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 sucks. Bleh.
ReplyDeleteI know what jackhammers sound like at 7:00 AM, since they recently replaced the concrete in the building courtyard.
ReplyDeleteSympathies.
On the plus side, when my neighbors replaced their concrete porch, there was very little use of jackhammers; mostly just sledgehammers.
ReplyDeleteOn the minus side, it was mid-summer and so they did it AT NIGHT.
Basically there is no good time for that to happen, other than, "When I'm not home."
ReplyDeleteWhich is not really a viable scheduling option.
John Novak well, if they tell you in advance when they're going to be doing it, you can proceed to make sure you are not home.
ReplyDeleteAt Seven:00 in the goddam AM?
ReplyDeleteFriends with couches!
ReplyDelete