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I Went To Phuket

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This is my second “funny language” post this week. I really don’t want to come across as mocking my students and others who are speaking a second language. It’s not an easy process, and mistakes and difficulties are a part of that process. But sometimes you just have to laugh (politely, behind their backs).
Someone in the educational resources department decided our students needed to learn how to say, “I went to Phuket.” Right, it’s not really pronounced that way, but how’s a beginning student to know that? I spent some time in class tonight correcting one student who just couldn’t manage to get the pronunciation right. And spent a lot of time trying not to laugh.

WTC Designs

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wtcdesign.jpg
New World Trade Center Designs Unveiled
After the first round of designs were heavily criticized for lacking vision (and rightly so), new proposals for a rebuilt New York City World Trade Center have been unveiled. There’s a lot more of interest in these designs, and on first glance I especially like the one pictured above.
Unlike the other proposals, this one looks unfinished, like a shell of what used to be there. It evokes memories of the original structures, without being too fussy about it.

Bread And Celery

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I just got home from having a drink with a friend whose ability to communicate is greater than his English proficiency. He’s the type who isn’t afraid to have a conversation, even if most of it isn’t grammatically correct. Contrast that with others who have a tremendous grasp of English grammar, but who can’t carry a conversation beyond a few hesitant sentences. The latter is the type who is paralyzed by the rules of grammar.
Communication is what it’s all about, so those who are willing to butcher another language are always more interesting than those who are not. And in order to encourage this communication, you learn not to correct every mistake. It’s a bit of an art picking and choosing what’s important to subtly correct and what’s best left alone. This leads to some entertaining and inadvertently humorous conversations.
My friend and I were discussing blood types. In Japan, blood type is a popular determiner of personality, in much the same way zodiac signs are in other parts of the world. First, the subject came up as “bread” types. Then there was the constant use of the phrase which I heard as, “It’s all because of celery.” I was kind of curious as to what he meant by “celery”, but I was more interested in hearing what each blood type signified, so I let it pass.

Christmas Spoiler

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Customs declarations can sure spoil the gift-giving season. All overseas packages are required to have the contents listed on a customs form, thus giving away the surprise. I’ve been trying to rip off the customs forms on the packages I’ve been receiving (thanks everyone!) before I see what’s listed.

Like An Unusual Medley

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I just listened to a bluegrass medley of Madonna songs on KCRW. Has anyone else heard this? KCRW doesn’t stream playlists, so I’ll have to wait until they post the playlist tomorrow to see who the brave — and successful — interpreter is. She covered Like A Virgin, Burning Up and Lucky Star.
UPDATE: Just found the song and artist information. Madonna Trilogy by The Meat Purveyors.

Well, Goodbye, Henry

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Henry Kissinger has resigned from the commission that will investigate the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

In his letter, Kissinger said he was prepared to submit all relevant financial information to the White House and an independent review, as well as to other members of the joint commission.
“It has become clear, however, that although specific potential conflicts can be resolved in this manner, the controversy would quickly move to the consulting firm I have built and own,” Kissinger’s letter said.

This sounds like Kissinger finally realized the extent to which his global influence peddling business would be subject to scrutiny. And, if there’s one thing Kissinger won’t stand for, it’s full disclosure (which is why it was such a joke that he was named to lead the commission).
The only drawback here is that it leaves an opening for President Bush to make a smarter appointment the second time around. He can now choose a more subtle candidate to whitewash the investigation’s findings.