday expressions. For example, if someone tells you that a pub is about a mile away or a 20-minute walk, beware of Irish time and distance, which are often shortened to keep you from discouragement on the journey. Directions might also include oddities like, “Turn left where the dog usually sits.” Let’s see how well you can do with this matching game.

Part 1: Can you match the definition to the expression?

1. Are you okay? ___ 2. Blow-in ___ 3. Bold ___ 4. Come here ___ 5. Craic ___ 6. Crimbo ___ 7. Culchie ___

8. Deadly ___ 9. Fair deuce ___

10. Fierce ___ 11. Good man yourself! ___ 12. Hole in the wall ___ 13. Jeanie Mac! ___ 14. Kip ___

a. ATM machine b. Bartender talk for, “What can I get you?” c. Christmas d. Denotes agreeing with and respecting person e. An expression to substitute for taking the Lord’s

name in vain (Like “Holy Mackerel!”) f. Fun g. Good job h. Listen up i. Shack or substandard housing j. Stranger or foreigner, someone who is less than 10 generations Irish k. Someone from a rural area of Ireland, also known as a “muck savage” l. Substitutes for “naughty” usually in reference to children m. Terrific/a great time n. Very/really

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 14

Part 2: Can you match the definition to the expression?

1. Knackered ___ 2. Ninety to the dozen ___

3. Rabbit on ___ 4. Right bags ___ 5. Sambo ___ 6. Scratcher ___ 7. Snogging ___ 8. Soft old day ___

9. Sure ____ 10. Take the weight off your legs

___ 11. What’s the craic? ___ 12. Woah? ___ 13. Yer man or woman ___ 14. “Yes” and “no” ___

a. Any news? b. Bed c. Describing the weather without mentioning rain d. Excuse me, would you please repeat what you

said? e. Mess up, spectacular error f. Prolonged kissing/making out g. Sandwich h. Sit down i. A way of substituting for a forgotten name j. Talk endlessly about nothing, blather k. Talk so fast no one can understand l. Tired, worn out

m. Well, maybe, we’ll see, no guarantee n. Within the realm of possibility, but that’s all

Additional resource: http://goireland.about.com/od/historyculture/qt/irishidioms.htm Answers, Part 1:

1. b 2. j

3. l 4. h

5. f 6. c

7. k 8. m

9. g 10. n

11. d 12. a

13. e 14. i

Answers, Part 2: 1. l 2. k

3. j 4. e

5. g 6. b

7. f 8. c

9. n 10. h

11. a 12. d

13. i 14. m

Note: “Cultchie” in part 1, #7 stands for “agriculture” and is said to be used “affectionately,” rather than as an insult.

Also note: According to the above resources, Irish does not really have a definite "yes" or a final "no". The Irish avoid both words as much as possible. Only if they are pressed will they give a clear answer. The implication is always that both "yes" and "no" are in a state of flux and synonymous with "well, maybe, we'll see."

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 15

Word Game – Hawaiian Words

One genuinely foreign language spoken in the U.S. (although not by many) is Hawaiian. Although the Hawaiian language has only 12 letters – our basic vowels, plus h, k, l, m, n, p, and w – native speakers tend to string lots of syllables together to make melodic combinations. Some of these words you will know. Others will require you to guess.

Match the word to its meaning

1. Aloha ___

2. Hale ___

3. Hula ___

4. Kahuna ___

5. Kapuna ___

6. Keiki ___

7. Lanai ___

8. Lei ___

9. Luau ___

10. Mahalo ___

11. Moana ___

12. Muumuu ___

13. Nani ___

14. Wahine ___

15. Wikiwiki ___

a. A female, woman or wife

b. A garland of flowers

c. A house

d. Grandparent, ancestor, elder

e. Love, affection, hello and farewell

f. Loose gown or dress

g. Hurry

h. A priest, doctor or person with special powers

i. Beautiful

j. Porch, balcony or deck

k. A Hawaiian dance

l. Hawaiian feast

m. A child

n. The ocean

o. Thank you

A'ohe hana nui ka alu'ia.

(No task is too big when done together)

Answers: 1. e 2. c 3. k

4. h 5. d 6. m

7. j 8. b 9. l

10. o 11. n 12. f

13. i 14. a 15. g

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 16

Word Game: Parlez-vous French Fry?

June is Learn French Month, but you may be surprised how much French you already know. Estimates of how many English words are derived from the French language depend on how far back in history you go, but range from one quarter to two-thirds! Here are two sets of matching exercises.

Part 1: Can you match the “English” word to its original French meaning?

1. ambulance ___ 2. ballet ___ 3. bon vivant ___ 4. cache ___ 5. camouflage ___ 6. corduroy ___ 7. coupon ___ 8. courier ___ 9. crochet ___

10. denim ___ 11. detour ___ 12. etiquette ___ 13. faux pas ___ 14. marinade ___ 15. menu ___

a. disguise b. false step c. from Nimes d. good liver = someone who enjoys

life

e. hidden f. king’s clothes g. list h. little dance i. little hook j. pickle in brine k. piece cut off l. run m. ticket n. turn away o. walking hospital

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 17

Part 2: Can you match the “English” word to its original French meaning? 1. queue 2. rapport 3. rendezvous 4. reprimand 5. resign 6. revenue 7. roulette 8. sabotage 9. sauce

10. somersault 11. suede 12. traffic 13. umpire 14. velocity 15. zest

a. carry again = harmonious

relationship

b. clatter with wooden shoes = an old technique for stopping machinery

c. from Sweden d. from “non per,” not equal e. leap above f. little wheel g. orange peel h. present yourselves i. repress j. return k. surrender l. swiftness m. tail n. to salt o. trade

Of course, it works the other way as well. Some French citizens are upset with the way English vocabulary is creeping into their language – le hamburger, le weekend, le fast food, standing

ovation and stock options – to name a few! Linguist Herbert Pilch would say we were all “sesquilinguists” – masters of 1-1/2 languages! Answers Group 1:

1. o 2. h 3. d 4. e

5. a 6. f 7. k 8. l

9. i 10. c 11. n 12. m

13. b 14. j 15. g

Group 2:

1. m 2. a 3. h

4. i 5. k 6. j

7. f 8. b 9. n

10. e 11. c 12. o

13. d 14. l 15. g

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 18

Word Game – German Genders U

Mark Twain was most famous during his lifetime for his book Innocents Abroad, a book about his travels through the Holy Lands and Europe, published in 1869. One essay that I particularly related to while taking high school German many years ago was on the absurdities of noun genders. English has its own confusing language rules, but we don’t assign genders to nouns. We say “man,” “a man” or “the man,” and that works for nearly every noun (except we say “an apple.”) In German, every noun is capitalized and each is either masculine (der), feminine (die) or neuter (das). As Mr. Twain wrote, “There is no sense or system in the

distribution; so the gender of each must be learned separately and by heart . . . In German a young lady [das Mädchen] has no sex, while a turnip [die Rübe] does.” The way Mr. Twain interpreted this, it was proper to say of the turnip, “She is in the kitchen,” and of the young lady, “It has gone to the opera.” If that is not confusing enough, some words like ocean/sea have translations for all three genders: der Ozean, die See and das Meer. Although his essay uses few actual German words, Mr. Twain goes on at great length about such translations, and if you are interested, you can read the whole of “The Awful German Language” at http://langs.eserver.org/the-awful-german-language.txt. For now I thought it would be amusing to see if you can figure out the gender of the following nouns – and because I have included the translations, you might learn a little German, too!

Are the following words masculine (M), feminine (F) or neuter (N) in German?

1. Moon and star are masculine (Mond, Stern) but Sun (Sonne) is ____.

2. Knife___ fork ___ and spoon ___ (Messer, Gabel and Loffel) each have a different gender. Which is which?

3. Snow and rain (Schnee and Regen) are masculine, but weather (Wetter) is ___.

4. Vegetable (Gemüse) is neuter, but potato (Kartoffel) and pea (Erbse) are ___.

5. World (Welt) and city (Stadt) are feminine, but country (Land) is ____.

6. Ballpoint pen (Kugelschreiber) and pencil (Bleistift) are masculine, but paper (Papier) and book (Buch) are ____.

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 19

7. Day (Tag) and month (Monat) are masculine, but week and time (Woche, Zeit) are ___ and year (Jahr) is ____

8. Table (Tisch) and armchair (Sessel) are masculine, but bed (Bett) is ___

9. Tree and flower garden (Baum, Blumengarten) are masculine, but flower, rose, and tulip (Blume, Rose, Tulpe) are all ___

The following animals are grouped by gender. Can you identify which is which?

10. Cat (Katze), cow (Kuh), goat (Ziege) ___

11. Horse (Pferd), pig (Schwein), sheep (Schaf) ___

12. Dog (Hund), fish (Fisch), bird (Vogel) ___

Body (Körper) parts can be especially confusing in German.

13. Ear and eye (Ohr, Auge) are neuter, but nose and lips (Nase, Lippe) are ___ and mouth (Mund) is ___.

14. One’s head and neck (Kopf, Hals) are masculine, but one’s chin and hair (Kinn, Haar) are ___ and shoulders (Shulter) are ___.

15. One’s hand (Hand) is feminine, but a finger (Finger) is ___.

16. A knee and leg (Knie, Bein) are neuter, but a toe (Zehe) is ___.

17. And can you guess from all this what one’s conscience (Gewissen) is? ___ 18. Finally, a man (Mann) is masculine, a woman (Frau) is feminine, and their child (Kind) is always ___.

To order Mark Twain’s Innocents Abroad, click here. Answers: 1. F 2. N, F, M 3. N

4. F 5. N 6. N

7. F, N 8. N 9. F

10. F 11. N 12. M

13. F, M 14. N, F 15. M

16. F 17. N 18. N

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 20

Word Game – Spanish Word Origins

Many words we commonly use have Spanish origins, but according to the website http://spanish.about.com/cs/historyofspanish/a/spanishloanword.htm, many words we consider Spanish in origin actually have Arabic roots (from the time the Moors ruled Spain) or are adaptations of words from the indigenous and Caribbean cultures during the 300 years of Spanish settlement of the New World. There are also, of course, similar words in multiple languages such as fest, feast and fiesta. In the quiz below I have tried to avoid the contested

words.

Which word is not of Spanish origin?

Let’s begin with food, since there are so many. You can undoubtedly easily identify burrito (which means “little donkey,” a funny word for a food when you think about it), enchilada, quesadilla, taco and tortilla, but how about these?

1. Which spice is not a word of Spanish origin? ___ a. cilantro b. cinnamon

c. oregano d. vanilla

2. Which fruit is not a word of Spanish origin? ___ a. banana b. papaya

c. plantain d. pomegranate

3. Which vegetable is not a word of Spanish origin? ___

a. artichoke b. avocado

c. potato d. tomato

(Yes, we know tomatoes are technically a fruit.)

4. Which drink is not a word of Spanish origin? ___ a. coffee b. daiquiri

c. margarita d. piña colada

(And we didn’t even mention mojitos, sangria or tequila!)

5. Which seafood/dish is not a word of Spanish origin? ___ a. anchovy b. calamari

c. paella d. tuna

6. Which style of food preparation in not a word of Spanish origin? ___ a. barbecue b. casserole

c. fajita d. jerky

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 21

7. Many birds and animals from alligators to ocelots have names of Spanish origin. Which one of the following does not? ___

a. canary b. cattle

c. condor d. coyote

8. Which weather phenomenon is not a word of Spanish origin? ___

a. breeze b. hurricane

c. rain d. tornado

9. Which geographic description is not a word of Spanish origin? ___

a. canyon b. key (meaning island)

c. savanna d. volcano

10. Which architectural feature is not a word of Spanish origin? ___

a. alcove b. balcony

c. cabana d. patio

11. Which article of clothing is not a word of Spanish origin? ___

a. barong (embroidered shirt) b. chaps

c. poncho d. sombrero

12. Which music-related word is not a word of Spanish origin? ___

a. mariachi b. rumba

c. serenade d. tango

Answers: 1. b 2. d

3. a 4. a

5. b 6. b

7. b 8. c

9. d 10. b

11. a 12. c

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 22

Discussion: Learn Japanese

August is Learn Japanese Month. My first reaction to that is, Fat Chance. The Japanese have four alphabets – hiragana, kanji, katakana and romaji – all of which are unintelligible to Western eyes. If you want to look up the meaning of characters like those at left, there is no alphabetical way to do so because there is no phonetic spelling and, indeed, the characters may have multiple pronunciations. Japanese school children simply memorize the thousands of characters as they progress through school. (The word at left is “awe” – my

feeling about their accomplishment!)

Fortunately, Japanese can be written more or less phonetically using our Roman alphabet. I say “more or less” because although we identify Japan’s most famous volcano as “Mount Fuji,” there is no F sound in Japanese. They pronounce it “Hoo-ji” with a strong release of breath on the H. (Try it and you’ll see why early foreign visitors might have misunderstood the name.) There is also no R, L, or TH sound in Japan, and English words with these sounds are stretched out by the Japanese into the closest approximation their language allows. Thus, Tokyo’s highly visible Western fast food restaurant names are pronounced like this:

Wendy’s – “Oo-EN-day-zu” (say it fast)

Burger King – “Bah-gah Kingu”

McDonalds – “Ma-ku-do-na-ru-do-zu”

Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors – “Satay-Wan” Notice that even though there is no exact R sound, many of the translations of Japanese words into our alphabet include those sounds (rickshaw, karate, sayonara) because we don’t have any other letter that fits their precise pronunciation. (This is the cause of misunderstandings in other languages as well. In Thailand there is also no F sound, but there are two pronunciations for P. If you see a Thai word translated into our alphabet that begins simply with P, it is pronounced very gently, almost swallowing the consonant. If it is translated with PH, the P is said “with breath,” that is, a P with force, but still a P. It was failure to understand this that I suspect caused many young Americans to gravitate to the resort city of Phuket. They just enjoyed saying where they were going – pronouncing it the way they thought it should be pronounced.) As you will see in the word quiz that follows, there are many Japanese words that have crept into the English language, but there are a number of wonderful untranslatable Japanese words that we might consider adopting, as noted in Christopher Moore’s book (See Resources below.) For example, here are three related to beauty:

Aware (a-wa-reh) – being aware of and appreciating the beauty of our ever-changing lives, “enjoying the sadness of life” – the bittersweet feeling at dusk or looking out a train window or watching the falling leaves.

Shibui (shib-oo-ee) – This is beauty revealed by time; it’s the radiance of “becoming fully ourselves” as we are enriched by the experiences of life, but it can also apply to literal works of art.

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 23

Wabi-sabi (wab-ee-sab-ee) – a variation in some ways of “aware,” this is an appreciation of the beauty of things that are imperfect, impermanent, incomplete, modest and humble, such as the crack in a cup, the last dregs of tea.

When author Barbara Kingsolver went to Japan in the 1990s, she found herself constantly causing unintentional offense by such faux pas as not wearing stockings in the summer heat and crossing her arms while listening to a speaker (a brazen sign of boredom) and felt all the more visible as a tall woman frequently towering over her hosts. In desperate need of an apologetic Japanese phrase, she learned, “Moshi wake gozaimasen,” which, she said, roughly translates as, “If you please, my transgression is so inexcusable that I wish I were dead.” From then on she used it everywhere:

When she set off alarms and attracted a screeching police car for touching the surface of a palace wall;

When in a public bath she accidentally sprayed her elderly neighbor in the face with ice cold water while she attempted to master the handheld shower nozzle;

When she was unable to swallow the creatures with heads and eyeballs her hosts had ordered for her dinner and learned, “One does not spit out anything, ever.” It seems like a handy phrase to memorize.

Talk about it

Have you ever found yourself tongue-tied in a foreign country? Did you find a way to communicate? How?

Are you adept at any other language besides English? Which one(s)?

Would you like to study another language? Which one?

Do you think that in today’s global village it is more important than ever for children to learn another language as they are growing up? Why or why not?

Do you think that just as we now have GPS devices to keep us from getting lost, we will one day have translating devices that will let us speak with anyone from anywhere? If so, how soon?

Resources: Three delightful books informed this article:

NPR commentator T.R. Reid’s Confucius Lives Next Door, about his experiences living in Japan in the 1990s; to order, click here.

Barbara Kingsolver’s Small Wonder book of essays (specifically “Going to Japan”); to order, click here.

Christopher J. Moore’s In Other Words about wonderfully untranslatable words from around the world; to order, click here.

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 24

Word Games: More on Learn Japanese

Whether or not you realize it, you already know lots of Japanese words. Think of various martial arts: Aikido, Judo, Karate, Ninja and Sumo wrestling, for example. Think of food: sushi, tofu, and ramen noodle soup. You know the names of rulers and their warriors: shogun and samurai. But many words that you know, you may not realize are

Japanese or you may not realize the origin of the words.

Part 1: Can you match the Japanese word to its meaning?

1. Bento ___

2. Bonsai ___

3. Futon ___

4. Geisha ___

5. Ginkgo ___

6. Haiku ___

7. Hibachi ___

8. Honcho ___

9. Hooch ___

10. Ikebana ___

11. Karaoke ___

a. “Empty orchestra” – amateur singing to recorded accompaniment

b. Flower arrangement c. Mattress d. Ornamental shade tree e. Portable charcoal grill f. Take-out meal, box lunch

g. Team leader h. Thatched hut i. Three-line poetry of 5, 7 and 5

syllables to each line j. Traditional artist/entertainer k. Tray gardening

Real Japanese vocabulary

Before we get to Part 2 and the answers, let me give you a simple Japanese language lesson, with a few basic phonetic phrases. “Sayonara” – the word most of us associate with “good-bye” doesn’t appear here, because one of my sources said that “Sayonara” is a formal good-bye that implies permanence, not just “So long, until we meet again,” and therefore, not a word I hope you have to say.

Ohayoo gozaimasu Good morning Konnichi wa Good afternoon/good day, hello Ogenki desu ka? How are you? Genki desu I am very well

Arigatoo gozaimasu Thank you Do-itashi-mashite You're welcome Gomen nasai Excuse me; I'm sorry Ii desu That's all right

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 25

Part 2: Can you match the Japanese word to its meaning?

12. Kimono ___

13. Manga ___

14. Mikado ___

15. Origami ___

16. Rickshaw ___

17. Shiatsu ___

18. Sudoku ___

19. Tatami ___

20. Tsunami ___

21. Tycoon ___

22. Wasabi ___

a. Artistic paper-folding

b. Emperor (old term) c. Great prince, high commander d. Human-pulled wagon e. Japanese comics f. Japanese horse radish g. Massage h. Number placement puzzle i. Robe-like garment j. Wave in port k. Woven straw flooring

Language source: http://www.learn-hiragana-katakana.com/japanese-greetings/ Answers, Part 1:

1. f 2. k

3. c 4. j

5. d 6. i

7. e 8. g

9. h 10. b

11. a

Answers, Part 2:

12. i 13. e

14. b 15. a

16. d 17. g

18. h 19. k

20. j 21. c

22. f

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 26

Discussion: Being a Translator Isn’t Easy

One of the challenges Chinese translators faced in preparation for the 2008 Olympics was providing signage in English and Chinese. In the months leading up to the spectacular opening, I received many emails purporting to show signs that didn’t quite convey what was intended, such as:

The universal graphic for female paired with a sign that says “Gentlemen.”

An arrow pointing left leads the way to “Jump off the cliff.”

And then there were the care instructions on a garment:

Wash by hand

No Chlorine

No wring

In coleslaw Where did that come from? While the misguided translations were apparently real, they probably were not connected with Chinese Olympic translators. I first encountered translation oddities when reading books by Richard Lederer such as Fractured English a dozen years ago. Now the translations are all over the Internet, particularly at websites like www.Engrish.com (where these signs come from) and www.innocentenglish.com. Here, for example, are some classic signs found in hotels and restaurants abroad:

Our great food will never leave you!

It will take about 1 minute to fix a hot drink. Please wail.

Please keep chair on position and keep table cleaned after dying. (Taiwan cafeteria)

In a Bucharest hotel lobby: The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.

On the menu of a Swiss restaurant: Our wines leave you nothing to hope for.

Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop: Ladies have fits upstairs.

In an advertisement by a Hong Kong dentist: Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists.

In a Budapest zoo: Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty.

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 27

Interestingly, the teachers of foreign students learning English seem to have a sense of humor, too. One teacher in Korea gave this gem to his students to correct:

We only serve water passed by our manager.

On the other hand, the teachers are undoubtedly amused by their students’ writing. Here are a few of their twisted descriptions of romantic encounters:

He had such a worm heart.

We were two sheeps passing in the night.

We have hated each other for so long. I want to borrow the hatchet.

The groom was wearing a very nice croissant.

He lifted the veal off her face and gave her a big kiss.

I think she is really glad she got marinated.

To be fair, however, most of us would do far worse were our attempts to speak Chinese critiqued. I sing praises to all people who are furthering the cause of world peace by learning another language!

Talk about it

Do you have any bloopers – funny signs, products, ads, etc. – to add to those we have listed?

Do you speak a foreign language? Have you ever made bloopers that came out funny? Did you find people understanding and grateful that you were attempting to speak their language even if you made mistakes?

Is English your second language? Have you ever made mistakes that came out funny – or that seem funny now? Were people understanding, or did they make you uncomfortable speaking?

If you would like to order Richard Lederer’s Fractured English, click here. This sign is definitely wrong!

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 28

Quick discussion: Busting Translation Myths

For years I used to try to humorously boost people’s self-esteem by using the bad translations of American advertisers promoting their products in other countries as noted in Richard Lederer’s 1996 book Fractured English. Surely our own daily mistakes were likely to be far less costly and embarrassing than these:

Chevrolet’s Nova car sold poorly in Mexico where “no va” means “it doesn’t go.”

The name “Coca-Cola” in Chinese means “bite the wax tadpole.”

“Come alive with the Pepsi generation,” translated in Chinese to “Pepsi brings back your dead ancestors.”

The Coors beer slogan, “Turn it loose,” translated as “Suffer from diarrhea,” in Spanish.

Now along comes David Wilton with his book, Word Myths, saying it’s not so:

Nova in Spanish means essentially what it means in English – new – and the car sold extremely well in Mexico.

Although the four Chinese characters originally used in writing “Coca Cola” sounded fine, most had nonsensical meanings. (“Bite the wax tadpole” was one). However, that same year the company came up with four Chinese characters that could be pronounced appropriately and meant “Let the mouth rejoice.”

The Pepsi story, Mr. Wilton contends, is pure fabrication which doesn’t even get the English slogan right.

Neither did Coors beer ever use the slogan “Turn it loose,” whatever that was supposed to mean.

The one advertising legend Mr. Wilton couldn’t prove wrong was the suggestion that Braniff Air Lines, in promoting its comfortable leather seats, used a phrase that when translated into Spanish meant “Fly naked.” But that’s only because Braniff Airlines is no

longer around.

I am frankly relieved to have Mr. Wilton put to rest the rumor that “Ich bin ein Berliner” translates to “I am a jelly donut,” and to note that President Kennedy used proper German in expressing his solidarity with the Germans at the time he spoke. But I am also relieved to find that he didn’t debunk all of Richard Lederer’s examples. I’ve always found it hilarious that Perdue chicken’s slogan, “It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken,” translated into Spanish as “It takes an aroused man to make a chicken affectionate.”

Do you know any word myths or funny translations?

To learn more or order Fractured English from Amazon, click here. To learn more or order Word Myths from Amazon, click here.

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 29

A Peaceful Close December is:

Learn a Foreign Language Month

December 22nd is World Peace Day, and, of course

it’s the month when the world’s major religions think about Peace and Goodwill Toward Mankind ~ so here are the translations for peace in multiple languages; learn them all and more. Then practice the reality of the word:

Arabic – Salam

Chinese – HePing

Danish – Fred

Hebrew – Shalom

Hindi – Shanti

Japanese – Heiwa

Kurdish – Asti

Latvian – Miers

Maori - Rongo

Portuguese – Paz

Swahili – Salama

Tagalog – Kapayapaan

Welsh - Tangnefedd

Source: http://www.freelang.net/expressions

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 30

Sources Here is a complete Table of Contents including the original Brain Aerobics Weekly sources (in parenthesis) for the material in this “Foreign Language Fun” MindPlay ConnectionsTM product:

Word quiz – World Hello Day (11-15-10) – page 3

Word quiz – American vs. the King’s English (8-10-09) – page 5

Discussion – Strine (1-26-09) – page 7

Word quiz – Strine (1-26-09) – page 9

Word quiz – Scottish (8-6-10) – page 11

Word quiz – Irish slang (3-14-11) – page 13

Word Quiz – Hawaiian (4-27-09) – page 15

Word quiz – Learn French month (6-9-08) – page 16

Word quiz – German genders (11-30-09) – page 18

Word quiz – Spanish Word Origins (9-13-10) – page 20

Discussion – Learn Japanese (8-18-08) – page 22

Word quiz – Japanese Words (8-18-08) – page 24

Discussion – Tricky translations (7-28-08) – page 26

Quick discussion - Word myths – refuting tricky translations (3-29-11) – page 28

Closing – Peace in many languages (12-8-08) – page 29

Other products and services

Do you want additional mind-stimulating material?

Visit the Wiser Now store (http://shop.WiserNow.com) or print out this list to see the ever-growing catalog of downloadable MindPlay Connections™ titles. Then

consider doing the following:

Order the Creative Mind Play CD series from Health Professions Press based on archived material from Kathy’s Brain Aerobics Weekly.

Order Kathy’s book, Getting to Know the Life Stories of Older Adults, Activities for Building Relationships also from Health Professions Press.

Watch the video demos of two of her favorite activity ideas at www.WiserNow.com.

Visit her blog at www.MindMusings.com. Are you a caregiver?

You will find both useful advice and compassionate reassurance at Kathy’s website www.WiserNowAlz.com and her blog www.CaregiverCheer.com. Check out the material there, including her very practical and upbeat books on Alzheimer’s caregiving, which are also available on Kindle.

© 2011 Wiser Now, Inc./K. Laurenhue, www.wisernow.com Page 31

Is there an older adult in your life to whom you would like to send ongoing joy?

Sign up for Letters for Elders to send that person regular

friendly letters that arrive via the U.S. Postal system in brightly colored envelopes. Learn more at www.Letters4Elders.com.

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them individually or as a package at http://shop.wisernow.com and learn more at www.ElderCareConversations.com.

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Order “22 Creative Training Tips to Use Instantly” at

http://shop.wisernow.com/ and check out Kathy’s other downloadable materials there on staff development.

Kathy has a master’s degree in instructional technology and has developed multi-media curricula for corporate clients for more than 20 years. Contact her to discuss your specific staff development needs.

Kathy can be reached by writing to kathy@wisernow.com or calling 800-999-0795 (weekdays 9:00 – 5:00 Eastern time). Do you need a presenter who can provide fun and stimulating mind play exercises?

Kathy would be delighted to comply. Contact her at kathy@wisernow.com or 800-999-0795 (weekdays 9:00 – 5:00 Eastern time). More detail is provided under “staff development” at www.WiserNow.com. Are you a media representative needing an interview subject/press release?

Here are some of Kathy’s topics:

Exercising Your Brain: What’s Laughter Got to Do with It?

The #1 Activity for Brain Health Will Surprise You

Addressing Stress to Maintain Your Brain

Variety Is Vital to a Vigorous Mind

Getting to Know Your Group: Fast and Fun Exercises

Humor in Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease: Stop the Fear-Mongering