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...
That's one big beaver!
ReplyDeleteI can always count on you guys :)
ReplyDeleteThat's one big beaver whose backside, unless I'm reading the picture wrong, is pointing US-wards.
ReplyDeleteAre the "five year olds" in question the entire population of Canada? ;)
Zeynep Dilli Nah, I meant the inner five year old in all of us.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it is to be found here:
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaverlodge
Evan "Skwid" Langlinais ITYM "Say.... Nice beaver."
ReplyDelete("Why thank you. I just had him stuffed.")
A coworker of mine (who has a crazy cool sense of style) always tells a very amusing story that she was out shopping with her mother (as an adult) wearing a beaver coat. She complained about being hot and her mother said loudly "It's your beaver. Your beaver makes you hot."
ReplyDelete