Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Altmodische Musik
("Outdated Music")
Conversation from the Begrüßungsparty.
S (German friend) is reading the mixed CD for the party music:
Conversation from the Begrüßungsparty.
S (German friend) is reading the mixed CD for the party music:
Me: "Is that the tracklist for the entire evening?"
S: "Yep. It seems like there's quite a bit of older pop music on here, actually..."
Me: "What kind of music do you like to listen to anyway?"
S: "Ohhh, even older stuff. I'm so old-fashioned. You'd probably laugh."
Me: "For exaaample?"
S: "Haha, The Beatles or something. Pink Floyd... Oh, The Who!... and..." (+ few more that I don't remember)
Me: "That's not that bad!"
S: "Haha, I thought you or people in your general age group might probably think that was old-fashioned of me."
Me: "Oh S, I wouldn't worry about what I might think. Most of the music that I listen to is far older. I mean, when I say I might listen to music from the 60's, it's more like.... the 1860's."
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Proud to Be An American
So this is somewhat interesting, I find.
I have a friend from Mexico among the 60-some-odd students from other countries that I know. There was a Begrüßungsparty (welcome party) last night for all of the exchange students (because we're finally all here), and we were both talking with some students from Germany and Slovakia. At some time, we hit the topic of America and being American.
The thing is, he claims to be American, too. I said, "Oskar, what are you talking about?" He basically says, "Hey, we consider that America [the Americas]. You, you are from the United States."
Ahhh... This is enlightening to me, even if only in a very small way. I also got that slight nagging feeling of an Ignorant American moment. Or rather, Ignorant "American." (Have I ever mentioned my vexation at the fact that most of the US population believes that they are the only ones on the planet, or at least that they're the only modern civilization and the rest of the planet is still crawling around on their knuckles and eating bugs from rotting logs...)
I'm not quite sure if that's just his mentality, or if it's just Mexico (we should ask some Canadians...), or even if he was just flat out joking with me (which I highly doubt). But there's that as a point of interest.
I have a friend from Mexico among the 60-some-odd students from other countries that I know. There was a Begrüßungsparty (welcome party) last night for all of the exchange students (because we're finally all here), and we were both talking with some students from Germany and Slovakia. At some time, we hit the topic of America and being American.
The thing is, he claims to be American, too. I said, "Oskar, what are you talking about?" He basically says, "Hey, we consider that America [the Americas]. You, you are from the United States."
Ahhh... This is enlightening to me, even if only in a very small way. I also got that slight nagging feeling of an Ignorant American moment. Or rather, Ignorant "American." (Have I ever mentioned my vexation at the fact that most of the US population believes that they are the only ones on the planet, or at least that they're the only modern civilization and the rest of the planet is still crawling around on their knuckles and eating bugs from rotting logs...)
I'm not quite sure if that's just his mentality, or if it's just Mexico (we should ask some Canadians...), or even if he was just flat out joking with me (which I highly doubt). But there's that as a point of interest.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Are You My Mother?
I must always laugh when children in public areas get distracted and mistake strangers for their own parents or older siblings, taking hold of their hands absent-mindedly, only to look up and realize with frozen horror that they have been tagging along with a completely strange and unfamiliar face that is not Mommy.
I was at the library today, glancing around and looking at DVDs in the children's section, just to see what was there. I skimmed down the rows at about eye level, and meanwhile passed a little German boy of about seven or eight, who was also skimming at his respective eye level while his mother and brother were browsing nearby. He plucked a movie off the shelf and began jabbering an explanation of it just as I stood behind him looking over his head. He was still conversationally reading the back of the box out loud to me when he turned to show it to me, and looked up.
I smiled broadly and said, "Sorry, what was that?"
He blinked and quickly glanced around after a stunned moment. Then he looked back up, grinned sheepishly, and quietly mumbled, ".. Oh.* " I grinned back. He turned around with a little blush and stuck the movie back onto the shelf.
I found what I wanted, checked out my books, and left the library still grinning.
*(For those of you who speak German, it was, ".. Achso." Which just amuses me tenfold.)
I was at the library today, glancing around and looking at DVDs in the children's section, just to see what was there. I skimmed down the rows at about eye level, and meanwhile passed a little German boy of about seven or eight, who was also skimming at his respective eye level while his mother and brother were browsing nearby. He plucked a movie off the shelf and began jabbering an explanation of it just as I stood behind him looking over his head. He was still conversationally reading the back of the box out loud to me when he turned to show it to me, and looked up.
I smiled broadly and said, "Sorry, what was that?"
He blinked and quickly glanced around after a stunned moment. Then he looked back up, grinned sheepishly, and quietly mumbled, ".. Oh.* " I grinned back. He turned around with a little blush and stuck the movie back onto the shelf.
I found what I wanted, checked out my books, and left the library still grinning.
*(For those of you who speak German, it was, ".. Achso." Which just amuses me tenfold.)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Rubik was a Hungarian from Budapest
Suddenly this morning, I miss my Rubik's Cube. I don't really know why.
Unfortunately I haven't seen one here yet, though.
On second thought, I wonder if Selmair has them. That's a delightful toy store about a 2-minute stroll from my dorm (hurrah!), and I'm particularly fond of it because they have a whole corner of the store...
... devoted entirely to juggling equipment.
(*swooon*)
Unfortunately I haven't seen one here yet, though.
On second thought, I wonder if Selmair has them. That's a delightful toy store about a 2-minute stroll from my dorm (hurrah!), and I'm particularly fond of it because they have a whole corner of the store...
 |
| From Beautiful Regensburg! |
... devoted entirely to juggling equipment.
(*swooon*)
Monday, October 20, 2008
Ups and Downs
Recently I noticed that one pair of my jeans might have gotten a bit looser. A little less snug than they used to be. Maybe it's just me.
Or maybe I've even lost some weight since I've been here, through a combination of different little things here and there. Walking more, cycling more, eating less... and climbing up and down a stairwell of 60 some-odd stairs day in and day out.
(Let's not forget the days when I inadvertently add 20 or 40 more every once in a while by forgetting things in my room :D . Oh! Just today, I was cooking in the kitchen, and said bye to my German suitemate as she headed out the door to the gym. Several minutes later, she comes back through the door laughing and says to me, "Dangit! I was all the way downstairs already! And then I opened the front door and realized that it was still a lot colder than I thought it was! I have to get my jacket now.")
I always feel bad for the occasional friends who come over, though. We have no elevator in the student residence, and while I myself have become used to it now, they're inevitably a little out of breath by the time they get up here, and there's unfortunately nothing I can do. (The Chinese host nature in me is horrified.)
Or maybe I've even lost some weight since I've been here, through a combination of different little things here and there. Walking more, cycling more, eating less... and climbing up and down a stairwell of 60 some-odd stairs day in and day out.
(Let's not forget the days when I inadvertently add 20 or 40 more every once in a while by forgetting things in my room :D . Oh! Just today, I was cooking in the kitchen, and said bye to my German suitemate as she headed out the door to the gym. Several minutes later, she comes back through the door laughing and says to me, "Dangit! I was all the way downstairs already! And then I opened the front door and realized that it was still a lot colder than I thought it was! I have to get my jacket now.")
 |
| From Living in Regensburg |
I always feel bad for the occasional friends who come over, though. We have no elevator in the student residence, and while I myself have become used to it now, they're inevitably a little out of breath by the time they get up here, and there's unfortunately nothing I can do. (The Chinese host nature in me is horrified.)
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Numb3rs - Continued
On another note, I won't try to assume claims based on mere theory here, but I very strongly believe that the stereotypical Chinese reputation for excellence in mathematics has some sort of connection with the efficiency of the numbering system. It is simple and directly to-the-point.
In another example, when Chinese children learn their multiplication tables in school, it does not translate to "5 times 8 is 40," but rather "5-8-is-40," and often simply even "5-8-40." Not only that, but with the typical system, there is also an inherent rhythm that is difficult to understand as someone who has not learned Chinese numbers, but has an almost unstoppably smooth and unbroken flow to it. So if you can imagine reciting the entire multiplication table in the format of, "2-4-is-8, 3-4-12, 4-4-16, 4-5-20, 4-6-24...," it's no wonder you would pick up a natural speed. And not only would you be faster, but you would have already raised the standard speed from, say, multiplication recitation in many other languages.
And there's just my two cents on counting in languages.
In another example, when Chinese children learn their multiplication tables in school, it does not translate to "5 times 8 is 40," but rather "5-8-is-40," and often simply even "5-8-40." Not only that, but with the typical system, there is also an inherent rhythm that is difficult to understand as someone who has not learned Chinese numbers, but has an almost unstoppably smooth and unbroken flow to it. So if you can imagine reciting the entire multiplication table in the format of, "2-4-is-8, 3-4-12, 4-4-16, 4-5-20, 4-6-24...," it's no wonder you would pick up a natural speed. And not only would you be faster, but you would have already raised the standard speed from, say, multiplication recitation in many other languages.
And there's just my two cents on counting in languages.
Numb3rs
(No, not the television series. Sorry, Liz.)
I like things to be practical. Therefore, there are numbering systems in a few languages that do not sit well with me. Allow me to demonstrate.
Chinese Numbers: Why I Love Them
Now then. You might not necessarily be used to this system, but to me, it is all-around practical - and most importantly, very consistent.
German Numbers: Why I Don't Like Them
No. This is not nearly as nice. There is not only some lack of inconsistency, but it is unwieldly. I mean, sometimes I feel like it's just an annoyance to tell someone that I've got zweiundzwanzig ("twoandtwenty") magical carrots or something. Sure, I and the rest of the world's German speakers are used to it by now, but compared to Chinese numbering, for example, this is definitely more unwieldly.
French Numbers: Why I Hate Them
Inefficiency. It makes me writhe uncomfortably in my seat. Put aside the fact that the speakers are all "used to it by now." Just look at the construction of the numbering system on its own. I do not understand why. Why, French people?? Just who was it out of your whole French population who decided this was a good idea??
Continuing points in the next post.
I like things to be practical. Therefore, there are numbering systems in a few languages that do not sit well with me. Allow me to demonstrate.
Chinese Numbers: Why I Love Them
| Numbers | Word in language | English Translation |
| 1-10 | yi 一； er 二; san 三; si 四; wu 五; liu 六; qi 七; ba 八; jiu 九; shi 十 | (normal basic) |
| 11; 12; 13; 14;... | Shi-yi; Shi-er; Shi-san;... (十一； 十二； 十三； 十四;...) | "ten one; ten two; ten three;..." |
| 60; 70; 80; 90 | liu-shi; qi-shi; ba-shi; jiu-shi (六十； 七十； 八十； 九十) | "seven-ten; eight-ten; nine-ten" |
| 71; 81; 91 | qi-shi-yi; ba-shi-yi; jiu-shi-yi (七十一； 八十一； 九十一) | "seven-ten one; eight-ten one; nine-ten one" |
Now then. You might not necessarily be used to this system, but to me, it is all-around practical - and most importantly, very consistent.
German Numbers: Why I Don't Like Them
| Numbers | Word in language | English Translation |
| 1-10 | eins; zwei; drei; vier; fünf; sechs; sieben; acht; neun; zehn | (normal basic) |
| 11; 12; 13; 14;... | elf; zwölf; dreizehn; vierzehn;... | "eleven; twelve; three-ten; four-ten;... |
| 60; 70; 80; 90 | sechzig; siebzig; achtzig; neunzig | "sixty; seventy; eighty; ninety" | 61; 71; 81; 91 | einundsechzig; einundsiebzig; einundachtzig; einundneunzig | "oneandsixty; oneandseventy; oneandeighty; oneandninety" |
No. This is not nearly as nice. There is not only some lack of inconsistency, but it is unwieldly. I mean, sometimes I feel like it's just an annoyance to tell someone that I've got zweiundzwanzig ("twoandtwenty") magical carrots or something. Sure, I and the rest of the world's German speakers are used to it by now, but compared to Chinese numbering, for example, this is definitely more unwieldly.
French Numbers: Why I Hate Them
| Numbers | Word in language | English Translation |
| 1-10 | un; deux; trois; quatre; cinq; six; sept; huit; neuf; dix | (normal basic) |
| 11; 12; 13; 14;... | onze; douze; treize; quatorze;... | "eleven; twelve; thirteen; fourteen;..." |
| *17; 18; 19 | dix-sept; dix-huit; dix-neuf | Wait a moment. What the hell is this?? Why did we just switch formats?? |
| *20; 21; 22; 23 | vingt; vingt et un; vingt-deux; vingt-trois | Okay... so this is "twenty; twenty and one; twenty-two; twenty-three..." ... Why??? |
| 60; 70; 80; 90 | soixante; soixante-dix; quatre-vingts; quatre-vingt-dix | "sixty; sixty-ten; sixty-twenty; four-twenty; four-twenty-ten" WHY, French people?? Why would you do this?! |
| *71; 72; 73 | soixante et onze; soixante-douze; souixante-treize | "sixty and eleven; sixty-twelve; sixty-thirteen" ?!? |
| 81; 82; 91 | quatre-vingt-un; quatre-vingt-deux; quatre-vingt-onze | "four-twenty-one; four-twenty-two; four-twenty-eleven" #@&%^%Q&%^!%#!?!?! |
Inefficiency. It makes me writhe uncomfortably in my seat. Put aside the fact that the speakers are all "used to it by now." Just look at the construction of the numbering system on its own. I do not understand why. Why, French people?? Just who was it out of your whole French population who decided this was a good idea??
Continuing points in the next post.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Schlösser
("Castles")
Today we went to Castles Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein in Schwangau, in the very south of Germany and a stone's throw from the Austria border.
Pictures inside the castles are not allowed, but I just want to say that today, I beheld 100+ year old BREAD in Castle Neuschwanstein... in a box... on a platter with the year 189- [something] on it... or in other words, the year that the bread loaf was baked and presented to a prince for his birthday...
... That's just odd. Don't do that. Be sure to clean out your pantries when the proper time calls for such.
I've only put up a handful of pictures from today's excursion, but at any rate, they're up to see now. By the way, aerial shots of the castles are stunning, but obviously, I can't provide you with those personally. You have the internet, though, so you ought to look some up if you would like to have a look.
Today we went to Castles Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein in Schwangau, in the very south of Germany and a stone's throw from the Austria border.
Pictures inside the castles are not allowed, but I just want to say that today, I beheld 100+ year old BREAD in Castle Neuschwanstein... in a box... on a platter with the year 189- [something] on it... or in other words, the year that the bread loaf was baked and presented to a prince for his birthday...
... That's just odd. Don't do that. Be sure to clean out your pantries when the proper time calls for such.
 |
| From Hohenschwangau, Neuschwanstein |
I've only put up a handful of pictures from today's excursion, but at any rate, they're up to see now. By the way, aerial shots of the castles are stunning, but obviously, I can't provide you with those personally. You have the internet, though, so you ought to look some up if you would like to have a look.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Baby Talk
You know what's an unexpectedly difficult thing to do in a foreign language?
Talk to babies and children. Or even pets.
Aha, don't roll your eyes at me! You may be thinking, "My dear, what can you possibly mean? They are children. Their vocabulary and speech is supposed to be the most elementary among normal human beings. Speaking to children should be the most simple of colloquial endea--"
NEIN.
This is because in every language, there are what linguists call "registers." I should have paid more attention in the linguistics class I took last year, but here's more or less the scoop. As far as I know, a register is something like a level of language that is changed depending on what the social situation at the moment calls for. For example, you would say, "Hey, what's up?" to your friends, but not to your grandmother, or to your interviewer at an interview for a corporate job. These situations use different registers.
Going back to the topic, it is remarkably difficult to talk to children in a language that you are still learning (or at least keep them amused/not confused about the fact that you don't seem to know how to talk) because of the register that most people use specifically for children.
People like me, of course, are used to the normal registers that one would use in shops, asking questions from people on the street, and at the university.
In a nutshell, there are 6-year-olds here that I have a harder time understanding than some German professors.
Talk to babies and children. Or even pets.
Aha, don't roll your eyes at me! You may be thinking, "My dear, what can you possibly mean? They are children. Their vocabulary and speech is supposed to be the most elementary among normal human beings. Speaking to children should be the most simple of colloquial endea--"
NEIN.
This is because in every language, there are what linguists call "registers." I should have paid more attention in the linguistics class I took last year, but here's more or less the scoop. As far as I know, a register is something like a level of language that is changed depending on what the social situation at the moment calls for. For example, you would say, "Hey, what's up?" to your friends, but not to your grandmother, or to your interviewer at an interview for a corporate job. These situations use different registers.
Going back to the topic, it is remarkably difficult to talk to children in a language that you are still learning (or at least keep them amused/not confused about the fact that you don't seem to know how to talk) because of the register that most people use specifically for children.
People like me, of course, are used to the normal registers that one would use in shops, asking questions from people on the street, and at the university.
In a nutshell, there are 6-year-olds here that I have a harder time understanding than some German professors.
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