Archive for May 29th, 2006

Alternate Lesson - M2M - The Development of the English Language

Published by
jessi
at May 29, 2006 in On Teaching. 4 Comments

Yesterday, I had a Golf student who requested an alternative lesson. One of the questions he had asked me was what was I reading.

“Well, I’m reading Miyamoto Musashi’s The Book of the Five Rings and a book on the history of the alphabet.”

He was intrigued by my second choice of reading. I went on to explain how I love studying such aspects of English and I would be more than happy to give him brief lesson on historical linguistics. I don’t know if he was humoring me or what, but he accepted my proposal.

I hate that I wasn’t able to go too terribly in depth, though. I showed him a sentence in Old English (thanks Melany!), Middle English (opening line of Canterbury Tales), and explained really briefly the differences between Early Modern Englsih and Modern. I made it a point to explain about the etymology of the word “England” and “English” since he was going to be moving there for six months, and of course, gave him the most important date of all (according to Dr. Kim) — the Norman Conquest of 1066. I told him about the influence of Norman French on our language and some other choice pieces of information like some changes in orthography.

In retrospect, I probably should have explained a bit about the Proto-Indo European Language families and stuff, but let’s be honest, 40 minutes just isn’t enough time to talk about historical linguistics.

****

While I’m on the thread of linguistics, I’m finding other philologists hidden in Nova. One of the new girls, Kat, is Welsh (a language in which she is fluent) and we chatted up a bit about linguistics. We played the number exchange game and she hopes that we can meet some time for coffee and gush about language. She happens to be Braden’s newest interest. It’s quite amusing. He gets so embarassed when he’s around us because we’re usually nerding out about something like labio-dental fricatives and glottal stops. (”I mean, look. Here’s one that’s just “m” question mark. What the heck is that?”)

I also did a bad, bad thing. While I was in Umeda today I of course had to go to the bookstore. They had a copy of Yule’s The Study of Language which you better believe I purchased!!

I am such a nerd.

The “other” group of friends

Published by
jessi
at May 29, 2006 in The Misadventures: Japan Chronicles. 4 Comments

“Have fun with your other friends tonight.”

Phil said this to me today as I was leaving the floor. It was strange. I really didn’t think about it. This would be one of the first Sundays in a long time that I didn’t meet up with the Fight Club gang for dinner.

Today was Natashia’s birthday and she had invited me to celebrate with her and her friends. Part of me dreaded the thought. My experiences with her group of friends usually result in jessi feeling awkward.

But it was actually a blast. I was very sad to have to catch the last train and live “so far away” in comparison versus if I had access to a bicycle or a car. We surprised Natashia by showing up at her door instead of going out for dinner like she thought we were. Some of the people I met tonight were really fun and cool, we spoke geek and quote, and I found more Whedonites.

Natashia amuses me. She thinks I’m smart. If only she knew you lot, or hell, met my beloved heart-sister…she’d come to see I’m actually quite dull. She says I’m very passionate about things…now that, I can understand. Is passion a good thing, or a bad thing?

Deadly Little Miho

Published by
jessi
at May 29, 2006 in On Fighting. 0 Comments

And she’s been aching for some practice…

It’s been a bit since we met for some sparring. Jacob and I met very briefly the previous Monday, but the Friday gig had been getting so regular that my body was positively aching for some practice.

While it has been established that I’m not one for drilling with the gents, I understand the basic principles and how important it is. What it all comes down to is a matter of pride. I can admit that now. I’m too proud to drill with them. My methods are different. My beliefs are also slightly different.

It’s just the way it is.

I was lookin’ for a bruisin’, this I freely admit. But I’d been reading The Book of the Five Rings and there’s this part of me that is beginning to adopt the mental prowess of swordfighting just as much as the physical. I don’t know if I can articulate this thought, but I feel like even though I haven’t practiced and drilled as much as I should, the mental exercises I’ve been going over in my mind’s eye have been helping.

This requires careful study, practice, and reflection.