There, Their, and They're

I'm sure this topic has been covered before, but let's have a refresher course. I have had people ask me, what is the difference between multiple words that sound the same? Oh the joy of languages! Take for example, there, their, and they're. They all sound the same, but have three different meanings. So here it is in a nutshell:

there - in, at, or to that place or position (in which you are not present in at the moment)

My sister's house is locked. I left my suitcase over there. ("There" refers to the house that was previously mentioned)

their - possessive pronoun that indicates belonging to someone previously mentioned

The music band is sensational. Their songs always reach number one on the billboard charts. ("Their" refers to the music band previously mentioned)

they're - contraction meaning "they are"

My family likes my new boyfriend. They're always fawning over him. ("They're" refers to the family previously mentioned. You can replace they're with "they are" and the sentence is still understandable.)

Have a word or phrase you need clarified? Let's talk! Feel free to check my availability for a day and time convenient for you. I look forward to meeting you!

ASL Influences a Majority of Sign Languages Lately I have been dabbling into several different types of sign languages, including Colombian Sign Language and Nepalese Sign Language. To my delight, I found that I was able to understand a large percentage of these sign languages because they have been heavily influenced by American Sign Language (ASL). The signs I didn't understand I was able to figure out by watching the surrounding context and natural body language. It seems like once you know American Sign Language, this opens the door to understanding a number of sign languages around the world. So whether you're from South America, Asia, Europe or elsewhere, why not try learning a new and exciting means of communicating!

Do Seasons Play a Part? I've always heard that seasons and sunshine (or lack of) affect our mood. For example, lack of sunshine is a major cause of SAD (seasonal affective disorder), especially during the winter months. My current pondering, though, is if seasons affect our desire to learn? Do you find yourself wanting to learn more during the summer, or do you find that learning is the last thing you want to do? What about during winter? Is picking up a book the first thing you think of doing during the winter lull? Tell me, what is the best season for you to learn something?