A PLACE FOR SIDEWAYS TRAINS OF THOUGHT
When beginning as an interpreter many years ago , I was reminded that “Ivory Coast” was a name to be avoided as the authorities of that state insisted on it always being called by the French name Côte d’Ivoire. 2.Côte d’Ivoire is now a rather strange name since the ivory trade is prohibited. 3. A... Continue Reading →
Every time I board an Alitalia plane to fly to Rome, where I live, I wonder who thought it would be a good idea to name the in-flight magazine after Ulysses, a person who took all of ten years to make it home.
One of the best things of the French Revolution, in my opinion, are the beautiful new names which were assigned to the months of the year. I especially like misty Brumaire, frosty Frimaire and fruity Fructidor. Rainy Pluviôse is quite nice too. Compare our tired names, particularly September, October, November and December. These just mean... Continue Reading →
I'm not saying they're evil but they're definitely medi-eval.
I earn my living as a conference interpreter, which means that I spend a lot of my time having words enter my ears through earphones and words in another language coming out of my mouth, in the constant hope that there will be some relationship between the two flows. Often, while engaged in this activity,... Continue Reading →
If you have watched any royal ceremonies involving the Queen of England, you may have noticed that she is the only person who doesn’t join in when “God Save the Queen” is sung. She can’t, of course. It would make no sense. But I am sure that there have been times when she has sung it... Continue Reading →
Whenever the stock markets slump, the news is always full of expressions like these ones I have collected: "Apple fails yet again, $123B vanishes." "Investors’ billions vanish as NSE returns worst performance in four years." "Bad Year for Japan Banks as $95 Billion of Value Vanishes." If money vanishes, then the opposite... Continue Reading →