This week's theme: words related to words, writing, and language. Sprachgefuhl (SHPRAKH-guh-fyool) noun
A feeling for language or a sensitivity for what is correct language. [From German Sprachgefuhl, from Sprache (language) and Gefühl (feeling).] Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=sprachgefuhl If you have Sprachgefuhl, you have an ear for idiomatically appropriate language. The best illustration of Sprachgefuhl, or the lack of it, was an 1855 Portuguese-English phrase book intended to help Portuguese speakers master the English language. Titled "English As She Is Spoke", it was authored by one Pedro Carolino. The only problem was that Pedro didn't know any English. On the plus side, he did have a Portuguese-French phrase book. Pedro simply picked up a French-English dictionary and tried the circuitous route: Portuguese to French to English. The result was such gems as: Names for body parts: "Of the Man: The inferior lip; The superior lip; The fat of the leg." Food: "Eatings: Some black pudding; A little mine; Hog fat; Some wigs; Vegetables boiled to a pap." Swimming instructions: "For to swim: I row upon the belly on the back and between two waters." Idioms: "Idiotism: Cat scalded fear the cold water." This book was even used as a textbook in the Portuguese colony of Macao. I regret to say they eventually stopped using it. Imagine, in just a few years, we could have witnessed a lovely new strain of the English language take root. Pedro was simply ahead of his time. Today anyone can achieve the same results with computer translation: http://google.com/language_tools -Anu Garg (gargATwordsmith.org) "Despite this fecundity (perhaps because of it) Avallone had major problems with his raw material: words, and the uses to which they can be put. He was not, in short, a man with an innate Sprachgefuhl." Jack Adrian; Obituary: Michael Avallone; Independent (London, UK); Mar 20, 1999. Sponsors' Messages: Customize Thinking Putty as a Corporate Gift! Adult-sized handfuls, fun colors, and your own full color artwork: http://puttyworld.com/custom.html Monthly French, German, Italian and Spanish cultural audio magazines for intermediate-to-advanced learners. http://web.champs-elysees.com/wsmith1 ............................................................................ In all history there is no war which was not hatched by the governments, the governments alone, independent of the interests of the people, to whom war is always pernicious even when successful. -Leo Tolstoy, author (1828-1910) Share the magic of words. Send a gift subscription of A.Word.A.Day: http://wordsmith.org/awad/gift.html Pronunciation: http://wordsmith.org/words/sprachgefuhl.wav http://wordsmith.org/words/sprachgefuhl.ram Permalink: http://wordsmith.org/words/sprachgefuhl.html This message was sent to "[email protected]".
