Profile
I'm and English teacher who lives in Louisiana with my wife and 5 children. Since high school, I've enjoyed language, linguistics, Latin, history, theology, philosophy, etc. I'm now trying to master French, to read Latin, and to acquire Spanish.
If you're looking for a language partner, I'm hoping to find more people to do CrossTalk with (see here for explanation: https://dreaminglanguages.wordpress.com/2016/11/11/crosstalk/). Basically, you speak in your native language and I'll speak in mine -- that way, we both feel comfortable and can advance in the language we're trying to learn without stress!
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- Again, about namesNow that we've learnt that fluorine is called differently [something else] in Russian, let's turn to an even more puzzling name: nitrogen. After all, poor Russian schoolchildren that inevitably find out that the element called "azot" is denoted N and salts of "azot acid" are for some reason called "nitrates" deserve some words of sympathy.So, why do you think the element is called this way in English? I'll tell you: it's all thanks to Jean-Antoine Chaptal, a French chemist and agronomist and the Minister of the Interior in the Napoleon government (well, he resigned in 1804; some people say it was because he suspected his mistress cheated on him with Napoleon himself, some - that the reason was that he refused to admit that sugar beet was a better source of sugar than cane without proper research — and if you think it was a minor thing to quarrel with Napoleon about, you're underestimating the impact of British blockades of cane sugar during the Napoleonic Wars). Anyway, he didn't like the already established name of the element — "azote" — introduced by (the not yet guillotined by that time) Antoine Lavoisier. So, in 1790 he gave it another name, nitrogène, meaning "producing saltpetre", and used it in his books which, as we can see, were read in Britain.Chaptal clearly had a soft spot for saltpetre both as an agronomist and as a gunpowder specialist, but, to be honest, I can't blame him. The name "azote" — which, unlike "nitrogène" (the irony!), is still used by the French — means something like "no life". The element was probably named this way because it's a mephitic gas — you can't breathe in the atmosphere of pure nitrogen. But... well, in a sense, the only non-mephitic gas is oxygen, so maybe it wasn't a very good name even back then, to say nothing of today. I mean, try telling a modern biologist that nitrogen's main characteristic is "lifeless" — I would wager you'll get laughed at, though the idea that the most important thing about nitrogen is some salts of nitric acid would probably make them chuckle too.But, as always, no one cares about it enough to change anything — and poor Russian speakers have to navigate between the two names even now. Some of them even have to learn what ammonia and ammonium stand for: we have very different names for them in Russian, but in English they are mockingly similar. And I'll remind you that we're talking about the language whose native speakers can't even make up their minds on whether it's "aluminium" or "aluminum"!Well done!0 votedFebruary 29, 20201
- KimOhNo! [haha!] "Kimono" <s>was </s>applied for trademark registration as an underwear brand.Do you know the word "Kimono"?It's not a gown."Kimono" is Japanese traditional wear for both <s>of male and femail</s> [men and women] for over 1000 years <s>ago</s>.Though the people who wear kimono "everyday" are decreasing, <s>but </s>kimono is still so important for Japanese people <s>still now</s>.They wear kimono on their special day, for example, wedding ceremonies, funerals, celebrations, and so on.I'm Japanese.I inherited a special kimono for my "Adult ceremony" from my mother when I became 20 years old.My mother also inherited it from her sister <s>too</s>.Many Japanese people are proud of Kimono as Japanese traditional culture, and we love it.But, "Kimono" was applied for trademark registration as an underwear brand in America from Kim Kardashian.That underwear has no connection whatsoever with real kimono.Because her brand is so huge, it is not only problem in America, but also in the world.If that trademark application <s>will </s>passes, real kimono won't be able to sell as "Kimono" in America, and Japanese people won't be able to call their own traditional wear "Kimono" at public place in America.When I say that "I inherited special kimono for my "Adult ceremony" from my mother when I became 20 years old.", non Japanese people will think I inherited "special under wear" for adult from my mother.This problem was featured on BBC news.Many people protested <s>for </s>that brand name.But she doesn't listen to these opinions.She never has respect for Kimono culture.I think this action is an insult to Japanese culture.It's not only a problem for the Japanese.In the future, your country's culture which is so important and for which you are so proud might be treated in the same way from someone.Please know this problem.We should respect other country's culture and shouldn't use it only for own benefit.Of course, Kimono is not only wearing for Japanese, but also non Japanese can wear and enjoy Kimono.I hope many people in the world know about the beautiful Japanese kimono.0 votedJune 27, 20191
- My first letterHi! My name is Natalia. I live in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. This is my first letter here and I hope it will be read😊I studied English for many years but that was a long time ago. I hadn't done anything to improve my English for the last 10 years. And now I've found a job which is connected with foreign counterparties [counterparts?] and I need English to connect with them. So I've decided to spend my Summer studying English and my aim is to call my memory [what does "call my memory" mean? "Refresh my memory," maybe?] and remember everything that I used to know in English. Then I would like to find some new English speaking friends and make the English language a part of my life.Thank you for reading this and I will be grateful if you show me my mistakes 😊Good job, Natalia!0 votedJune 9, 20191
Dear Gwendoline
Silly rambling to practice writing...
Dear Gwendoline:
Hi! How are you? How was your flight to come back to your home? I hope all was good.
Well, I'm writing you to warn you that you have forgotten several things here at my home... let me enumerate them:
1.- Your toothbrush. It was under the sitting room's rug. What was it doing there? Maybe Jonsey the cat stole it from you and hid it there, as a weird treasure? I don't know.
2.- Your fishing rod. I found it into the wardrobe in the room where you had been sleeping. Ah: bedroom is the word for that room, I realized just now. But I didn't know that you like fishing! Why didn't you tell me? I don't like fishing at all, but I really enjoy walking besides the river and under the trees... We could have gone there together... We'll go next time you come here, OK?
3.- Your left yellow Katiuska. I found it into your bedroom too, hidden behind the red wooden stool. I guess you forgot it there because of the rush while preparing your baggage before your departure. It is a beautiful katiuska. I'll probably fill it with soil and plant a cactus in it. Or two cacti. Or do you prefer that I send all this stuff back to you? Please let me know. If you want it back, I will send it to you hanging from the little thin leg of my orange budgerigar Marcelino. I have a severe lack of money at the moment and I can't afford to pay for a parcel, but Marcelino would help us with this happily. Let me know.
Kind regards from the other side of the Ocean, my friend. See you soon.0 votedMay 26, 20191Daily Blog 0 (#1?)
Hi friends! I'm thinking about starting a daily blog on this platform. I'll talk about various topics: my country, programming, thoughts, etc. For the moment I don't have any plan.
I want tell you about my town. I live in Salcedo, a small town in Cotopaxi province at Ecuador country. In this town there are a lot of interesting things. There are popular festivals. I live surrounded by volcanoes. The principal [main] volcano is Cotopaxi with 5000 m. aprox. Some people have traditional clothes. Also, some people speak native language called Kichua. There is also typical food like yaguarlocro and cuy.
In another entry I'll speak more about my country and culture.
Thanks for your corrections.0 votedMay 16, 20191Could you please check my writing?
Writing of May 11 / 11 May
Today, the cycle tour "Giro d'Italia" will be on.
Its opening ceremony already took place yesterday.
The event in Italy is one of the big three world cycle tours.
About two hundred pro riders are taking part in it.
They are going to race throughout all of Italy for three weeks.
I'm happy that my favourite cyclist is there.
I wanted to feel a Italian mood [I wanted to feel like an Italian], so I had spaghetti for dinner.
I may go for it again tomorrow.0 votedMay 16, 20191129th day 2019 (May 9th)
Today is a red day in the Russian calendar. It means we have a day off to celebrate the victory of the USSR's army in the Second World War. On that day many cities in our country conduct [or, simply, "have"] the parades. People present flowers to war veterans.
I am going to work on my flat due to the day off [or, "since it is a day off"].0 votedMay 9, 20191
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