viernes, 21 de diciembre de 2018

My pet hates


MY PET HATES………..(me) (Structural ambiguity)

They say Christmas is a period charged with an overdose of religious feelings when the good and happy pretend to be better even becoming angelic and the sad and neurotic get  more depressed and even suicidal.(They also add that a perfectly adjusted human being would be silent about their hates)
I´ve vented out my pet hates, people, objects and situations I just can´t stand like the so-called Christmas spirit:

Celebrity magazines ( Cuore, Love, Vanitatis, Pronto, Lecturas, Semana, Hello, 10 minutes, etc.) – they are all superficial, banal toilet paper publications!
Preachers, charlatans and manipulators ( What they think is their reality)
People glued to their mobile phones whose only realities come through the net.
 I really hate the English love of animals over human beings (Thanks to David Goodland)
I hate the noise level in bars, discos and restaurants
I loathe above all Nationalism, put above Unity between Countries. I will always be a European citizen of the world, whatever happens next year.
I loathe and detest BREXIT (as I  hate intolerance and politicians who pick on minorities and use 'immigrants' as a euphemism for 'hating foreigners'.)
When you can remember things from years ago but you can´t remember what you ate yesterday/ what you went into the kitchen for.
Being in a hurry for no obvious reason
Poisonous beliefs: Anything from bioneuroemotions, religions or magnetic energy to NLP
( In fact, people can believe whatever they like but when you stop and look closely at the sort of strange ideas people believe you realize that the world is populated by insane locos on a hitherto undreamed-of-scale)
When they tell you it is HISTORY and it is Propaganda/ Fake news since humankind began.
 The use of baby talk in indirect speech.
People who show off their material possessions.
When my shoes pinch/ do not fit or my clothes oppress me.
The use of the illogical first person singular or plural when relating an impersonal event in the past, or when phrasing interrogative words like how, why, when.(Thanks to Pete Trainin)
Gullible airheads at the kitchen table who believe in every sort of alternative remedy.
Boring politicians and nobody seems to perceive their verbal incompetence and immaturity.
The chronically infantilized politicians who demonstrate their lack of intellectual agility by clinging to clichés, ready-made sentences and over(re)acting.
Next, replying to questions with the word So, which is deductive not causal. Same neuro linguistic degradation as above.
Those who ape and flatter authority constantly by assuming a pandering posture of slave to authority expecting some rewards in return.
Priests, architects, doctors and lawyers find themselves implicitly dealing with the uninformed (chronically ignorant). Their profession implies loyalty to the feudalism that keeps them inside the castle walls.
Being bossed about by the know-all arrogance of the ignorant.
When people talk too much about themselves and never listen to others.
Opportunistic people who have forgotten it was chance and luck which put them there and not their own merits or values
People who believe in miracles like the virginity of Mary but are indifferent  to genuine scientific wonders.
People who exert coercive persuasion, abuse of power and the pedagogy of fear.
Ersatz psychologists and psychiatrists who adhere to pseudo-therapies to rob you of your money.



miércoles, 21 de noviembre de 2018

The Linguistic Principle of Least Effort (P.L.E.)


THE LINGUISTIC PRINCIPLES of LEAST EFFORT (P.L.E.)
Looking back mine has been both a very serious and important  job and I have dedicated my life wholeheartedly to it.
I am vocational whereas I´ve found few of my colleagues were” vacational” civil servants who followed roughly the Principles of Least Effort (P.L.E.) (How ironically close to P.E.L.-Portfolio Europeo de Lenguas-!!) which equals the human principle of least action and movement.

Applications of Zipf's Law
"Zipf's law is useful as a rough description of the frequency distribution of words in human languages: there are a few very common words, a middling number of medium frequency words, and many low frequency words. [G.K.] Zipf saw in this a deep significance.
According to his theory both the speaker and the hearer are trying to minimize their effort. The speaker's effort is conserved by having a small vocabulary of common words and the hearer's effort is lessened by having a large vocabulary of individually rarer words (so that messages are less ambiguous). The maximally economical compromise between these competing needs is argued to be the kind of reciprocal relationship between frequency and rank that appears in the data supporting Zipf's law." One explanation for linguistic change is the principle of least effort. According to this principle, language changes because speakers are 'sloppy' and simplify their speech in various ways. Accordingly, abbreviated forms like math for mathematics and plane for airplane arise. Going to becomes gonna because the latter has two fewer phonemes to articulate. . . . On the morphological level, speakers use showed instead of shown as the past participle of show so that they will have one less irregular verb form to remember."The principle of least effort is an adequate explanation for many isolated changes, such as the reduction of God be with you to good-bye, and it probably plays an important role in most systemic changes, such as the loss of inflections in English.
As I´ve pointed out before English is a language of monosyllables (Entry 190 in my blog)
Why, you may wonder , is monosyllable such a long word?
Part of the international success of English is due to its simplicity and the triumph of the linguistic law of least effort. The 100 essential words to learn are monosyllabic:
Just by way of comparison see the words below and  in a direct contrast between English and Spanish decide which option to choose:


ENGLISH  SPANISH

PIER      DESEMBARCADERO, VARADERO
NEED   NECESITAR
FLOOD  INUNDACIÓN
FLASH  RELÁMPAGO
BURN   QUEMADURA
KNEE   RODILLA
HEAD   CABEZA
FIRST   PRIMERO
TENTH  DÉCIMO
STEW   ESTOFADO
LINED/WRINKLED   ARRUGADO
TOO  DEMASIADO
NOW   AHORA
LEFT   IZQUIERDA
RIGHT DERECHA
CHANCE   CASUALIDAD
FISH    PESCADO
VEAL   TERNERA
STORK   CIGÜEÑA
TOAST   TOSTADA/tostÁ
CARROT   ZANAHORIA
CLAP    APLAUDIR
KNIGHT  CABALLERO
FAN   VENTILADOR/ ABANICO
SCRATCH   ARAÑAZO
TYRE   NEUMÁTICO
BOOT   MALETERO
BUMPER  PARACHOQUES
DIPSTICK   VARILLA DEL ACEITE

Write ten more examples to show how a monosyllabic English word equals a longer Spanish word.

Because of our common Latin and Greek  roots we share thousands of words with minimal changes (the important changes are phonetic):

CONCLUSION
DIVISION
TELEVISION
ACCUMULATION
ANTICIPATION
HUMILIATION
INSTALLATION
VARIATION
INTERRUPTION
PROTECTION

DICTATOR
INVESTIGATOR
MANIPULATOR
RADIATOR
TRAITOR

ACTIVITY
AFFINITY
CAPACITY
GRAVITY
MORTALITY

AMNESTY
ANATOMY
AUTONOMY
FANTASY
ZOOLOGY

FAMILY
AGENCY
ALLERGY
GALAXY
URGENCY

ABDOMEN
ALCOHOL
ALTAR
DEFICIT
CANAL

ACCENT
BASTARD
DIALOGUE
MODEL
MINUTE

FIND 5 MORE IN EACH CATEGORY

P.S. Try to think of any cases in which the opposite holds true: when Spanish words or phrases are shorter than their English equivalents. Exs: HOY versus TODAY,  MIL v. THOUSAND, Y v. AND...


sábado, 13 de octubre de 2018

Feedback

A big moment for you. I can easily identify with some of your feelings.   My guess is that it will take you around two years to feel free of your duties as a teacher.  The walk to freedom is more complex. (D.W.)

  Congratulations on finally escaping the tyranny of the timetable (S.R) 

    Dear Jose,
Firstly, my apologies for having your email spending so long in my “in-tray”.  Partly due to not knowing quite where to begin with my reply.  It came as a great shock to me.  You, retiring …..  you couldn’t possibly be retiring, you couldn’t possibly be that old.  Maybe you are taking “early retirement”?  Shock, amazement , incredulity and curiosity.  Then sadness.  Sadness for all the future students that will not have the benefit of you.  I went around for days with a sense of loss.  And then hey-ho…………….it dawned on me.  What’s one person’s loss is another’s gain.  You, for sure, will not be doing nothing and so something else will gain.

I printed out your attachment and it too went around with me…
...  As I sat with my coffee in Nerja the last few weeks, thirty years of my life have passed in front of me.  How extraordinary!
I thank you for your attachment of beautiful writings.  What a wonderful way to announce your retirement!.
And lastly and most important of all, I wish you, all that you would wish for yourself, in the next phase of your living. (M.B.)





Thank you for attaching your retirement "manifesto". Recalling my own retirement speech over 25 years ago, it too was filled with hopes and plans for the future. You have the positive advantage of seeing directly the products of your career in the successful lives of the students you have taught…

With your wide-ranging world view and tolerance of the various viewpoints of others, I would see you as an excellent person to assume that role…

Of course, you probably have many ideas and plans of your own and I wish you well for you deserve every positive thing that life has to offer. But, knowing you, I know that sitting a rocking chair, watching television, is not a life you would relish. Your statement was concise but informative but the interview was even more revealing of your keen spirit and animation. Thank you for including Vivian and myself in your list of English-speaking friends.

(M.M.)

I applied my thinking to your stellar career.

I would divide it into parts. Your human talents in many areas, psychology, organizing groups, achieving long term goals of setting people up to be competent professionals and knowing your subjects well enough to transmit them usefully.

The other part is less sexy. Education has been replaced by obedience and job training. CORE mean anything to you. Result focus. You write clearly .Great come back. Good stuff (P.T.)
 Dear Jose Manuel
Many many thanks for your invitation. I am honoured to make a special visit to Nerja and take part in your celebration.
You are not just a teacher, you are a mentor for all the students who have come under your influence. Your sincerity, guidance and care for the growing-up problems of your students is a model for those who will follow you.
I was fortunate to have had 3/4 teachers like yourself in Ceylon and 3/4 during my late teenage years in London. I owe a lot to them and rejoice that I can thank them with as your students and colleagues  will do in October.
I also recall that there have been a few sad events in your life, but your moral courage has inspired you to manage them. As a person of Spain I place you in the class of Lorca, Antonio Machado, Friar Louis and Don Miguel de Unamuno of Salamanca.

My farewell along with all the ex-pats who have had the honour to know you. (A.P.)
would it be possible to send my wishes to José Manuel for a long and happy retirement?   He was the first person to teach me some Spanish, many years ago as we were neighbours.
Thank you
(J McC).

Congratulations!

Thank you for the files too. Those writings clearly tell me how much you love your job with pride both in yourself and your students. That's so beautiful…(A.I.)
 Dear Jose Manuel,

From a friend in Nerja I recently received a copy of the article in the Market Place on the occasion of your  retirement, and I have also heard from Tony that during his upcoming stay in Nerja he will be attending your farewell reception.

I am only sorry I cannot be there in person to wish you well, and to thank you most sincerely for our very positive and close cooperation, - through NADFAS (now The Arts Society), and the Capistrano Lectures, which fortunately are continuing in the capable hands of Sue Richards,

As inspirational teacher, and through your contacts with the ex-pat community, you have left an indelible mark on both the young people in your care and the many friends within international circles. I have always believed that we are put on this planet to make a difference - you certainly have and your legacy will live on for many years to come.

I seem to remember that one of your ambitions on retiring was to travel more - "to travel is to live" as Hans Christian Andersen once wrote in his book "Travels in Spain" (his statue is on the Alameda in Malaga across from Plaza Marina).

Enjoy your new life in the knowledge of a job very well done.(R.K.) 
David Goodland reviewing History comes alive for the NHG some time ago:
"First talk of the year was given by José Manuel Cabezas, author of over 30 books, winner of a Fulbright Scholarship, and head of English at The Instituto Sierra Almijara, Nerja.  Senor Cabezas also has a great sense of humour which makes listening to him pure delight.
 He began with a slide show of 20th Century images of Spain, winding up with the specific subject of his talk, ‘Life under Franco’.  We saw fascist salutes given by children, Hitler and Franco arm in arm, the grey ranks of the imprisoned (all Spain was a prison) and revealing images of domestic poverty.
Having established the atmosphere of his childhood in the 50’s and 60’s, Senor Cabezas became quietly personal. He told us of his University days in Malaga and Granada; campus policing and threats to the fragile democracy established in 1977. He gave us a rare insight into a church/state conspiracy; of draconian divorce laws, rigid adherence to tradition, and most importantly, daily fear. Like the fear that held Manuel Cortez, ex-Mayor of Mijas, a prisoner in his own home for 30 years.
 He went on to praise the politicians who refused to cower under parliament benches in 1981. (Some are still alive, as is the figurehead of the uprising.) These were the days when the young King, Juan Carlos, walked a tight-rope between the old 19th Century Militarists and the Technocrats’ hopes for Spain as part of a democratic Europe.
Senor Cabezas is a bridge builder with a stunning command of English. His love of humanity is obvious; his belief in his students, past and present, unshakeable.  He believes in education. He is an apologist for neither right nor left.  By listing facts and statistics he denies Fascism its comfort and Liberalism its complacency. He is outspoken. In fact, he is a whiff of fresh air.
Normally we enjoy talks at the Nerja History Group, but José Manuel, 26 years in the classroom, sparked a lively debate.  He also put the present in some perspective, offered us an unusually optimistic view of the future and brought history to life."(Thanks ever so much for your encouraging words)


 I´ve always harboured a visceral distrust, disdain and repulsion for unfounded authoritarian sheepdogs and those who live in thrall to them and their rules which benefit  them....

martes, 26 de junio de 2018

100+ ways to say goodbye The End

100 WAYS TO SAY GOODBYE:
If you wish to be formal:

1.      All my best
2.      Best Regards
3.      Best Wishes
4.      Congratulations
5.      Cordially
6.      Faithfully
7.      Goodbye
8.      Looking Forward to it
9.      Regards
10.  Respectfully
11.  Sending You the Best
12.  Sincerely
13.  Sincerely Yours
14.  Speak To / With You Soon
15.  Take Care
16.  Warm Regards
17.  Warm Wishes
18.  Warmly
19.  Wishing You a Wonderful Day
20.  Yours
21.  Yours Truly
If you want something friendly

23.  Cheers
24.  Enjoy Your [Day of the Week]
25.  Good Luck
26.  Happy [Day of the Week]
27.  Have a Good One
28.  Have a Great Day
29.  Here's to a Great [Day of the Week]
30.  Hope This Helps
31.  Hope You're Making It Through [Day of the Week]
32.  Make It a Great Day
33.  Pleasure Catching Up With You
34.  See You Tomorrow
35.  Sending Good Vibes
36.  Talk Soon
37.  Until Next Time
38.  You're the Best
39.  Your Friend
If you need to show appreciation

40.  All My Thanks
41.  I Can't Thank You Enough
42.  I Owe You (IOU)
43.  Many Thanks
44.  Much Appreciated
45.  Thank You
46.  Thank You for Everything
47.  Thank You in Advance
48.  Thanks a Million
49.  Thanks for Reading
50.  Thanks for Your Consideration
51.  Thanks for Your Help
52.  Thanks So Much
53.  With Appreciation
54.  With Gratitude
55.  You're a Lifesaver
If you're feeling funny (or cheesy)

56.  Anonymously
57.  Bye, María
58.  Congrats on Reading This Whole Email
59.  Don't Stop Believin'
60.  I Need Coffee
61.  Keep On Keepin' On
62.  Later Alligator
63.  Live Long and Prosper
64.  Looking Forward (to Friday)
65.  One Step Closer to Friday
66.  Peace Out
67.  So Long, Farewell
68.  Tag, You're It
69.  The End
70.  Toodles
71.  And that´s the end of it all
72.  With this and a piece of cake until tomorrow at eight.
73.  Sayonara
74.  Au revoir
75.  Adios amigos
76.  Auf wiedersehen
77.  Arrivederci
78.  Hasta la vista
79.  Adieu
80.  Aloha
81.  God bless you all
82.  I´m off
83.  I´m beating it
84.  I´m gone
85.  Don´t forget me
86.  Don´t work too hard, my dear
87.  See ya
88.  Good night
89.  Keep in touch
90.  Bon voyage
91.  I Gotta go
92.  I´ve got to be off
93.  I gotta head out
94.  I gotta run
95.  I gotta bounce
96.  I gotta split
97.  Peace
98.  Cheerio
99.  Ta-Ta
100.                  Hasta luego
101.                  That´s all,folks
102.                  Toodle-oo
103.           Ciao for now

My favourite words end in –END: FRIEND/ BEFRIEND;
 ATTEND,TEND, EXTEND, LEGEND, TREND, UPEND, HAPPEN´D,
CONTEND,SEND, SPEND, SUSPEND, RECOMMEND, PRETEND, DEPEND, 
DEEP END….
DO the same in Spanish with -FIN: DELFIN; SERAFIN; SINFIN;CONFIN, GARROFIN....

FIND THE AUTHORS/COMPOSERS of the following FAREWELL SONGS:

Todo tiene su fin.....
Bye Bye love...........
I´ve had the time of my life.....
I´ll be there for you.....
So long, Marianne......
Goodbye Yellow Brick road.....
Too good at goodbyes.....
I will remember you.....
One more day.....
50 ways to say goodbye.....