There is apparently no proper English word for the German word Wortschöpfung

This is interesting! The official, common English translation for this German word is neologism. Sounds very exciting and academic! What a turn/put off! Caution: irony!

The English word wordsmith does not even come close. Until now, I thought wordsmith is the closest translation. I was wrong.

Deutschland, das Land der Denker und Dichter! (Germany, the land of thinkers and poets). Notice I reversed the expression Dichter und Denker.

Why is bromance masculine

If you consult leading English dictionaries, then you will find something like "a close, friendly, but not sexual relationship between two men."

So only men can bond?

Or is there a similar word English for when women bond?

So there is no bromance between a man and a woman? That is not romantic!

Variety is the spice of life

Just remembered this great proverb of the English language!

"Proverbial saying, late 18th century; originally as a quotation from the English poet William Cowper (1731–1800) in The Task (1785): ‘Variety's the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour.’ An earlier version is found in the The Rover (1681) by the dramatist Aphra Behn (1640–89), ‘Variety is the soul of pleasure.’ The Greek dramatist Euripides (c.485–c. 406bc) in his Orestes has, ‘a change is always nice.’"

Variety is the spice of life - Oxford Reference

Term of art: Hate speech

A very frequently used and popular ideological term.

Who gets to decide what hate speech is? Hate like beauty it is in the eye of the beholder.

Don't we all hate something and talk about it?

What is hate? You probably get a lot of different answers.

Term of art: Historically marginalized communities of color

How often do you read this popular expression? Very crafty! Very colorful!

Historically, did people of color every marginalize other people of color? Of course, they did!

What does marginalize even mean? Left to your ima(r)gination!

What about historically marginalized communities not of color? (A.k.a. whites)

This ideological obsession with skin color needs to end!

Term of art: Climate justice

A popular, but totally nonsensical term! Ideological wishful thinking!

Justice can only be among and between human beings.

The Screwed-Up History of English Spelling

Very recommendable!

English For Trippers (8)

Posted: 12/26/2019

Danger in anger

Anger is one letter short of danger

Is this a coincidence or an accident of the English language that both words are so similar?

Or is there a deeper wisdom or philosophy in the choice of words?

English For Trippers (7)

Posted: 7/15/2019

Just watched this excellent documentary video about the history of New York City in the 20th century when of the commentators said: We come from ruins, but we are not ruined! 

He was referring to the horrible state of New York City in the mid 1970s (looming bankruptcy; decades of decay; hundreds of burned down city blocks and much more) and the rise of rap music.

English For Trippers (6)

Posted: 9/4/2016

Recently, stumbled upon the phonetic similarity of traders and traitors. I did a little bit of etymological research on these two words, they seem to have different roots etc. and appear to be etymologically distinct.

However, perhaps the English language inadvertently points to a historical similarity. Over history, traders and merchants were often viewed as being at the bottom of society or worse as unpatriotic or even traitorous for selling to and buying from anyone.