English

Would you still understand English if you went back in time?

Medieval

Languages can change dramatically over the years. If you had a time machine that could bring you back to historical times, chances are you would have a hard time trying to decipher the English language back then. In fact you may even think it sounds like a foreign language altogether. Hard to believe? Let’s take a look at this passage from the Canterbury Tales − a collection of stories written in Middle English in 1839 − and compare that with its translation into modern English.

Original text

“Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote 
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;”

Translated in modern English

“When in April the sweet showers fall
That pierce March’s drought to the root and all
And bathed in every vein in liquor that has power
To generate therein and sire the flower;”

 

While you may be able to guess some of the words such as “roote” or “Aprill”, it can be difficult to make sense of what the phrases collectively mean. Even words used in olden times can be baffling to us. “Gutfoundered” meant hungry, while “batty fang” referred to a beating. Not only that, pronunciation was also hugely different, as “tea” was pronounced as “tay”. Interested to find out more? Checkout the video below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fxy6ZaMOq8

Shakespeare’s influence in our everyday speech

ShakespeareMost of us are familiar or have heard about William Shakespeare’s literary classics such as Romeo and Juliet and Merchant of Venice. But his influence extends beyond literature and poems. Some of the words and phrases that he coined more than 400 years ago continue to be used in our modern language and day-to-day speech. Widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, he had a profound and lasting influence on the English language. Credited with introducing nearly 3,000 words into the English language, which made it more colourful and expressive, Shakespeare’s linguistic imprint continues to live on in this day and age. Let’s check out some of the words and phrases we owe to Shakespeare.

If you’ve ever gone on ‘a wild goose chase’, or done something to ‘break the ice’, you would have quoted from Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew respectively. The words that Shakespeare created not only enriched the English language but also imbued it with vibrant imagery − with phrases such as ‘green-eyed monster’ from Othello to describe jealously.  Similarly, words and phrases like ‘leapfrog’ and ‘heart of gold’ from Henry V provide graphic descriptions that added an emotional dimension to language.

Apart from this, Shakespeare also initiated the metaphorical use of words such as “cold-blooded” – a term that could send shivers down your spine just imagining someone who is devoid of emotion, such as a serial killer. Beyond creating new words and phrases, Shakespeare was also a linguistic innovator in his own right. He pioneered the use of grammatical form and structure − including the connecting of existing words to make new words, like bloodstained. These words and phrases have become so ingrained into our modern vocabulary that they almost regarded as clichés.

Here are some words and phrases borrowed from the Bard.

  • Bated breath (The Merchant of Venice)
  • Be-all and the end-all (Macbeth)
  • Elbow room (King John)
  • Faint hearted (Henry VI)
  • Foregone conclusion (Othello)
  • For goodness’ sake (Henry VIII)
  • Full circle (King Lear)
  • It was Greek to me (Julius Caesar)
  • Fashionable (Troilus and Cressida)
  • Eyeball (The Tempest)
  • Swagger (The Tempest)
  • Belongings (Measure for Measure)

 Shakespeare’s enduring impact is not only demonstrated in the way we express ourselves, but how we experience and process the world around us.  For if the mark of a great writer is that their works are still read, then perhaps the mark of a literary genius is that they’re still spoken, too. 

What Makes a Good Tagline?

 


 Taglines -1

Do you recognise these catchy taglines: “Just do it”, “I’m lovin’ it” and “Because you’re worth it”? If you’ve not guessed it yet, Nike, McDonald’s and L’Oreal were the names behind these snazzy slogans that have resonated with consumers across the globe.

Taglines fulfil an important functional purpose. They summarise into a short phrase what your company is all about, and succinctly captures the value you bring to your customer. Beyond its advertising objective, a good tagline can also help to differentiate you from your competitors. So, want to find out what makes a great tagline? Let’s check out some of the key takeaways.   

Clarity 

A good tagline should clearly explain your business such that if someone read it on your business card or website, they would instinctively know what you do without needing further explanation. A great example is local grocery store Cold Storage’s tagline “The Fresh Food People”.

Simplicity

Use short keywords or phrases that are easy to understand. This would also help consumer recall of your brand. Sandwich franchise Subway’s “Eat fresh” slogan is a good example of a simple yet effective tagline.

Differentiation

Describe the unique value that your company offers to the customer, and what makes your company stand out from the rest. A prime example of this tenet is Apple, with its revolutionary “Think Different” slogan that celebrated visionaries such as Albert Einstein, among others, who challenged the status quo and changed the world. This out-of-the-box approach helped to set it apart from its competitors and reinforced its image as an innovative company.

Memorable

Some of the best taglines get ingrained into the customer’s mind because they have a strong appeal to our basic emotions from the get-go. They accomplish this by using catchy phrases that are easy to say and easy to remember like Chocolate-maker M&Ms’ classic “Melts in your mouth, not in your hands”.   

Make a call to action

Beyond evoking an emotional response, a successful tagline should ultimately influence buying behaviour. American Express’ “Don’t leave home without it” makes a clear rallying call for the consumer to take action.

In a world of information overload, taglines do matter. It may be worthwhile to invest in a good tagline that accurately reflects what your company is all about and create that all-important positive first impression that will stick in your customers’ minds.

 

Psst…Secrets behind bestselling author’s craft

Psst…Secrets behind bestselling author’s craft

Psst...secrets behind bestselling authour's craft

Have you ever read a wonderful book and felt that you were somehow transported into another world? That’s the power of the written word, especially if the author is a fluent wordsmith − it can not only provoke a sense of suspense, but also evoke strong emotions from readers, ranging from crying to laughter to pity.

Ever wonder how these bestselling authors do it? What inspires and drives them? Were they just extraordinary talents who were blessed with creative inspiration for their stories? Or did they struggle with self-doubt, worrying about rejection when they first summoned up enough courage to start on their writing journey?

Let’s hear from the experiences and lessons that bestselling author Neil Gaiman picked up along his writing journey. Well-known for his iconic novels such as Stardust and Coraline as well as his comic book series The Sandman, Gaiman gave this inspiring commencement speech to the 2012 graduating class at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts. Gaiman himself never graduated from university — in fact, he never even enrolled in university — yet he earned his place in literary culture as one of the most celebrated and prolific writers today. Sharing about creativity, bravery and strength, Gaiman encouraged aspiring writers and musicians to break rules, make mistakes and think outside the box. And above all, to make good art. Check out some of the key takeaways from Gaiman’s speech below, and click on this link to see the video and transcript of his speech http://www.uarts.edu/neil-gaiman-keynote-address-2012

  • Approach your creative work with joy, or else it becomes work.
  • Embrace your fear of failure. You need to be thick-skinned, to learn that not every project will survive.
  • When things get tough –in life, in love, in career, or in health – channel this to make good art.
  • Find your own style and voice, make your art — even if you begin by copying others.
  • Enjoy your work and your small victories. Don’t get swept up into the next thing before being fully present with the joys of this one.
  • Make mistakes. If you’re making mistakes, it means you’re out there doing something. And the mistakes in themselves can be useful.
  • Fulfilling two out of these three conditions is good enough to get you work in the freelance world: your work is good, you deliver the work on time and you are easy to get along with. For example, people will tolerate how unpleasant you are if your work is good and you deliver it on time. They’ll forgive the lateness of the work if it’s good, and if they like you. And you don’t have to be as good as the others if you’re on time and it’s always a pleasure to hear from you.
You say Tomato I say Tomahto

You say Tomato I say Tomahto

English-is-confusing-2

(Source: writeshop.com/blog)

Have you ever wondered how confusing English pronunciation can be to someone who doesn’t speak the language? If you grew up learning and speaking English, it shouldn’t be a problem for you. But if you were asked to explain the rules of pronunciation, I guess most of us would have forgotten them from our school days, although we subconsciously apply them in our everyday conversation.

That’s the thing − while English does have pronunciation rules, there are exceptions to the rule. And sometimes there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it these rules. Why are there so many words that begin with a silent “K”, such as “knife”? Or even a silent “G”, such as “gnaw”? If it’s not pronounced, what’s the point of including that letter in the first place, if it only adds to the confusion of both native speakers and learners? Apparently, words like “knife”, “knee” and “gnat” are examples of Viking words with letters that used to be pronounced previously, so they are still spelt the same way, but the pronunciation has changed. So although these letters are silent, they still remain so that you can see their history and origin. What’s more, words that end in the same combination of letters aren’t necessarily pronounced in the same way. Why is “trough” pronounced “troff” and “through” pronounced “throo”? Check out this video to see what we mean. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZV40f0cXF4

So one of the quirks of English pronunciation isn’t just a question of learning the rules – it’s about learning the many exceptions to the rules.