TIL that some languages apparently have words inherently differentiating one's status as a citizen or resident of the entity versus a member of a particular ethnic or cultural group? I don't quite grasp the whole thing, although I heard the point being made. What's interesting to me is a) that there is such a thing, which seems very revealing of something about a culture that would need such concepts built into the language, and b) that there seem to be people who think it's inaccurate to interpret the word choice as meaningful. Firstly, since languages have all sorts of concepts built into them, many very specific to their primary culture of use, it seems reasonable that such a thing could exist. Not that I would have thought of it before, since I'm not from a culture where that sort of subtlety functions. Secondly, if that is, indeed, the subtlety of the word choices, where one essentially and inherently includes people, and the other excludes, then I'd kind o...
I expect that "normal" families are somewhat like clothing sizing - they sell an idea of an average, but few people really find that it fits them exactly and you have to make it work as well as you can.
ReplyDeleteWell, I used to think I had a normal family, and then I met other people's families. Ours is rather more closely-knit than the average, I think.
ReplyDeleteIt has been my experience that, the less "normal" a family appears to other people trying to seem "normal" to the outside world, the more loving and supportive and awesome they are as a family. This is not without it's exceptions or limitations, but striving for "normal" doesn't seem like the most productive goal, IMO.
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