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avirra.livejournal.com
"Sorry today's get-together has to be in the Cafeteria, but since April and I have a drop to see to later, this is probably my only chance to pass these out."
Dec. 22nd, 2013
avirra.livejournal.com
mrua7.livejournal.com
The wind-chill brought down the temperature to a frigid -10 degrees and Napoleon Solo walked from his silver convertible parked across the street from the entrance to Del Flolria’s, flapping his arms against himself to keep warm.
He pulled up the collar to his overcoat, tucking one leather-gloved hand into his pocket as he turned the doorknob to the shop, hearing the welcoming tinkle of the brass bell.
Saluting his hello to the agent at the press, he removed his gloves and unbuttoned his coat as it was nicely warm inside, most likely because of the steam.
Napoleon turned as he heard the bell ring again, seeing his partner walk in just behind him.
Illya was dressed in a short black wool peacoat, with a thick black scarf wound around his neck and face, revealing only a slit with those blue eyes peeking out, those eyes Solo could recognize any day. On his head was a black lambswool Russian ushanka with the earflaps turned down. Such a hat, or a version of it was now the rage in the US, especially in the more rural parts of the country, so Illya didn’t stand out as looking particularly Russian. He wore no gloves on his hands...
“Please tell me you took a taxi here?” Napoleon watched as the black scarf was unwound and the coat unbuttoned, though the hat remained in place.
( Read more... )
One Hundred Words for Snow
Dec. 22nd, 2013 02:12 pmst-crispins.livejournal.comYes, I know the 12 Days of Christmas are nearly over here, but better late than never. Here's a story I wrote for the Down the Chimney exchange a few years ago. It has the most readers for me on Fanfic.net.
One Hundred Words for Snow
... The story goes that Eskimos have one hundred words for snow. This is most certainly a myth which probably began when an anthropologist’s report was misinterpreted by less informed readers. Actually, there is no such thing as a single Eskimo language, just as there is no such thing as an “Eskimo.” There are actually several major languages employed by the Native populations of the Arctic and they are further subdivided into a number of dialects. These tend to be languages in which aspects of an event or very complex ideas may be contained in a single compound word. That is, there might be one word for ‘my snow’ and another for ‘your snow.’ Hence, the confusion over the hundred words.
Nevertheless, the story illustrates the very real point that language reflects culture and vice versa. One tends to ignore what is not named. Alternatively, how things are named influences and shapes how we think about the world around us. Anyone attempting to switch from one language to another will soon encounter words that are untranslatable. Some concepts that exist in one culture do not necessarily exist in others. Or, if they do, may take on quite a different meaning.
Take the subculture of the intelligence community, for example. Words that are relatively simple in the larger “Innocent” culture, may take on rather more complex meanings with us. If, as in the linguistic myth, snow is a complex, multiple and ever-shifting concept for the Eskimos, for us, it’s words like “trust.” “Loyalty.” “Confidence.”
And most of all, “friend...”
U.N.C.L.E. HQ. December 23, 1960.
“A tie.”
“Doesn’t like them.”
“Cuff links.”
“Doesn’t wear them.”
“Aftershave.”
“Too personal.”
“A pair of gloves.”
“Not personal enough.”
( Read more... )
One Hundred Words for Snow
... The story goes that Eskimos have one hundred words for snow. This is most certainly a myth which probably began when an anthropologist’s report was misinterpreted by less informed readers. Actually, there is no such thing as a single Eskimo language, just as there is no such thing as an “Eskimo.” There are actually several major languages employed by the Native populations of the Arctic and they are further subdivided into a number of dialects. These tend to be languages in which aspects of an event or very complex ideas may be contained in a single compound word. That is, there might be one word for ‘my snow’ and another for ‘your snow.’ Hence, the confusion over the hundred words.
Nevertheless, the story illustrates the very real point that language reflects culture and vice versa. One tends to ignore what is not named. Alternatively, how things are named influences and shapes how we think about the world around us. Anyone attempting to switch from one language to another will soon encounter words that are untranslatable. Some concepts that exist in one culture do not necessarily exist in others. Or, if they do, may take on quite a different meaning.
Take the subculture of the intelligence community, for example. Words that are relatively simple in the larger “Innocent” culture, may take on rather more complex meanings with us. If, as in the linguistic myth, snow is a complex, multiple and ever-shifting concept for the Eskimos, for us, it’s words like “trust.” “Loyalty.” “Confidence.”
And most of all, “friend...”
U.N.C.L.E. HQ. December 23, 1960.
“A tie.”
“Doesn’t like them.”
“Cuff links.”
“Doesn’t wear them.”
“Aftershave.”
“Too personal.”
“A pair of gloves.”
“Not personal enough.”
( Read more... )
glennagirl.livejournal.comLJ seems to be posting challenged today so here is the link to chapter 10. You must promise to not peek at days 11 & 12, though. Santa will know.
The Twelve Days Chapter 10
The Twelve Days Chapter 10
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