Čustva so temelj jezika

Ste se kdaj vprašali,  kako so se ljudje sporazumevali v ledeni dobi? Zagotovo ne takole – “Oprosti draga, bi bila tako prijazna in mi podala tisti mali slastni kos pljučne pečenke?” Verjetno so enostavno gestikulirali in mrmrali -ou, ou, ou!

Praljudje so svoja čustva izražali z enostavnimi glasovi, večinoma samoglasniki. In še danes na primer, ko se dotaknemo vroče posode, zavpijemo AU, ko smo začudeni rečemo OOO in podobno. V vsakem jeziku obstajajo take enostavne povezave med čustvi in zvoki, ki jih govorci enoznačno interpretirajo. Na ta način smo sposobni izraziti vsa osnovna čustva – jezo, gnus, strah, veselje, žalost in presenečenje.  Ta čustvena komponenta jezika omogoča tudi literarne in  estetske učinke, saj tekst v nas sproži določena čustva.

Kako je s čustvi povezano preklinjanje, pa pripoveduje Steven Pinker.

Real English

Real English je serija kratkih video dialogov v katerih slišite kako naravni govorci v resnici govorijo. Gre za predstavitev vsakdanjih fraz v naravnem jezikovnem kontekstu. Slišali boste kako požirajo zloge, kako uporabljalo sleng in narečje, predvsem pa boste opazili kako velika je razlika med šolsko in naravno angleščino.

Serija je namenjena spoznavanju novih fraz, pravilni situacijski rabi in pa prepoznavanju ter uporabi ustreznih jezikovnih rutin in vzorcev. Še boljša pa je za trening slušnega razumevanja, saj je strukturirana tako, da “igralci” posamezno frazo večkrat ponovijo, jo interpretirajo, uporabijo sinonime, poenostavijo strukturo in podobno.

Phrases – “How come?”

“How come?” is actually a very interesting phrase. It seems to have been an American invention of the 19th century, although similar forms date back several hundred years in English.

“How come?” is essentially synonymous with “why?”, but in popular usage it often serves a slightly different function. “How come?” carries a challenging, more emphatic tone than a simple “why?” would convey (”How come Jimmy never has to wash the dishes?”). Unlike “why,” “how come” strongly suggests that the questioner has already developed an opinion on the situation and has decided that something is not proper or fair.

Modern interpretation – Eminem: How come?

Lyrics.

“How come” is actually an abbreviation of a longer phrase, which, although not known with certainty, was probably “how comes it” or “how does it come,” meaning “how did this (event, condition, etc.) happen to be this way.”

Idiomi – video slovar P

Kliknite na povezavo in si oglejte kratko animirano razlago posamezne fraze.

paean (n) : a song or a few words of praise or tribute

palliate (v) : to bring some relief or comfort

pallid (adj) : unusually pale, weak, or lacking intensity or spirit

palpitate (v) : to beat rapidly, especially one’s heart

paltry (adj) : extremely small and worthless

panacea (n) : a cure-all, a solution for everything

panache (n) : having a lot of style and flair

pander (v) : to give satisfaction to someone, often in order to gain something yourself

panegyric (n) : statements of great appreciation, usually very formal

pantomime (n) : a performance that contains no words, only actions and gestures

paradigm (n) : a model or a set of beliefs

paragon (n) : an example of excellence, a positive model

paraphernalia (n) : equipment or apparatus

pariah (n) : someone who is cast out of a group or someone who is hated and avoided

parochial (adj) : related to a local church; it also means narrow or limited in scope

peccadillo (n) : a minor or petty offense, or a slight fault

peerless (adj) : without equals, superior to everything, champion

perennial (n) : a plant that lives all seasons or for several years

perplex (tr v) : to confuse or puzzle

pluck (v) : to pick or pull on something

predilection (n) : having a preference or liking for someone or something

prelude (n) : the introduction to a main event, performance, or action

profuse (adj) : plentiful or generous

propensity (n) : a natural tendency to something, inclination or bias

purist (n) : one who follows strict, often formal, rules and observances

Idiomi – video slovar O

Kliknite na povezavo in si oglejte kratko animirano razlago posamezne fraze.

obeisance (n) : a gesture showing honor or respect

obfuscation (n) : something that causes confusion, unclear

oblique (adj) : indirect or not straightforward

obstreperous (adj) : noisy, unruly, or hard to control

obtuse (adj) : lacking in insight or intellect, or slow to comprehend; it also means not sharp or pointed

officious (adj) : overly eager to serve or to advise, usually in a bossy way

ominous (adj) : threatening or suggesting something bad is on the way

operetta (n) : a light, amusing opera with spoken dialogue

opus (n) : a musical composition or literary work

oracular (adj) : being like an oracle, offering wisdom that seems to come from god

oratory (n) : ability to speak well in public

ordinate (adj) : the arrangement of things in regular rows

ornate (adj) : beautifully detailed, showy or decorated

ornithologist (n) : a scientist who studies birds

ovation (n) : a long round of applause, lengthy cheers

overt (adj) : clearly evident or obvious

overwrought (adj) : overworked or fatigued; it can also mean very nervous or excited

Idiomi – video slovar N

Kliknite na povezavo in si oglejte kratko animirano razlago posamezne fraze.

natty (adj) : excessively neat and fashionable

neologism (n) : a new word or a new way of speaking

neonate (n) : a newborn child

niggling (adj) : being overly concerned with or requiring great attention to small details

nirvana (n) : a state of bliss, state of perfect calm or peace

noisome (adj) : disgusting, offensive, gross, or harmful

nomenclature (n) : a set of terms used by a group or community

nonplus (v) : to confuse or to puzzle

noxious (adj) : harmful, upsetting or causing damage

nullity (n) : a state of nothingness or something that is not valid

numismatist (n) : a collector of coins or currencies for studying purposes or as a hobby

nuptial (adj) : related to a marriage ceremon

Idiomi – video slovar M

macerate (v) : to soften or break down into parts, usually by soaking in a liquid

machinations (n) : secret plots or schemes, usually with evil intent

madrigal (n) : a short, poetic song for 2-3 voices, with no music

maelstrom (n) : a large whirlpool or a confused or disorderly state of things

magnate (n) : an influential person in a specific field, especially in business

malapropism (n) : a comical or embarrassing misuse of words

malcontent (adj) : someone who is discontented or rebellious

malediction (n) : a curse, cruel words

malefactor (n) : someone who does harm, a bad person, like a criminal

malevolent (adj) : wishing harm to someone, showing ill will or mean-spirited

malfeasance (n) : wrongdoing or misconduct, specially by a public figure

malicious (adj) : having or showing ill will, wicked

malleable (adj) : able to be hammered, pounded, or pressed into shapes without breaking

mandate (n) : an authoritative command or order

manifest (v) : to make clear or evident, to reveal, or to appear

manifesto (n) : a public declaration of motives and intentions by a government, person, or group

manumit (v) : to set free, as from slavery

marginal (adj) : being on the outer or lower limits, borderline

marquee (n) : word marquee refers to the area that hangs over the entrance of a theater

martinet (n) : someone who is strict or who sticks to the rules

masochist (adj) : one who receives pleasure from being dominated, mistreated, or hurt physically

matriarch (n) : a woman who rules her family or tribe; it can also mean a highly respected elderly woman

maudlin (adj) : overly emotional, sappy

maul (v) : to injure by beating or tearing

maverick (n) : someone who takes an independent stand; it can also mean a wild, unbranded animal that has strayed

mawkish (adj) : emotional to the point of being unpleasant

meddlesome (adj) : being inclined to interfere or tamper with something or someone

medley (n) : a diverse mix, a jumble of things

melee (n) : a fight involving several people, a chaotic battle or brawl

mellifluous (adj) : like honey, sweet and smooth

mephitic (adj) : sickening smell, stinky, or poisonous

metaphor (n) : a word or phrase that draws a comparison between two unlike things

metaphysical (adj) : abstract or related to philosophical discussions around reality, truth and being etc

metaphysics (n) : the branch of philosophy that seeks to explain the nature of being or reality

mettle (n) : an inherent quality of character or courage

miasma (n) : a poisonous atmosphere, sickening air or something like it

microcosm (n) : a little world, miniature

migratory (adj) : word migratory relates to animals or other creatures that move from place to place

milieu (n) : cultural and social surroundings, environment

minion (n) : an employee, hireling, or subordinate

misanthrope (n) : someone who hates other people

mite (n) : a small insect; a small bit

modulate (v) : to change or to tone down

molt (v) : to shed an outer covering, such as skin, feathers, etc

momentous (adj) : extremely important or significant

monastic (adj) : secluded and simple, often monk-like

monolithic (adj) : massive, solid and uniform in appearance

montage (n) : combining several elements (especially images) into one composition

morbid (adj) : gruesome or preoccupied with death. it can also mean extremely unhealthy

mortician (n) : someone who works with dead bodies and prepares them for burial or cremation

mosaic (n) : art made with small bits of material like stone or glass to form a larger image

mote (n) : a small speck, usually of dirt or dust, a fragment

motif (n) : a theme or subject that appears in an artistic work

motley (adj) : containing a great variety such as being multi-colored

mottled (adj) : spotted

multiform (adj) : having different shapes or different kinds, diverse

munificent (adj) : willing to give, feeling selfless and generous

musty (adj) : a stale smell or being outdated

myriad (n) : variety, a great number of things

Idiomi – video slovar L

Kliknite na povezavo in si oglejte kratko animirano razlago posamezne fraze.

laborious (adj) : requiring great energy, effort or done with difficulty

labyrinth (n) : a maze or a confusing network of passages

laceration (n) : a deep cut or wound

lachrymose (adj) : causing or inclined to shed tears

lackluster (adj) : lacking in brightness, energy or vitality

laconic (adj) : brief with words, concise or something said with few words

laggard (n) : one who is slow and falls behind or a slowpoke

lampoon (v) : to make fun of or to mock

languish (v) : to lose vigor and vitality, to become weak

languor (n) : a lack of energy, lack of interest or spirit

lap (v) : to drink liquid, usually by dipping it up with one’s tongue

larceny (n) : theft, robbery

larder (n) : a place where food is stored, pantry

lassitude (n) : feeling of being tired, or weariness of mind or body; it also means a condition of indifference

lavish (adj) : occurring in great amounts; it also means generous in giving or spending

leery (adj) : cautious, skeptical or attentive

legerdemain (n) : sleight of hand, trickery, or manipulation

leverage (n) : an increased means of accomplishing a purpose with increased influence

levitate (v) : to hover or cause to rise and float in the air

levy (v) : to issue a tax or fine, to demand payment for something

lexicographer (n) : one who writes or compiles a dictionary

liability (n) : a disadvantage, drawback or unnecessary burden

libel (n) : a false statement written out of a desire to damage someone’s reputation

libretto (n) : the words of an opera or similar musical composition

licentious (adj) : immoral and improper, especially in regards to sexual activity

lilliputian (adj) : tiny, extremely small

limber (adj) : flexible or being able to bend one’s body easily

limerick (n) : a short humorous five-line poem

limpid (adj) : perfectly clear, transparent, or unclouded

linchpin (n) : a pin that attaches the wheel to the axle; it also means a vital element

lineage (n) : a line of descendants or members of the same group or family

liniment (n) : a soothing liquid or gel that’s rubbed on injured skin

lionize (v) : to treat a person as a celebrity

lissome (adj) : having a flexible body, athletic

lithe (adj) : being easily bendable or flexible

loll (v) : to lean or lounge in a relaxed manner

lugubrious (adj) : deeply sad and gloomy in an exaggerated way

lumen (n) : a unit of measure for the flow of light

Idiomi – video slovar K

Kliknite na povezavo in si oglejte kratko animirano razlago posamezne fraze.

kernel (n) : inner part of a seed or, more generally, the central part of something

killjoy (n) : someone who ruins the fun

kindle (v) : to build or light a fire, to inspire, or to become bright

kindred (adj) : very much alike, having much in common or being related in some way

kleptomaniac (n) : someone who has the uncontrollable impulse to steal

knave (n) : a villain, someone without decency or honesty

knell (n) : the ominous sound of a bell or a signal of disaster

knoll (n) : a small slope or incline, small hill

Od kje izvira beseda cartoon?

There are two kinds of “cartoons,” of course: the static drawings found on editorial pages and in comic strips, and the moving kind (now often known, apparently inevitably, as “animated features”) shown on TV and in movie theaters. The moving kind of “cartoons” take their name from the static drawings, but the use of “cartoon” to mean a humorous or topical drawing published in a magazine or newspaper dates only to the mid-19th century.

Prior to that time, a “cartoon” was a preliminary sketch made on heavy paper by a serious artist, the word being derived from the Italian “cartone,” based in turn on the Latin “charta,” meaning “writing paper” (which also gave us our English words “chart,” “card” and “charter,” among others). Thus, in this sense, major artists of the stature of Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael (”But the sight best pleased me was the cartoons by Raphael, which are far beyond all the paintings I ever saw,” 1878) produced what are now some very valuable “cartoons.”

Vir: Word detective