I Am A Raincoat

Before I get started here: you've probably noticed that you are now staring at snow and not book pages. I think I might change the blog's background monthly -- keeps things fresh, and all.

Anyways! I think it's high time for another language-related spiel, don't you? (By the way, the word 'spiel' comes from German, which is why we pronounce it with a 'sh' sound despite the lack of an h.)

I noticed that I have a habit of muttering phrases in languages that I'm 'investigating' (aka learning at the speed of a lethargic sea cucumber) to myself for no good reason whatsoever. They are rarely things one would consider useful -- very few of them would help me as a tourist, and there are several I doubt I'll ever use exactly as they are.

I only noticed this habit lately, but now that I think about it, it's not a new thing. I can remember repeating 'Je suis un imperméable' to myself back when I was a lower level Frenchling. Incidentally, that phrase means 'I am a raincoat.' Not particularly useful when sightseeing in Paris.

My initial reaction when I noticed that I do this was "Ah man, I'd better stop. People are going to think I'm crazy... er." But after a bit of thought, I realized that phrase parroting is actually probably a brilliant language learning strategy. Why? Because it's just what babies do when they learn their natural language. They don't try to learn the most useful things or the words they're going to need most. They just pick a word that they like and repeat it, whether it be 'mama' or 'shut up!'

Of course, I'm no longer a baby. I already have one language in my head and I'm not going to learn another by phrase parroting. But I think that repeating random words is still a really great idea, if only because it has the same function as a baby's babbling and cooing does -- it teaches you the sounds of the language without yet having to worry much about meaning.

So, if you're learning a language, I recommend hitting up YouTube for songs, shows, movies, what have you in that language. If you find yourself liking some phrases, embrace them! Remember and repeat them. And then let me know how it goes, because I'm curious to know if it is a valid strategy or if I'm just a freak.

Tomorrow (or some other day in the near future) I shall make a list of my favorite phrases to repeat. Because most of them make just as much sense as 'je suis un imperméable,' you see.

Till then.

I Want To Go North

As in, way up north. Way, way, way up north. Far enough north that I can see the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun and that I'll go outside and freeze.

I don't care exactly where I go. I could go to Alaska or Nunavut, Greenland or Tromsø, Lapland or Murmansk or wherever. I don't really know why I want to go either. I just do. When I think of the north, it seems so unreal. Up there, it's light when it should be dark and dark when it should be light. It's too cold - humans shouldn't be able to live in that sort of cold - but they do. When I think of the north, I think of white snow and soft blue ice and gray sky, of short tundra grass and the ocean, and it seems so weirdly inviting.

I don't know why I want to go north, but I do. I just want to wander up to the top of the world and hang there for a bit.

I FEEL LIKE ABUSING MY BLOG...

BY TYPING HEARTS EVERYWHERE!

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3><3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3><3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3><3 <3 <3

AND YES, I AM USING CAPSLOCK. BECAUSE I AM IMAGINING MYSELF TALKING LIKE BILLY MAYS, AND I USE CAPSLOCK WHEN I FEEL LIKE GRAPHEMICALLY REPRESENTING MY BILLY MAYS-NESS.

AND I AM NOW AMAZED THAT GRAPHEMICALLY IS ACTUALLY A WORD. GO ME FOR FINDING ACTUAL WORDS TO REPRESENT MY INSANE SENTIMENTS.

*the shot pans out, and a phone number and some sort of fancy logo appear at the bottom of the screen*

This is why college searching is dangerous to your health and should only be done in moderation, children. Side effects may include insanity, hair loss, and desire to become a hermit and spend the rest of your life under a rock. Please call this help hotline if you experience any of these symptoms.

Together, we can make a difference.

Thank you.