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...
Y'know, I'm not exactly the poster child for asking for help when I need it (the sound you hear now is my husband falling out of his chair in hysterical laughter), but I do know that "counselor" and "friend or family member" are not interchangeable, even though talking to both can be helpful in different ways.
ReplyDelete(...of course, I learned this at an early age when my mother got her degree in counseling and shortly thereafter disabused me of the notion that now I would never have to talk to a stranger if I needed counseling)
ReplyDelete"Mom, Dad and I are to close to the situation to have an objective perspective."
ReplyDelete[Yes, I know that she won't listen to logic]
Hey, any suggestions help. We're running out of deflections!
ReplyDeleteCan't you break out the old "Damn it mom, I'm doctor, not a doctor!" Or you know, remind her that while it may not be your specialty, you did go to med school, you have had some training, and she really needs to see a professional?
ReplyDeleteHave tried that multiple times. Responses vary, none lead to getting counseling. At this point, I think we only say anything sometimes because we're so burnt. She's more than happy to have tried to push my dad to get counseling because, hey, dealing with illness, but I almost think now that she wants him to go because it addresses something she needs. My head hurts.
ReplyDelete