Verbs

Linguistic Connections

Adjectives, Foreign Languages, Outsider's Perspective, Verbs

In my opinion, one of the best ways to learn a new language is to connect it to the language(s) that you already know.

I refer to this as “making a linguistic connection”.

For example, yesterday I was discussing someone with my wife, and I realized that the best way to describe that person was to use the adjective “pensive” because one of the definitions of this adjective is expressing thoughtfulness.

Almost immediately, I recognized that the word “thought” in the definition and the letters P-E-N-S in the adjective were connected to verbs in two other languages:

  • “pensar”, which in Spanish means to think;
  • “pensare”, which in Italian means to think.

I could list many other linguistic connections that I have made over the past few years, but that is unnecessary here.

You can also make linguistic connections within your native language (such as English), too. You do not have to be learning another language to make them.

What linguistic connections have you made, either within English or between English and another language? Contact me!

The diversity of “get”

Devolution toward Simpler, Outsider's Perspective, Verbs

The verb “get” is amazingly diverse in its definitions.

“You can get a ticket.” means “You can receive a ticket.”

“You get to go.” means “You are allowed to go.”

“You get up at 8 o’clock?” means “You wake up at 8 o’clock?”

“Do you get it?” means “Do you understand it?”

“Get out of my way!” means “Move out of my way!”

“Could you get that for me?” means “Could you procure and bring that for me?”

“When do you get your hair cut?” means “When do you cause your hair to become cut?”

“Get her before she reaches the prison fence!” means “Seize her before she reaches the prison fence!”

“When do you get home?” means “When do you arrive home?”

And these are only some of the definitions of the verb “get”!

I believe that this diversity is consistent with my “Devolution toward Simpler” linguistic hypothesis. It is simpler to say or write “get” than to say or write the verbs that it replaces.

From an outsider’s perspective, though, the diversity of “get” must be challenging to master.

“Condemn” vs. “Contemn”

Misspellings, Verbs, Versus

I saw one of these verbs while investigating the word “disdain”.

Problem:
These two verbs have distinct meanings but differ by only one letter.

Explanation:
Feeling playful, I wondered this morning whether the word “disdain” had a counterpart word “dain”.

So I searched a dictionary for “dain” but found no match. Instead, I learned that “disdain” — spelled D-I-S-D-A-I-N — comes from “dis” plus “deign” — spelled D-E-I-G-N.

I also learned that one of the synonyms for “disdain” as a verb is the verb “contemn” — spelled C-O-N-T-E-M-N.

The meaning of this verb “contemn” is to treat with contempt.

In contrast, the verb “condemn” — spelled C-O-N-D-E-M-N with a “d” in the middle — means to express strong disapproval of and is related to the roots “con” and “damn”.

Here are examples of proper use of these two verbs:

  • “Please do not condemn him for wanting to take care of his family.”
  • “The consultant contemns any client who asks questions after what the consultant gives what he believes is a thorough presentation.”

Solution:
Remember that “condemn” — spelled with a “d” — is related to the word “damn”. Remember that “contemn” — spelled with a “t” — is related to “contempt” — also spelled with a “t”.