Word Wednesday - How English Used To Sound

As a matter of fact ...

I was recentley shown a fascinating example of how the Enlgish language used to sound. It's a poem, by the poet John Skeleton, read aloud as it would have sounded when it was written, some 500 years ago.

The video was put together by 'The Skeleton Project' a group of three history buffs who describe themselves as giving 'information on the sociocultural, historical, and contextual background of John Skelton’s English works'

I found this video to be very strange on my ears. If you're not paying attention, it sounds like modern English spoken with a northern regional accent of England. Then as I strain my ears, I can hear very French or Scandinavian influences followed by a sentence in almost modern English.

I'd always been told how English was a melting pot of different languages such as French, German, Scandinavian etc but this video was the first real example of that theory. 

If you're reading these words, you understand English. Now enjoy what it sounded like half a millenia ago ...

Word Wednesday - Months Of The Year And Where They Got Their Names

As a matter of fact ...

It's the 1st day of October! I recently did some freelance writing about Oktoberfest which, interestingly, isn't in October! The festival was moved back to coincide with warmer weather and the last of that year's brewed beer.

It got me thinking, why is October called October? For that matter, where do all the months names come from?

January - This came from the name of the Roman god 'Janus' of new beginnings, gates and doorways. Pretty fitting name for the opening month of the year. He is often depicted with his face facing two different ways.

This is one of the months that was added in after the Roman calendar's creation. Hence why things will seem a bit messed up in the later months.

February - Comes from the month of 'februus' or purification. The other month that was added in later to the calendar. Was also modified by Julius Caesar to it's modern form of 28 or 29 days in length depending on it being a leap year or not.

Janus and his two faces

March - Named after the Roman god of war 'Mars' and originally the first month of the year in the Roman calendar

April -  Aphrodite gave her name to this month as the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Nice choice by the Greeks, April is a pretty lovely time of year. I sound like Alan Partridge, sorry.

The birth of Aphrodite

Juno - Queen of the gods

May - From another Greek goddess, Maius of spring and growth. I'm starting to see a pattern here.

June - Juno from Junus, queen of the Roman gods. Boss god lady if you will.

July - Named after the Roman Emporer, Julius Caesar. I find it funny how he named the month after himself when so many of the other months were named after gods. Says a lot really. It was originally called 'Quintilis' for the 5th month of the Roman year.

August - Changed in honour of the Roman Emperor Augustus. He didn't do it himself, which is nice. The reason is due to a lot of good things happening in his life during August. The month was originally called 'Sextilis' as the 6th month of the Roman year.

September - Comes from 'Septum' as the 7th month of the Roman year.

October - Comes from 'Octo' for the 8th month of the Roman year. Like an octopus. You get the pattern.

Augustus: a man and a month

November - 'Novem' for 9th.

December - And 'decem' for 10th. Like decimal.

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Well, apart from the last few, those were some pretty interesting backgrounds. I bet the Greeks and Romans didn't expect people worldwide in 2014 to be using the names of their gods and emperors as the names for their months!

Word Wednesday - Where Do Swear Words Come From?

As a matter of fact ...

Swearing is great. There is no denying it. We spend the first part of our lives being scolded for saying them and then come adulthood, we just can't seem to get enough of them. It's humans natural attraction to the taboo. It's also scientifically proven to reduce pain if you scream an expletive when you get hurt. Can't argue with science.

In honour of these fantastic words that get us through pain, stress and even leaving your pizza in the oven too long: I thought I'd take a look at where they came from. This is your disclaimer if swear words offend you! If not, let's find out where 3 of these beauties came from, you won't effing believe it ...

1) Shit

Perhaps my favourite of them all. This gem of a word first cropped up over 1,000 years ago from the Old Norse 'skíta.' The Anglo-Saxons of England used 'scittan' when referring to a cow's diarrhea. Nice! From there it took on its modern meaning of excrement. Nicer!

Terms such a shit faced, shitting me, shit's hit the fan etc are all recent variations that have cropped up in the past century or so. It's a swear word that's stood the test of time.


2)  Fuck

Another cracker. This word can't help but add colour to any sentence. If used properly, it's an art form. If you don't believe me, check out Malcom Tucker on the brilliant BBC sitcom 'The Thick of It.' He elevates this word to another level.

Oddly enough, it has proven hard for people to trace back the origins if this word because of it's taboo nature. Back in the 15th and 16th centuries, people were too afraid to even write down the word for fear of invoking God's wrath! 

What we do know is that it had Germanic roots like the Swedish 'focka' and Norwegian 'fokka' which both mean to copulate. It first appeared in England in a 15th century coded poem that mocked monks breaking their celibacy. In the 500 years since then, it's still considered 'The F Bomb' although it's slowly gaining acceptance for usage among adults. I think people are slowly realising what a great modifier, intensifier and all round colourful word it really is - and I'm fucking glad!

3) Piss

Less taboo than the other two but no less deserving of attention. Piss actually has French roots which I found surprising given the overwhelming amount of swear words that have Germanic origins. It appeared in English in the 1300's coming from the French 'pissier' meaning to urinate. 

It wasn't until WWII however that piss became popularised as an intensifier; piss poor, piss drunk etc. Not long after the war, 'pissed off' for angry became popular in the US, later becoming just 'pissed'. Interestingly, the UK kept the term 'pissed off' for angry and 'pissed' by itself became slang for being very drunk. This is something I had to get used to when coming to Canada. If I was ever annoyed, I thought everyone was asking me if I was drunk or not. Pretty confusing. 

Three swear words for you there that people use more often than they think! Unless you're around children, old people, your parents or anyone who might take offense (sadly) at these words, use them! The way I see it, they've been around long before you and will out live all of us. It would be a waste not to enjoy them while we can! 

Word Wednesday - The United Kingdom

As a matter of fact ...

Tomorrow, Scotland decides if it wants to leave the UK after 300 years of union with England. Big stuff. Emotions and the stakes are high. Regardless of the result, there is a feeling that things are changing in the UK. I could talk in more detail but this is neither the time or place! So as it's Word Wednesday, I thought I'd take a look at where the names for the UK country's came from.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Four nations joined in political union, at least for a couple more days. Great countries and great stories behind their names. As it's Scotland's big day tomorrow, let's start with them ...

Scotland



The people who inhabited Scotland from the Iron Age to Medieval times were called the Picts by the Romans. This came from the Latin and Greek for 'painted'; in reference to their woad painted images they covered their skin with. This is also the root of the English word 'picture'.




Later, the Romans referred to the inhabitants as the 'Scoti' from the Greek 'skotos' meaning dark and gloomy. So, essentially, Scotland means gloomy-land. Ouch! Although, you can see from the picture above it is anything but that!


England


The Angles were a tribe from what is now Germany who settled in England some 1500 years ago. Over time, the term Angle-land became England.


Along with their Germanic neighbors the Saxons and the Jutes, the Angles helped found the kingdom of England and their name lives on in its title. 



Wales



The name Wales comes from the name 'Walh' which was passed down through the Roman and Germanic word for the Celtic tribes of Britain.

Interestingly, the prefix of 'Wal' came to be used for anything that the Germanic people of Britain saw as foreign. This even extended to the humble 'walnut'. That's cool.



Ireland (northern)




Ireland is called 'Éire' in Irish. This comes from the old Irish for the Gaelic goddess 'Ériu' which in turn can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European word for 'full' or 'abundant'. 

So Ireland technically means 'abundant land'. I've visited Ireland a lot over my life and I think it's a far better name origin than the Scots have!



Four nations, four names. All with their own history and languages but joined together under one political union; the United Kingdom. Well, at least for now anyway.

With the big vote tomorrow, it's Scotland's choice. As an Englishman, I really have no right to speak on the matter. All I will say is, after 300 years, it would be a shame to say goodbye to the Scots. I'm sure England would then become the real 'gloomy land'.

Word Wednesday - I love Nachos

As a matter of fact ...

I ate far too many nachos yesterday. They're just so tasty and simple. Some might even argue they're genius! But where did the word 'nacho' come from? What clever person decided to layer some baked tortillas, cheese, meat and a whole lot of tasty condiments together to make the first dish of nachos? Before we find out, feast your eyes on the nachos I had yesterday at Toronto's 'Sneaky Dee's'. In my defense, it was shared with my girlfriend and I didn't eat for the rest of the day! Don't judge me please.

So where was the first plat of nachos born? Mexico of course. What was surprising for me was just how modern they are, originating in 1943. It only took 70 years for them to take the world by storm! 

They were first made by a guy called Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya. Ignacio owned a restaurant in Piedras Negras (see right), just over the U.S border. 



One night, after closing time, he was approached by a group of American women who were wives of soldiers stationed nearby. Despite the closed sign, they requested food. Ignacio did not refuse them and instead made a decision that would land him in the history books forever.


Returning to the kitchen, he assessed the situation. There weren't many options. Using his initiative, Ignacio took some left over tortillas and baked them into triangles with melted cheese on top. He added jalapeno peppers for a bit of kick and served the dish to the women. Needless to say, they loved it. When asked what the dish was called, Ignacio replied 'Nacho's especiales'. In time, the apostrophe was lost and the name anglicised to become 'Special Nachos'.

Fast forward 70 years to me filling my face with the delicious baked treats and I have no doubt in my mind why they're still a success. As tasty as pizza but easier to make and with a sharing, casual vibe to every plate. Thanks Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya! Next time I'm enjoying a plate of your creation, I'll be sure to remember where they got their name!

Word Wednesday - Where does 'disaster' come from?

As a matter of fact ...

The word 'Disaster' comes from the Middle French and Old Italian for 'Two-Stars'.  It's origins in the 16th century come from a time steeped in astrological superstition.


One of the most spectacular sights to see is a comet as it lights up the night sky. However, hundreds of years ago this spelled doom to those who read the night sky for celestial signs. 

It meant plagues, war and untold suffering were right around the corner. The Norman King, William the Conqueror, used the 1066 sighting of Haley's Comet as a sign to invade England. The bright comets was referred to as a 'disaster' from the old helenic of 'dis' meaning second and 'aster' meaning star. 

For our ancestors, the appearance of a second star meant catastrophe. Next time you feel like your day is a disaster, don't forget to look up.