Language / culture

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    Part-2 Vocabulary

    Bykm-builder

    Improving your vocabulary becomes easy when we start observing how language behaves since language is a system which is undergoing a process of continuous evolution. A small example towards this evolutionary nature of language (English in this case) becomes evident when we look at these sentences from Shakespeare, “Bring me to Octavius” in the manner of take me to Octavius where as bring as a verb today means fetching “This thou shall suddenly” in the manner of quickly whereas suddenly today would mean, ‘without notice’. “Let us remove” in the sense, let us leave this place.

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    Comics

    Bykm-builder

    I knew nothing about comics until my 7th standard. In my 7th standard I joined a new school in Chennai and I was introduced to Comics by my friends who used to read them on the under desk while bending their heads, pretending to write. They would not lend them to me to take to the hostel. I could borrow only in the school hours.

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    Is There a Universal Language?

    Bykm-builder

    Is there a Universal language: At least to the extent of words for elementary feelings in life. This could be a very bad premise to start my thought process on this subject, but the overwhelming amount of evidence or coincidence cannot be denied or diluted. Linguists have researched and written perceptive dissertations about this. Yet these observations are from a layman’s point of view.

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    Words are like rapiers.

    Bykm-builder

    The sharper they are, the deeper is their impact. Vocabulary wise English is a richly endowed language and has a choice of words or expressions to express every nuance of meaning or idea. One is in fact spoilt for choice. How many of us have not wondered why somebody is said to have been assassinated when it is plain murder, or why robbing a bank is not embezzlement or why there is a distinction between an autopsy and a post-mortem?