Trip to Warsaw
Thanks very much, Silvia, for your detailed account of the relationship between Valencian, Catalan and Spanish.
You use lots of really good phraseology, such as "there's still a lot of controversy over the origins of .....", "the most widespread theory in this field", "What I learned at school is .....", "despite the efforts of the regional government to promote it" .....
Can I suggest a few small improvements?
You missed out 'was' in the question 'Which one was born first?' (But I'm sure you'll realise that when you look at the question again.)
Use 'open' as an adjective, not 'opened':
The door's open - you can go in.
The door's opened at 8.00 every day (i.e. someone opens it at that time).
Later, you refer to two accents in Valencian: one open and one closed. And similarly, a few days ago you wrote "I'm opened to suggestions", and that should be 'I'm open to suggestions.'
People who study languages are linguists, and linguistics is the name of their field of study.
The way you use 'stem from' isn't quite right, for two reasons. One is that it should be in the active form:
Valencian is a language which stems from Catalan.
But apart from that, 'stem from' really means 'be caused by' - e.g.:
The problems with operating the device stem from a fault in the design.
In talking about the histories of words and languages, we often use 'derive from', which can be either passive or active:
Valencian is a language which is derived from Catalan.
Valencian is a language derived from Catalan.
Valencian is a language which derives from Catalan.
A couple more things:
The Valencian language has always existed as a Romance language born after the split of Latin, and the roots of its own linguistic standards date from 1121.
Elche is traditionally a Spanish-speaking city.
Don't put a definite article in front of the names of languages:
Catalan is the most widely-spoken language .....
(Of course you could also talk about the Catalan language.)
Probably some of our blog-readers don't know that the so-called Romance languages are the ones that evolved from Latin. The best-known ones are Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian and Rumanian, but there are others too, as Silvia makes clear. The word 'Romance' is ultimately derived from 'Rome' - it was used as name for a certain type of mediaeval literature, and that was the origin of the modern meanings of 'romance' and 'romantic'.
I'm afraid I don't know any of the famous classical writers you mention - you were quite right about that! In fact, when it comes to Spanish literature, I'm rich in ignorance. In a word, I'm completely in the dark about it. By the way, I'll write more about books and films another time.
I had to go to Warsaw at the weekend, which is why you haven't heard from me for a while. Warsaw's the capital of Poland, as you all probably know, and the contrast with Łeba is immense, as you can no doubt imagine. The city was in the grip of shopping fever in the run-up to Christmas, and it seemed strange to see all the Christmas decorations in the shops because the weather is extraordinarily mild for the time of year, so it's hard to believe that Christmas is only a couple of weeks away.
By the end of the second world war, Warsaw had been mostly reduced to rubble, though here and there you can find buildings, courtyards, or streets that survived the destruction and stand as reminders of what the city must have been like in a previous age. After the war, people got to work and started rebuilding the old town and the Royal Palace, brick by brick. It's an amazing achievement, and nowadays, as you sit in the old town square on a hot summer's day, with a nice cool beer in front of you (lots of tourists do!) you could easily think that the houses around you were several centuries old.
Until recently, Warsaw wasn't a particularly welcoming destination for tourists. But that's changed, and there's now a wide range of hotels, bars, restaurants and so on. And there's a lot to see, although it certainly isn't one of the most attractive of cities at first sight. I like it for the range of shops, the opportunities to go to films and concerts, and to walk around the parks when they turn green in spring.
As I said, folks, you can find the answers to the 'fill the gap' sentences in previous blogs, some by me and some by Silvia. But in case you couldn't locate them, here they are:
Łeba is renowned for its dunes.
It's got a lot in common with Elche.
Mistakes are an essential part of the process of learning.
The "Life and Sole" museum houses a huge collection of boots and shoes of all sorts, shapes and sizes.
It's pouring with rain.
At midnight every clock strikes 12.
Some people have no sense of moderation when it comes to spending money.
I can't single out one film as my favourite.
Tourism is the major source of income.
Climate change is a direct consequence of the way human beings act.
Thanks for pointing out that Spanish Christmas traditions are different.
From reading some of the things you've written, I thought you might find it interesting to do a bit of practice with as and like. So, if you feel like it, just put either as or like into these sentences:
1 For them, Spanish is a second language, ______ English.
2 ______ Silvia, I live near a beach.
3 Languages such ______ Spanish and French derive from Latin.
4 Have you ever worked ______ a shop assistant?
5 It looks ______ an old building, but it isn't.
6 I don't know as much ______ you about Spanish literature.
7 The train was late, ______ usual.
More tomorrow.
Bye for now.
Jonathan
Comments
Hello Jonathan, thank you for the informations about Warsaw, I know very less about it.I have looked it up in the atlas and saw, it's far away from Leba ( ca.400 kilometres?)Did you go by car or by train there? Was it difficult for you, to learn the polish language and what experiences have you made. I imagine, that the pronounciation is difficult, isn't it? Now I'll do the homework: 1) For them, Spanish is a second language, like English. 2) Like Silvia, I live near a beach. 3) Languages such as Spanish and french derive from Latin. 4) Have you ever worked as a shop assistant? 5) It looks like an old building, but it isn't 6) I don't know as much as you about Spanish literature. 7) The train was late, like usual. I think the weather in Polen is as mild as it is in Germany and it's difficult to feel a Christmas atmosphere.I hope it will change soon and get a little bit colder. See you soon...
Dear Jonathan, Thank you for a lot of suggestions in grammar side. When reading blogs by Silvia, I noticed there are some minor mistakes which make uneasy while reading. Due to lack of more concentration and improper knowledge of language, it is difficult to point out those. When we pointed out them, I realized that. It is very difficult to us, as a second language, to point out those mistakes. In the previous, I posted my answer with suitable words but then I realized that I should use words used from either from your or Silvia’s post. 1 For them, Spanish is a second language, as English. 2 As Silvia, I live near a beach. 3 Languages such as Spanish and French derive from Latin. 4 Have you ever worked as a shop assistant? 5 It looks like an old building, but it isn't. 6 I don't know as much as you about Spanish literature. 7 The train was late, as usual.
Hello Jonathan! It´s nice to know about your trip to Warsaw. I´ve visited the official site of Warsaw city and have seen some pictures. Wow! The city is really beautiful :-). Well, here are my answers to the homework: 1 For them, Spanish is a second language, like English. 2 As Silvia, I live near a beach. 3 Languages such as Spanish and French derive from Latin. 4 Have you ever worked as a shop assistant? 5 It looks like an old building, but it isn't. 6 I don't know as much as you about Spanish literature. 7 The train was late, as usual. Well, it´s time to say good bye. I have a FCE mock test today. Wish me luck :-). See you tomorrow, Ana Paula.
Hello! Jonathan, How are you? This is the first, I am writing my comments to your blog. As I am a teacher, at the end of year, it is very difficult to get leisure time to do any othe work beside my professional job. A lot of things have to be done at the end of year such as preparing final exams, grading final exams making report cards, student evaluations, developing goals and objectives for coming year and so on. It has been fun reading your blog and silvia's too.From the blog site we not only learn English language but also we learn more about different countries and their traditions, history, land marks, politics,weather, food and etc. From your blog I have learnt about dunes. In our province, ther is a place where indian ocen and a river blend together. I don't know How do we say for that in english. I would like to know about Poland the famous land marks and monuments. If you don't mind could you please write about those in future bloggs. Here are my home works. 1) For them, Spanish is a second language, as English. 2)Like Silvia, I live near a beach. 3)Language such as spanish and French derive from Latin.4)Have you ever worked as a shop assistant? 5)It looks like an old building, but it isn't. 6)I don't know as much as you about Spanish literature. 7)the train was late, as usual.kind regards.
G’day Jonathan, Hope you had a fabulous trip to Warsaw. Here, I try the practice test For them, Spanish is a second language, like English. 2like Silvia, I live near a beach. 3 Languages such as Spanish and French derive from Latin. 4 Have you ever worked as a shop assistant? 5 It looks like an old building, but it isn't. 6 I don't know as much like you about Spanish literature. 7 The train was late, as usual The blog is getting interesting with the information’s about Warsaw, Leba, and Elche.Cheerio, Praveen Raj
I don't know much about films but I believe Poland has a quite rich film history,(or quite a rich film history; [what is the difference]) is that so? I would like to know more about it, if that is possible. For them, Spanish is a second language, _like_ English. 2 __Like_ Silvia, I live near a beach. 3 Languages such __as____ Spanish and French derive from Latin. 4 Have you ever worked _as_ a shop assistant? 5 It looks _like___ an old building, but it isn't. 6 I don't know as much __as____ you about Spanish literature. 7 The train was late, __as____ usual.
G’day Jonathan, Hope you had a fabulous trip to Warsaw. Here, I try the practice test For them, Spanish is a second language, like English. 2like Silvia, I live near a beach. 3 Languages such as Spanish and French derive from Latin. 4 Have you ever worked as a shop assistant? 5 It looks like an old building, but it isn't. 6 I don't know as much like you about Spanish literature. 7 The train was late, as usual The blog is getting interesting with the information’s about Warsaw, Leba, and Elche.Cheerio, Praveen Raj
1 For them, Spanish is a second language, ___like___ English. 2 __Like____ Silvia, I live near a beach. 3 Languages such __as____ Spanish and French derive from Latin. 4 Have you ever worked ___as___ a shop assistant? 5 It looks ____like__ an old building, but it isn't. 6 I don't know as much ___as___ you about Spanish literature. 7 The train was late, _as_____ usual.
Hi teacher Jonathan! I was completely wrong with your last homework and I´ve tried it after reading the answers. I believed that I´ve been cured out of my forgetfulness, poor me! Answers:1-like, 2-like, 3-such as, 4-as, 5-like, 6-as, 7-as. Your post proves that still I am at the beginning this endless learning process. Thanks for your effort!
Hi,Jonathan Here is my homework for you. i.like 2.like 3.as 4.as 5.like 6.as 7.as The other day my husband and I went to town for Christmas shopping.Nearly every shop was crowded and there was hustle and bustle going on.Many of childrens'parents,who I know,are struggling to get presents for their children because the children have got too many toys and it's very hard to impress them.Like my son he has been longing for "PlayStation2" for a year so we went to a toy shop to get an idea how much it would be.when we found out the price we was shocked.The price was too dear and it would cost you.We haven't decided yet what to do and we are getting depressed.I really want to get out of this Chritsmas misery.thanks!
Dear Jonathan, from what I can gather, it wasn't Warsaw that attracted you to Poland and made you move there afterwards. Anyway, I wouldn't trust you to write a tourist brochure about Warsaw. Sorry, that's me trying to be funny. Sincerely, Ana HOMEWORK: 1 For them, Spanish is a second language, LIKE English. 2 LIKE Silvia, I live near a beach. 3 Languages such AS Spanish and French derive from Latin. 4 Have you ever worked AS a shop assistant? 5 It looks LIKE an old building, but it isn't. 6 I don't know as much AS you about Spanish literature. 7 The train was late, AS usual.
Hi teacher Jonathan! I didn´t know the differences between town and city in Britain.The motto which I live by is simple and applicable any time or event, to survive! And just now, the miserable weather has the direct consequnces on my mood which means I´ve payed only a little attention studying your post in detail. Perhaps, I may ask to help to explain why you wrote in your firt blog..`the time of year´ and teacher Keeler in his last column..`this time of the year´? Why is there `the´ after of preposition? If there is any difference in meaning you don´t need bothering to answer my question. What I´ve learnt untill now is that your language is easy and complicated at the same time. Better time to everyone! (Ana Paula, don´t forget to tell us the results!)
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