Conversations with Kohei
One of our housemates is a young Japanese language student, and my primary source for practicing Spanish, since it is the only language we share.
English idioms are extremely difficult to translate. I happened to mention that I record my own music, which quickly led to a long-winded explanation of the term "Cakewalk" and why in English it signifies something pathetically easy.
How do you explain the meaning of the term "wet paper bag" as a description of...someone's...directional capabilities? I managed to explain the gist of the phrase - the bag has one opening, so it's pathetically easy to navigate, and yet I...people...still get lost. But why is the bag wet?
My proudest moment, however, was successfully explaining what I believe has been the influence of Greek language on pholosophy (making distinctions where perhaps there needn't be...men, de, and all that jazz). It took a good forty-five minutes, but he understood.
Thankfully, most of my conversations aren't that dense.
(Vete, carajo!)
English idioms are extremely difficult to translate. I happened to mention that I record my own music, which quickly led to a long-winded explanation of the term "Cakewalk" and why in English it signifies something pathetically easy.
How do you explain the meaning of the term "wet paper bag" as a description of...someone's...directional capabilities? I managed to explain the gist of the phrase - the bag has one opening, so it's pathetically easy to navigate, and yet I...people...still get lost. But why is the bag wet?
My proudest moment, however, was successfully explaining what I believe has been the influence of Greek language on pholosophy (making distinctions where perhaps there needn't be...men, de, and all that jazz). It took a good forty-five minutes, but he understood.
Thankfully, most of my conversations aren't that dense.
(Vete, carajo!)
posted by NateWazoo at 6:24 PM
2 Comments:
I'm sure the kanji are different but the romanization of your friends name is the same as the word for "subordinate."
I thought the point of the paper bag being wet was that one could just punch through it, never mind finding the opening. Make your own, etc.
Also, I like the idea of men/de producing philosophical problems. Kinda like how the journalistic credo "Cover both sides of the story," can both oversimplify issues and give undue credence to a lazy, stupid and reactionary opposition.
Post a Comment
<< Home