A LANGUAGE LEARNER - A CASE HISTORY

 

Recently, I was approached by a former student who has become a friend, inquiring about the possibility of me teaching his current wife. Due to my connection with him and his family, I could not refuse and asked him to have her call me. I always insist on a prior meeting to assess the character and personality of potential learners. Time and experience have turned me into a rather good judge of character. Somewhat reluctantly, I decided to meet with her twice a week. I provided my grammar book 1 for a quick review of the basics. After two weeks, Mrs. X decided to meet only once a week because she was very busy at work. She did mention that she works out three times a week, lifting weights and playing tennis. After a month, she was sick one day, had several business meetings on another, and also had a business trip. Eventually, I gave up asking her to do some studying and homework. What we do in class is what we get. I find this attitude very daunting and hard to take. Is she really interested in learning English? Perhaps the Bible is right: Many are called but few are chosen.    

CELIA Y LITERATURA EN LENGUA INGLESA II

 

Celia, la alumna con la que charlé sobre literatura inglesa y con cuyos apuntes escribí el librito Literatura en lengua inglesa I, me ha visitado para hablarme del nuevo año 2024. Tiene planes y quiere seguir con nuestras charlas sobre literatura escrita en inglés. 
- Me ha gustado el librito aunque le encuentro reparos. - me dice.
- Yo también le encuentro reparos, pero recuerda que no hay tela sin falta (the best cloth may have a moth in it). - respondo.
- Veo que en la portada el nombre de Thackeray está mal escrito. - y me mira fijamente.
- La portada no ha sido cosa mía, aunque me la mandaron para que diera el visto bueno y no me fijé. Culpa mía, claro. Nadie lo ha notado todavía o, por lo menos, nadie ha dicho nada.
- ¿Continuamos con las clases para componer un segundo tomito? - pregunta Celia.
- Si te parece, por mí encantado. Ya tengo la lista preparada que va desde James Fenimor Cooper (1789-1851) hasta James Oliver Curwood (1888-1927), pasando por  Poe, Dickens, las Brontë, Carrol, Stoker, Stevenson, Wilde, O´Henry, Galsworthy, Conrad... y muchos otros. 
- ¿Vamos a utilizar el mismo formato?
- Más o menos. Sí creo que debemos añadir una pequeña lista de los escritos más relevantes de cada autor, a manera de guía. De ese listado te puedes encargar tú. Pero tengo malas noticias.
-¿Malas noticias?
- Sí, malas noticias para el editor, porque va a tener que ser una trilogía. Con dos tomos no podemos cubrir lo esencial escrito en lengua inglesa. 
- In for a penny, in for a pound - replica Celia sesudamente.
- Pues en eso quedamos.

- 

UN EMPUJONCITO AND THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

As a consulting bilingual phraseological detective, I am visited by many scholars who, bereft of the help of dictionaries, seek my help in duplicating idioms from and into English and Spanish. One of them, whose name I will withhold because he is in high cultural spheres in Spain, told me "necesito un empujoncito en mis investigaciones" and needed an English expression or idiom that would express that idea. We chatted for a while over a pipe of marihuana and a cup of coffee, and I mentioned another such Spanish phrase: "dar trato de favor" which, in essence, has the same meaning. He pondered for a while and asked me: "Cood it bee dat de Englis do not seek extra help from others" which I translated as "Could it be that the English do not seek extra help from others"? "Strange as it may seem, the English are as deceitful and canning as the Spanish." I jumped from my armchair, opened a common book I keep, and showed him this: "to give a leg up to someone: to help someone to achieve something by giving them an advantage that others do not have." Then I produced two citations:

 “Wesleyan University… is ending legacy admissions, which give a leg up to the children of alumni.” New York Times, July 19, 2023. US. || “The new rules give businesses here a leg up from competition from other countries.” Paul Heacock, Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms, 2003. US. 

TRADUCE AND TRANSLATE

 

In Muir's translation of Kafka's The Trial, there is a suggestion that someone must have been traducing Joseph K., as I paraphrase from memory. This leads to a broader consideration of the ongoing debates surrounding translations. The choice of terminology is crucial, with some translations opting for 'telling lies about Joseph K.' In light of these discussions, I propose reevaluating the term 'translate' itself. To translate implies turning from one language into another, but is it also an act of traducing? Traducing involves speaking maliciously and falsely about someone, akin to slander. Both 'traduce' and 'translate' share roots in the Latin 'traducere.' What if we reconsider the act of rendering one language into another as 'traduce' instead of 'translate'? By doing so, we acknowledge the complexities of translation—where the translator may, at times, be slandering, disgracing, or leading readers astray. This perspective challenges the conventional notion of translation as a faithful reproduction, recognizing the inherent distortions and betrayals involved in the process.

LANGUAGE AUTOCRATS

The Wide World Net has been invaded by language autocrats who tell us what to say and how to say it. These self-appointed autocrats do not suggest ways to speak, they command their followers, willy-nilly, to do as they mandate and rule. I was piqued by the titles of their posts:
Stop using the future. Should we use the past and the present tenses only?
Don´t study the basics. I guess we are asked to skip simple grammar,
Don´t learn languages. Acquire them. This dictum might mean that we should not study.
Repeat until fluent. Repetition is good, after all, practice makes perfect, but repeat what?
Don´t say thank you. Should we kiss the person instead? 

And many more, written, spoken, and performed by language "influencers." Oh, well, O tempora, o mores, as the Phoenicians used to say.

  

CORRECTIONS VS SUGGESTIONS

When I am handed a text to correct, I suggest necessary changes and never make corrections. My policy is to "suggest" possible improvements instead of "correcting" a given text's original wording, syntax, or grammar. I only correct my students, who expect me to do so, because in the classroom I must insist on eradicating faulty speech to improve it. In social settings, outside of the classroom, I never correct because that would be bad manners, and remember that nobody likes to be corrected in public. In a nutshell: in social settings do not correct. "Suggest" alternatives on a given text. In class, correct at your heart´s content and never let an error go by without pointing it out.    

TIPS ON 15-MINUTE A DAY LEARNING

 

To efficiently study a language in just 15 minutes daily, focus on key elements.
--Begin with a quick review of vocabulary or phrases.
--Listen to short audio clips or podcasts during daily tasks.
--Practice speaking or writing a few sentences to reinforce skills.
--Consistency is crucial, so establish a routine.
--Use flashcards for quick recall.
--Emphasize quality over quantity, ensuring focused and engaged learning in each brief session to steadily build language proficiency.

4 ENGLISH IDIOMS IN ACTION

 

As the ambitious young entrepreneur embarked on his latest venture, he couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. The enormity of the project's implications, both for his career and the industry at large, gave him pause. In this time of great pith and moment, he realized the need to kick over the traces of conventional thinking and embrace innovation wholeheartedly. Despite the challenges that lay ahead, he was determined to make a mark that would fall into place in the annals of business history. Mores the pity that many doubted his unconventional approach, but he remained steadfast in his belief that success would eventually come to those who dared to break free from the established norms.

DÍA DE MI SANTO

I am not particularly religious, but old traditions and teachings tend to linger in the recesses of our minds since early childhood and endure indefinitely. This is true for the"día de mi santo," which falls on the 24th of December—St. Delfín, a French saint in the Catholic Church, circa 400, was also a martyr and holy man. I celebrate this day like most Catholics in the Spanish-speaking world because it is also "Noche Buena" or Christmas Eve. After all, my given name, or font name, or Christian name is Delfin. In the English language, we would probably refer to this day as my "Feast Day" or "Saint's Day." It's nothing extraordinary, but I make a big fanfare about it mainly because this custom is going out of style, though it has not disappeared completely. Only one friend called me to congratulate me ('felicitarme') on my Santo, and she passed away this year. When is your "Santo." Do you know?

ERNESTO SABATO AND LUIS MARÍA ANSON

Yesterday I was listening to a man who, according to himself, speaks 50-some languages. He mentioned that he had been reading Ernesto Sabato, the well-known Argentinian author, with a student, and I was struck by how he pronounced the name. He stressed the second sílable, Sabáto, instead of Sábato, despite the written accent's absence. I had always pronounced this surname as stressed on the first syllable. How could that be? Had I been mispronouncing the name all along? True enough, the writer´s name has no written accent on his books. I had never noticed. Listening to interviews with the writer, in Argentina, where he is addressed as Sábato always, I have calmed down. The author of El tunel, chose to skip the accent. A Spanish writer and scholar, Luis María Anson also chose not to use the written accent in his name. A matter of idiosyncratic choice, but we are all aware of it. However, the linguist Alexander Argüelles ignores this, much to his detriment I think. Mystery solved.      

4 PROVERBS - ENGLISH AND SPANISH

Fling enough dirt (mud) and some will stick, says the old proverb, which translates as "calumnia, que algo queda." Attack an opponent repeatedly and some of the accusations will be believed. This saying is very dear to politicians. Never look a gift horse in the mouth, or in Spanish "a caballo regalado no le mires el dentado (diente.) Refrain from finding fault with gifts that are given free of charge. And folk wisdom tells us that nothing ventured, nothing gained, "el que no se arriesga no cruza la mar," we must take risks if we seek some gain. And Quakers have been saying for years that silence is golden, "el silencio es oro." Proverbs have few words, good sense, and a fine image. 

PEDRO SÁNCHEZ AND PROVERBS

 

The present Spanish Prime Minister, a certain Pedro Sánchez, recently, and at a political rally, used an old proverb to justify his irregular decisions: "hacer de necesidad, virtud." The English counterpart is: "Make a virtue of necessity", meaning "to acquiesce in doing something unpleasant with a show of grace because one must do it in any case." He was referring to his banding together with unscrupulous terrorists albeit he had sworn repeatedly he would never do it. I could offer him many other proverbs he and his followers could profit from:
-- Once a thief, always a thief.
-- A liar is sooner caught than a cripple.
-- An ill life, an ill death.
-- There are none so blind as those who will not see.
-- You cannot have it both ways.

DALE CARNEGIE AND PROVERBS

Rearranging my books -again- I have come across Dale Carnegie´s How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, a book I purchased on 06/03/1986 (I kept the sales slip!). Flipping its pages, I come across this about proverbs: "If we only applied proverbs -instead of snorting at them- we wouldn´t need this book at all. In fact, if we applied most of the old proverbs, we would lead almost perfect lives." So here:
-- Don´t sell the skin till you have caught the bear.
-- Don´t cry over spilt milk.
-- Don´t look a gift horse in the mouth.
-- Curiosity killed the cat.
-- Don´t wash your dirty linen in public.
-- The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
-- More haste, less speed.

-- You´ve got to be cruel to be kind.

LA IGNORANTE IA

Confieso que me hago cruces: no puedo comprender por qué ponen a la IA por las nubes. Dicen que va a quitar 300 millones de puestos de trabajo. ¡Ja! Me río de la cacareada inteligencia artificial. Yo sólo le pido que me traduzca del inglés "I know what´s what, I have not just fallen off a turnip truck." ¿Y saben lo que me traduce la mongólica inteligencia artificial? ¡Agárrense que vienen curvas! Pues me ha traducido, sin pestañear, "Sé lo que hay, no acabo de caerme de un camión de nabos." ¡Olé, olé y olé! ¡Viva tu mare, IA! La pobrecita no parece saber el significado de "fall off a turnip trunk" y yo no se lo voy a decir. ¡Qué vaya al colegio y aprenda! No ha oído hablar de "caerse de un guindo". Esta entrada del Blog se la dedico a los listillos que creen que van a resolver sus problemas de traducción con la IA.    

KICK OVER THE TRACES - Can you match?

David shouted, kicked over the traces, and left slamming the door. I decided to hold the fort and weather the storm. More´s the pity, I muttered to myself. The show must go on!

Qué se le va a hacer. Aguantar el temporal.  Al pie del cañón. Sacar los pies del tiesto.

 

CURIOUS WARNINGS

A few years ago, people feared strange-acting folk and would not associate with them or lock them up in dungeons. This feeling was widespread and was reflected in sayings in different languages, like:

"Take heed of a mad fool in a narrow place," which has a Spanish counterpart:  "De locos y en lugar estrecho, espera daño y no provecho." 

Another saying warns us to keep away from silent people and especially still waters: "Beware of a silent man (dog, and still waters." This has again, a Spanish parallel saying: "De las aguas mansas nos libre Dios." A variant says: "Beware of still water, beware of the silent man, beware of the dog that does not bark." It is also said that "a barking dog does not bite" or "perro que ladra no muerde." 

 

PARALLEL PROVERBS WE SHOULD HEED

 

Sometimes proverbs make sense and instill timeless folk philosophy in a nutshell. We should heed the following ones. 1. "Desperate diseases must have desperate remedies (cures)." 2. "Many dishes make many diseases." 

-- "... desperate diseases must have desperate cures." (Jordan Thomas, A Medicine for the Times, 1640. UK.)

-- "... where the proverb saith that many dishes make many diseases." Thomas Moffet, Health Improvement..., 1655. UK.)

Both of the above proverbs have their parallel duplicates in Spanish. 1. "A grandes males, grandes remedies." 2. "De grandes cenas están las sepulturas llenas." 

-- "Soles i penas y zenas tienen las sepulturas llenas." (Gonzalo Correas, Vocabulario de refranes, 1625. Esp.)

-- "Para grandes males, grandes remedios." Miguel Ángel Asturias, El papa verde, 1954. Guat.) 

UGLY Y SUS PARALELISMOS

 

Un Diccionario fraseológico bilingüe debe dar respuestas paralelas. En el caso de "ugly", que ya de por sí es una palabra fea y desagradable en inglés, doy lo siguiente:
Ugly as sin (a toad, butt ugly, fuck, shit, a face that would stop a clock, ugly as cat shit, piss-ugly, pug ugly, hell, as it gets) Más feo que un pecado (Picio, Carracuca, el hambre, el bu, Quasimodo, que pegarle a un padre [con un calcetín sudado], feo del culo, feo con ganas, como él solo, el trasero de un mono), feísimo
Victor is ugly as a sin Víctor es más feo que un pecado
— “That new pharmacy is an assault to my eyes; it is everything the LPA is supposed to stop! It is a big box, ugly as sin itself, a monstrosity.” Bonita Daily News, FL - 11 Jul 2003. USA.

LEXICAL CLONING

 

Lexical cloning or "repetición léxica", in either language, is the repetition of an adjective usually for emphasis or stress, such as "handsome handsome" or "guapa guapa." 

-- "Ciertamente, guapa guapa no see la puede llamar." (José Luis Sampedro, La sonrisa etrusca, 1984. Esp.)

-- "Y es difícil difícil hablarle claro." (Revista Hoy, 25-31/08/1997. Chile.)

-- "... plato típico de Andújar, sencillo y rico rico." (Carlos Arguiñano, 1065 recetas, 1996. Esp.)

-- "He was handsome, handsome, handsome - tanned face, slick-streaked hair, vivid blue eyes..." (Katie Macalister, Hard Day´s Knight, 2005. US.)

-- "Because if you want to be rich, you have to claim what you want now. You are rich, rich, rich, rich." (Thomas L. Pauley, I am Rich Beyond my Wildest Dreams, 2003. US.)

And I want you to persevere persevere in your language studies!

MADRID Y SU OFICINA DEL ESPAÑOL

La creación de la Oficina del Español por Isabel Díaz Ayuso, Presidenta de la Comunidad de Madrid, me pareció un acierto. Una oficina dedicada a promocionar la lengua castellana por el mundo, con sede en la Comunidad de Madrid es una idea que no tiene precedentes culturales ni lingüísticos. En su momento aplaudí la idea aunque no me pareció idóneo el primer nombramiento de director. El segundo nombramiento, José Ramiro Alonso de Villapadierna, ya me pareció mejor, aunque critiqué su etiqueta de "embajador o gestor cultural" como auto aval para el puesto. En un año el Sr. Villapadierna no ha hecho nada para la oficina a pesar de lo mucho que se puede hacer y de las oportunidades que ha tenido. La Presidenta Díaz Ayuso ha rectificado y cesado al director, el día, al parecer, 5 de diciembre del 2023. Todo me parece de perlas pero quisiera repetir que la idea que sostiene a la Oficina del Español es correcta. Madrid pudiera convertirse en una atalaya del estudio y propagación de la lengua castellana en el mundo. Que haya habido fallos en los nombramientos no quita para continuar con el proyecto. Animo a la Presidenta de la Comunidad de Madrid a no echar en saco roto la espléndida idea inicial que tiene mucho futuro y muchos beneficios para la Comunidad.  Ánimo.  

PLEASURE IN ENGLISH IDIOMS

 

Business before pleasure Antes es el deber que la devoción

My motto is business before pleasure Mi lema es que antes es el deber que la devoción

— “Business before pleasure, rain or shine.” Henry Harrison, Angela´s Business, 2006. US.

Have (enjoy) the pleasure of Tener el placer (gusto) de

I have the pleasure of knowing her Tengo el gusto de conocerla

— “The same regions become active when a person enjoys the pleasure of eating chocolate, she adds.” New Scientist, 12 Noc 2003. UK.

My pleasure No hay de qué

Thank you. My pleasure Gracias. No hay de qué

— “My pleasure is an idiomatic response to thank you. It is similar to you are welcome, but more polite and more emphatic.” The Britannica Dictionary, 2023. US.

Take pleasure in Ser un placer, disfrutar

I take pleasure in introducing Mr. Smith, the senator Es un placer presentar al Sr. Smith, el senador / I take pleasure in reading Disfruto leyendo

— “Take pleasure in necessities which could be hardships, need, deprivation, hunger, thirst….” Carey Ingram, Steps Toward Abundant Living, 2007. US.

The pleasure is mine El gusto es mío

No, please, the pleasure is mine No, por favor, el gusto es mío

— “The pleasure is mine, believe me.” Michael Friedman, Planet X, 2000. US.

What do I owe the pleasure? ¿A qué debo el placer?

What do I owe the pleasure of your visit? ¿A qué debo el placer de su visita?

— “What do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” Allen Edwards, The Caiaphas Letters, 2003. US.

What is your pleasure? ¿Qué se le ofrece?

What is your pleasure, Mr. Jones? ¿Qué se le ofrece, Sr. Jones?

With (much) pleasure Con (mucho) gusto

I´ll fix the car with pleasure, Miss Jones Arreglaré el coche con gusto, Srta. Jones

— “… I cannot help looking back to these times with much pleasure.” Charles Darwin, Autobiography, 2005. US.

SCALES AND VENDA IN TWO PARALLEL IDIOMS

The scales fall from someone´s eyes: to suddenly see a situation clearly and accurately. “The scales will fall from your eyes when you realize…” Irish Times, Jan. 7, 2023. Irland. || “Maybe the scales will fall from the Prime Minister´s eyes…” Independent Australia, 26 Nov., 2021. Aus. 

Caérsele a uno la venda de los ojos: Desengañarse. Salir del estado de ofuscación en que see hallaba. "Se cae la venda de tus ojos y comprenderás que has sido manipulado.” Listín diario, 31/12/2004. Rep. Dom."

The English idiom comes from the Bible: King James, Acts: 9:18 "And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales..." Vulgate: "et confestim ceciderunt ab oculis tamquam squamae..." Reina Valera: Y al momento cayeron de los ojos como escamas..."

However, the Spanish version does not mention "scales", "escamas", but "venda", bandage.  What is the origin of the Spanish phrase? The difference is that scales fall from the eyes in English, and in Spanish, it is a "venda" that falls. 

  

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DONDE AND ADONDE

Whenever movement is implied, we should use adónde: ¿Adónde vamos? Otherwise, we will employ dónde: ¿Dónde están las llaves?
-- "Dónde estás que no te veo?"
-- "De dónde es usted, Sr. Feliciano?"
-- "Pudo recuperarlo allí donde lo dejó."

--- "Yo no sé adónde quiere llegar."
--- "¿Y adónde quieres tú que vayamos?"
--- "Sin que yo sepa adónde fueron a parar." 

MARICA EL ÚLTIMO

La frase es conocida por todos y empleada, por muy políticamente incorrecta que sea, o que digan que es: "marica el último". Cuando se hace una carrera, por ejemplo, y salen todos escopetados se dice: "marica (o maricón) el último." Jorge Martín, corredor de coches, lo soltó el otro día en un programa de TV  y lo reflejó el diario El País: "Tenemos mucho respeto, nos estamos jugando la vida y puede ser muy peligroso... pero aquí, marica el último". Y eso fue el 5 de diciembre de 2023, no hace treinta o cuarenta años. 

En inglés también se desprecia al que llega el último y se le espeta que es un huevo podrido: 

Last one is a rotten egg Marica (tonto, maricón) el último

Let´s run to the water. Last one is a rotten egg Corramos al agua. Marica el último

— “Last one to the bottom is a rotten egg.” CNN, February 6, 2022. US.

   

SPANISH IDIOMS WITH "PERRA"

 

Coger una perra (rabieta, berrinche) Throw (have) a temper tantrum

El niño coge una perra cada vez que tiene que bañarse Our child throws a temper tantrum every time he has to take a bath

• “… pero ella cogió una perra espantosa por no tener donde guardar la ropa planchada y se lio a decir que ésa no era manera de trabajar y…” Eduardo Mendicutti, El palomo cojo, 1991. Esp.

Cuatro perras (gordas) Peanuts, a trifle, for a song

El coche me costó cuatro perras gordas I paid peanuts for the car

Estar (vivir) sin una perra Be broke, be down-and-out, not have two pennies to rub together, not have a penny to one´s name

Estamos sin una perra We are broke

• “… vivíamos casi sin una perra.” Lourdes Ortiz, Luz de la memoria, 1976. Esp. || “Ya no me queda ni una perra gorda y tengo que coger el metro.” Javier Maqua, Invierno sin pretexto, 1992. Esp.

Para ti la perra gorda Whatever, you win

¿La capital de Francia es Burdeos? Bien, para ti la perra gorda The capital of France is Bordeaux? Ok, whatever, you win

• “Eso, será el azar, pues vale, para ti la perra gorda.” Revista Medicina General, nº 52, 03(2003. Esp.

Perra vida (vida de perros) Lousy (wretched) life

¡Qué perra vida! What a wretched life!

• “En mi perra vida he visto miseria mayor.” Francisco Abad, Los géneros literarios, 1982. Esp.

TWO PARALLEL IDIOMS ENGLISH/SPANISH

 

No ser de recibo Be beyond (outside) the pale, unacceptable, unsatisfactory

Lo que dice usted sobre las mujeres no es de recibo What you say about women is beyond  the pale

— “Lo que no es de recibo es sentarse por primera vez a oír hablar de un tema y dar tu conformidad a un comunicado para los medios de difusión que ya está preparado de antemano sin nuestra intervención...” Jesús Cacho, Asalto al poder, 1988. Esp.

Beyond (outside) the pale No ser de recibo, pasarse de la raya, pasarse dos (cuatro) pueblos

Your behavior is simply beyond the pale Su comportamiento de usted no es de recibo

— “They were now missioners to those who stand outside the pale of Church and Chapel.” James Munson, The Nonconformists, 1991. UK. || “And if that were not bad enough, things were about to go beyond the pale.” Daily Star, 23 Oct., 2023. UK.

HENRY KISSINGER AND HIS GERMAN ACCENT

 

Henry Kissinger (1923-2023) reached the United States from Germany in 1938, as a very young man, 15 years old. He served in the U.S. Army and studied at Harvard University. He has just died at 100. Why am I mentioning him? 85 years in America did not erase his German accent in English and to his dying day, he pronounced "we" as "ve", German style. He was indeed intelligent, yet the sounds of English were too much for him. All those who urge you to go to the country to practice a language are given the lie here. There must be more than just hearing a language to reproduce the sounds well. I am baffled and certainly disturbed and have no answers, but I am still convinced that we can master the sounds of a language. If some can do it, why can´t we? Let´s hold on to that simple idea and hope for the best. 

TAYLOR SWIFT Y HARVARD UNIVERSITY

Leo hoy, en el New York Times, escrito por Madison M. Kircher, y con cierto asombro que 300 alumnos se han apuntado a un curso ofrecido por esa universidad titulado "Taylor Swift and Her World." Busco a la tal Taylor y descubro que es cantautora,  bailarina y prominente figura cultural. Tiene 33 añitos de nada, y la prestigiosa universidad ha tenido a bien ofrecer un curso universitario, con crédito añadido, sobre ella y su mundo. No deja de sorprenderme y pienso si esa misma universidad hubiese ofrecido en su momento un curso sobre "Elvis Prestley and His World" en 1956. ¿Qué ha cambiado? Mucho ha cambiado: desde la seriedad, a la banalización más absoluta de los planes de estudio. Si Harvard se mete en ese berenjenal, podemos pensar qué no harán universidades y colleges de menor rango y reputación. La Dra. Stephanie Burt, famosa poetisa y crítico literario, impartirá la asignatura. Me he quedado boquiabierto. O tempora, O mores, como decían los sumerios. (Ajunto photo de Stephanie.)   

MODISMOS ENTRELAZADOS

 Cuando salí de aquel pueblo me dije que una y no más, Santo Tomás, (one and done). De ahora en adelante (from now on) va a ser cosa de coser y cantar (smooth sailing), pero qué se le va a hacer (more´s the pity) cuando uno mete la pata (shoots himself in the foot) por ignorancia y cabezonería. A lo hecho, pecho (don´t cry over spilt milk), me dije, y decidí que lo pasado, pasado está (let bygones be bygones). De ahora en adelante (from now on) podré escoger a mi gusto (pìck and choose) dónde quiero vivir. ¡Qué alivio! (relief).

MODISMOS CON "QUARREL"

 

It takes two to make a quarrel Dos no pelean (riñen) si uno no quiere

I´m not going to quarrel with you. It takes two to make a quarrel No voy a pelear contigo. Dos no pelean si uno no quiere

· “Solomon might have replied (the records do not give his side of the story) that it takes two to quarrel.” Barry Turner, And the Policeman Smiled, 1991. UK.

Quarrel with No tener queja de (nada en contra de)

I have no quarrel with the way things are done here No tengo queja de la manera de hacer las cosas aquí

— “Relativist that I am, I have no quarrel with British norms.” The Print, Nov., 20, 2023. Ind.

INTRODUCCIÓN A LITERATURA EN LENGUA INGLESA I

 Celia y yo*

 

 

En mi vida profesional, académica, como profesor, he dictado cursos sobre lengua española, lengua inglesa, literatura de ambos idiomas, fonética inglesa y española. Últimamente he dado clases de inglés a españoles. Mis alumnos en España se han interesado por mis conocimientos de gramática y fonética y creo que con el tiempo he llegado a ser aceptable como profesor. Ninguno de mis estudiantes de inglés ha mostrado interés por la literatura inglesa, a pesar de mis intentos por dirigirlos por este sendero. El estudiante español de la lengua de Shakespeare cree que ese idioma flota en el aire como una burbuja y que su cultura -literatura, gastronomía, historia, folklore y geografía-, nada tienen que ver con él. Cree que un idioma y su literatura no están conectados.

¿Por qué estudiar a los clásicos literarios de un idioma? La respuesta me la dio Jorge Santayana, a los 18 años, cuando leí, en Pittsburgh, su Three Philosophical Poets, de 1910: “The sole advantage in possessing great works of literature lies in what they can help us to become.”  ¿Y por qué leer? Nos dice Harold Bloom en su How to Read and Why: “It matters, if individuals are to retain any capacity to form their own judgments and opinions, that they continue to read for themselves.”

Siempre he pensado que, para aprender inglés de verdad, hay que visitar su literatura. Hace poco me llevé la sorpresa de mi vida. A través de un antiguo alumno, conocí a una señorita que, sorpresa de sorpresas, no quería saber de gramática ni de fonética sino de literatura inglesa.

-Ya hablo inglés bien y necesito saber y aprender su literatura, los clásicos del idioma. Creo que así podré comprender mejor el alma anglosajona - me dijo en nuestra primera entrevista-. Estuve de acuerdo con ella, claro está, y como la vi muy animosa, acepté darle clase, lo que me ofrecía una buena oportunidad de repasar y revivir mis lecturas de la literatura en lengua inglesa de mis años mozos.

Decidimos reunirnos, con flexibilidad, dos veces por semana, durante una hora.

* Introducción a mi Literatura en lengua inglesa I