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...
So all those from NY who come down here and tell us that they know how to handle snow where they come from... it's true that they know HOW to, they just....don't.
ReplyDeleteAm I right?
Well, ordinary people-wise they are having to drive through impassable roads, so probably they either handle it or starve (kidding, sort of).
ReplyDeleteIt's the authorities who are supposed to have it together enough to make sure extra crews are out plowing so things don't get this bad, if possible. I mean, it is difficult to stay ahead of inches per hour snowfall, but we're maybe at about an inch or less per hour, so it's kind of like they didn't exactly pre-plan.
I was out in it and I could drive, but it was bad enough that that was not entirely up to me and partly just good fortune that I didn't slide off the road or get stuck in a drift. Some of that can be helped if they get the extra plows out. They didn't.