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English Day – 4/23

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In 2010, the United Nations introduced an initiative dedicating one day to each of its six official languages: French (3/20), Chinese (4/20), Spanish and English (4/23), Russian (6/6), and Arabic (12/18). The language days recognize the importance of global communication through multilingualism and cultural diversity. The UN first celebrated English Language Day on April 23, 2010.

English, one of the two working languages of the UN Secretariat, is often referred to as a “world language”, or the lingua franca of the modern era because it is so widely spoken. The U.N. also celebrates International Mother Language Day on February 21 and International Translation Day on September 30.

English Language Day aims to entertain and inform people about the history, culture, and achievements associated with the language. The U.N. selected April 23 for English Language Day to commemorate the celebrated playwright and poet, William Shakespeare (1564-1616), whose (speculated) birthdate and death are recorded on the same date. The day often features book-reading events, English quizzes, poetry and literature exchanges, and other activities that promote the English language.

If you’re looking for some activities to celebrate English Day, the British Council offers an English Day lesson plan for teenagers and adults for online or in-classroom lessons.

The British Council will also be holding a special live stream for teachers on Facebook Live on 4/23.

To learn more about the United Nations’ English Day commemoration and language courses, click here!

Best of luck in your classes and Happy English Language Day!

Donald Kinney
Kinney Brothers Publishing

Fun Facts About English #49 – Portmanteau

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In Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, Humpty Dumpty explains to Alice that slithy combines the words ‘lithe and slimy’ and mimsy means ‘flimsy and miserable.’ Though Carroll’s fanciful expressions may have lacked linguistic legs, his analogous use of portmanteau, a Middle French term for ‘a large suitcase,’ coined the word as a literary device. In fact, portmanteau is itself a portmanteau that joins porter (to carry) and manteau (cloak)! A synonym and itself a portmanteau, frankenword is an autological word exemplifying the very word it describes.

Portmanteau words are very popular in modern-day English and new combinations can manifest from any social corner. Many older words have become so common that their timely origins are forgotten and their novelty has long since worn off. Here is a short list of common portmanteaux in order of their known appearance.

  • gerrymander – Governor Elbridge Gerry + salamander; early 19th century
  • brunch – breakfast + lunch; late 19th century
  • Eurasia – Europe + Asia; 1881
  • electrocution – electricity + execution; 1889
  • motorcade – motor + cavalcade; early 20th century
  • smog – smoke + fog; early 20th century
  • spork – spoon + fork; 1909
  • hangry – hungry + angry; 1918
  • Chunnel – channel + tunnel; 1920s
  • motel – motor + hotel; 1920s
  • meld – melt + weld; 1930s
  • ginormous – gigantic + enormous; 1948
  • frenemy – friend + enemy; 1950s
  • rockabilly – rock’n’roll + hill-billy; 1950s
  • televangelist – television + evangelist; 1958
  • bionic – biology + electronic; 1960s
  • workaholic – work + alcoholic; 1968
  • internet – inter [reciprocal] + network; 1970s
  • Microsoft – microcomputer + software; 1975
  • gaydar – gay + radar; 1980s
  • carjack – car + hijack; 1990s
  • cosplay – costume + play; 1990s
  • emoticon – emotion + icon; 1990s
  • metrosexual – metropolitan + heterosexual; 1990s
  • adorkable – adorable + dorky; 21st century
  • anticipointment – anticipation + disappointment; 21st century
  • Brangelina – Brad + Angelina; 21st century
  • bromance – brother + romance; 21st century
  • mansplain – man + explain; 21st century
  • advertainment – advertisement + entertainment; 21st century
  • permalance – permanent + freelance; 21st century

If you enjoyed reading this post, check out these posts on fossilized words, the problem with peas, or eponyms named after notorious personalities!

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CVC Activities are in abundance in Donald’s English Classroom! You’ll find flash cards, charts, and task cards ready to download and get your kids up and reading!

Fun Facts About English #50 – The History of Hello

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Fun Facts About English 50 Kinney Brothers Publishing

On July 18, 1877, Thomas Alva Edison shouted “Halloo!” into the mouthpiece of his newly invented strip phonograph, a word commonly used to incite hounds to the chase. It’s linguistic cousins, hilla, hillo, and halloa, served the same purpose for hailing someone or something from a distance. The British “hullo,” which also dates from the mid-19th century, was likewise not used as a greeting but as an expression of surprise, as in “Hullo, what have we here?”

As hard as it is to imagine, before the invention of the telephone in 1876, “hello” wasn’t a proper or even casual greeting whatsoever!

Although Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing the telephone, it was Thomas Edison’s company that equipped the device and supplied the first operating manuals across the United States. For its early subscribers, the telephone was nothing more than a permanently open line without even a “call bell” to request engagement. In a standoff between the two inventors, Mr. Bell insisted the nautical address “Ahoy” was the correct way a “caller” should get the attention of a person on the other end of the line. Mr. Edison preferred “Hello” be put in the instructions along with “That is all” for ending an exchange. Edison reasoned that “Hello” could be heard from a distance of 10-20 feet and was better than calling out “Are you there?” or the receiver simply asking, “What is it that you want?”

By the time of the National Convention of Telephone Companies in 1880, “Hello” had won out. Minutes from the meeting record the president as saying, “The shortest speech that I could make to you and that would express a great deal to you, probably would be the one that is on all your badges – Hello!”

If you enjoyed this bit of history, you may also enjoy the story of American spelling bees, the history of the word dude, or what the word paddywhack from This Old Man actually means!

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Fun Facts About English #47 – Understanding a French Menu

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Donald's English Classroom Kinney Brothers Publishing
English timeline KInney Brothers Publishing

Though the Norman Conquest is far back in our history, we still view French cuisine as a very exquisite and formal affair where our manners and language can be put to task. If you’ve ever felt like an old-world peasant at a formal French table, here are some words and phrases that will help you better understand the menu and enjoy the dining experience. Importantly, relax, allow the staff to attend to you, and savor the meal.

French table setting

maître d’hôtel  – Maître is French for master whose responsibilities include supervising the wait staff, taking reservations, and welcoming guests. American speakers shorten the phrase to maître d whereas British speakers say maître.

sommelier – A wine waiter or wine steward.

apéritif – An alcoholic drink taken before a meal to stimulate the appetite.

bon appétit – A salutation before eating.

cuisine – Though simply “kitchen” in French, cuisine also refers to a style of food preparation.

prix fixe – Several courses included under one “fixed price.”

plat du jour – Literally, “plate of the day,” and available only on that day, a plat du jour is a dish prepared in addition to the usual menu.

à la carte – Food items that can be ordered individually and not part of a set meal.

vinaigrette – A dressing of oil and wine vinegar.

soupe du jour – “Soup of the day” is the advertised specialty on a given day.

pièce de résistance – In general usage, the phrase refers to the prize item in any collection. In reference to food, the pièce de résistance is the main or most difficult-to-resist part of a meal.

au jus  – Chiefly used in the U.S., au jus indicates that a dish, usually meat, is served in a gravy containing its own juices.

au gratin – A dish prepared au gratin, or “browned,” has been sprinkled with breadcrumbs or grated cheese and browned in the oven or under the grill.

baguette – A long, thin loaf of French bread.

cordon bleu  – Literally, “blue ribbon,” reflects a sense of first class.

en brochette – A brochette is a skewer. En brochette simply refers to food cooked or grilled on skewers, like shish kebab.

omelette – A dish traditionally made of beaten eggs fried in a pan and folded over.

pot-au-feu – The literal meaning is “pot on the fire.” It can refer to a large traditional French cooking pot or to something cooked in one, usually a thick soup of meat and vegetables.

roux – A mixture of fat and flour heated together and used in making sauces and soups. In the U.S., a spicy roux is a staple of southern Cajun cuisine.

sauté  – The French verb sauter means “to jump.” Vegetables that are sautéed are fried in a pan while being tossed.

soupçon – Literally, French for suspicion, it refers to a very small quantity or “a pinch.”

crème brûlée – A cream topped with caramelized sugar and served as dessert.

petit four – Literally, “little oven,” this is a small fancy cake, biscuit, or sweet served with coffee after a meal.

café au lait – Coffee taken with milk.

à la mode – This French expression means “according to the fashion.” In the U.S., the term usually applies only to desserts and means “with ice cream.”

English has had the influence of many languages in its history. Check out the rich vocabulary we’ve inherited from Spanish and Native American languages, the beauty of the Scots language, or the fascinating story of Gallah, the creole language of the American South!

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Fun Facts About English #46 – Confused and Misused Words

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Donald's English Classroom Kinney Brothers Publishing Fun Facts

Below are a dozen pairs of words that are often confused and misused. Some may seem obvious and others may conjure up a familiar fog. Remember, language is a life-long and ever-changing adventure to be enjoyed!

Accept vs. Except

Accept means to receive something whereas except signifies exclusion. More often than not, like sale and sell, similar-sounding pronunciation within some dialects can confuse the differences.

Ex. I accept visitors every day except Sunday.

Affect vs. Effect

Affect means to influence something and effect to accomplish something or, in the case of a noun, the result of something. If you’re unsure, simply replace affect with the word influence and effect with result.

Ex. The affect of poverty on a community can be seen where homelessness is the most obvious effect. (The influence of poverty can be seen where homelessness is the most obvious result.)

Bemused vs. Amused

Bemused means bewildered whereas amused means to have enjoyed.

Ex. The movie, with its twists and turns, left me bemused.

Ex. His story about camping in the rain amused me.

Comprise vs. Compose

Comprise means to include and compose to make up. Confusing? Think about the two words as parts versus the whole.

The whole is the subject when you comprise:
Ex. A school is comprised of classrooms, teachers, and students.

When you compose, the individual elements are the subject of the sentence:
Ex. Three countries compose North America.

Disinterested vs. Uninterested

Disinterested means unbiased and does NOT mean uninterested.

Ex. The conflict was resolved by a disinterested third party.

Ex. The young children were uninterested in their father’s old story.

Enormity vs. Enormous

Enormity means extreme evil. Enormous means large.

Ex. The enormity of the Holocaust is to be remembered.

Ex. I have an enormous pimple on my nose.

Farther vs. Further

Remember that farther refers to physical distance (think far). Further refers to the degree of something and should be interchangeable with more or additional.

Ex. The old car would go no farther and nothing further could be done.

Fewer vs. Less

This is simply a matter of countable and uncountable nouns. Use fewer when referring to countable items like apples, and less when referencing uncountable nouns, like water.

Ex. This checkout lane is for 15 items or fewer.

Ex. I have less coffee than I thought.

Ironic vs. Coincidental

A coincidence is an unexpected circumstance or event without causal connection. Irony, either verbal or situational, is when a result is the opposite of what was expected. And, though I thought otherwise, ironical is a real word, just old fashioned.

When you unexpectedly run into your friend at the mall, it’s coincidental that you are both in the same place at the same time. If a fire station burns down it’s ironic as it is a site charged with fire fighting and fire prevention.

Imply vs. Infer

To imply is to suggest something without saying it outright. To infer is to draw a conclusion from what is implied. Remember, a speaker or writer implies, and a listener or reader infers.

Ex. He implied that his parents are dead and I can only infer that he has no one to take care of him.

Lie vs. Lay

Remembering the present, past tense, and past participles is the heart of most confusion: lie, lay, lain and lay, laid, laid. Juggling the similarities can be better recalled by keeping a simple example in mind.

Ex. Before I lie down I lay my glasses on the table.

Ex. Before I lay down I laid my glasses on the table.

Ex. Had I lain down, I would have laid my glasses on the table.

Nauseous vs. Nauseated

In a strict sense, nauseous means causing nausea whereas nauseated means experiencing nausea. Though “I feel nauseous” is frequently used and currently acceptable, don’t be surprised if someone tries to reassure that you’re not as repulsive a personality as you may think.

Ex. I felt nauseated while watching the film as there was a nauseous smell in the theater.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also be interested in reading about contronym conundrums, mondegreens that will make you LOL, or the fascinating world of portmanteaux!

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