September 2005
Guest blogger: The languages of Guernsey
September 30, 2005
By Xavier Kreiss My mother is a Guernseywoman, and I've known and loved Guernsey all my life. The Channel Islands have always held a particular attraction for me - I'm a half-British Frenchman, which probably explains the affinity between myself...
A mysterious engraving
September 28, 2005
A reader wrote to me asking for help. Some time ago, he found a 15th century finger ring, which turned out to be a treasure and is now in the British Museum. There is a double inscription on the ring...
Nushu
September 23, 2005
Nushu, the world's only language to be created and used solely by women, was finally declared extinct last year. But try telling that to the women still using it. Click here to read this Guardian article by Jon Watts....
The Oxford English Dictionary
September 22, 2005
How are dictionaries created? How do people collect all these words and make sure they don't forget any? These are the types of questions that led me to read Simon Winchester's The Meaning of Everything (also, it was a birthday...
Chowder
September 19, 2005
French fishermen, who cooked thick soup made of fish and vegetables in chaudières or cauldrons (from Latin caldaria, cooking pot, from caldus, warm), brought their recipe to North American, where it took the name of the cooking implement and became...
Guess where!
September 14, 2005
This morning, I gave a client my foot size so he can make sure there will be safety boots for me to wear during my interpreting job next week. What sort of place are we visiting? Answers in the comments...
Silhouette
September 12, 2005
1. A silhouette is the outline of a dark shape with a bright light or pale background behind it. 2. The silhouette of something is the outline that it has, which often helps you to recognize it. (Collins Cobuild) From...
So close, yet so far
September 8, 2005
Yesterday I received this email, sent from the "contact céline" page on this website. "Dear Celine I work in the International Development Department at the University of X. We are undertaking an evaluation of aid, and we are looking for...
Cricket terminology
September 7, 2005
Now I know that cricket has suddenly become fashionable because of this year’s Ashes, but I feel compelled to justify myself by pointing out that I’ve loved the game for at least two years! It bewildered me for years until...
Refugee
September 5, 2005
The Guardian reports that within the context of the disaster caused by hurricane Katrina, the term "refugee" was condemned by civil rights groups: "I think it's an offensive term," said Bruce Gordon, the president of the National Association for the...