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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-11-22, Page 5The International Scene The twists and turns of language BY RAYMOND CANON One of the most interesting things about learning a language is that you soon come to the realizat­ ion that there are a number of occasions, in fact quite a number, when either a word in English does not mean the same as a similar word in another language or else there is a way of saying something in one language that is not quite the same in another. This can lead to some very fascinating situations. I was reminded of that when doing some Spansih interpreting the other day. When I was going to school in Spain, those of us who spoke English quite well decided that it would not do any harm to take a course in that language, if only because it was an easy way to get a good mark. Or so we thought! We reckoned without the quaint English of our instructor which was quite unlike anything we had ever heard before. When he didn’t like something which we did or said, which seemed to be fairly often, his usual comment was, “Senor Can­ on, go to the hell.” I used to wonder where I would be ordered to go if I had done something really bad but fortunately I never had to find that out. One day, however, I became the unwilling centre of attention of the class. I was sitting at the back of the room valiantly trying to make a date with a pretty Spanish girl which, in that ultra-conservative society, was not the easiest thing to do. My efforts caught the attention of the instructor who wasted no Area to get Militia unit in 1990 A militia sub-unit has been established in Wingham and should be operational by early in the new year. The Highland Fusiliers of Can­ ada, Cambridge branch, recently received the approval of the Cana­ dian Defence Department to esta­ blish a reserve unit at Wingham. The announcement was made at a press conference Nov. 11 at the Wingham Legion Hall. A number of local dignitaries were on hand for the announce­ ment, including Huron-Bruce MP Murray Cardiff, who said the re-establishment of a rrlilitia unit in the Wingham area is part of the federal government’s “Reserve 2000” plan to see reserve forces in this country increased to 90,000 members. Mr. Cardiff also said the reserve provides a great opportunity for Mabel's Continued from page 4 tax in, it may seem like our people are marching in the streets too.” FRIDAY: Billie Bean says he likes Sheila Copp’s idea of running for the leadership of the Liberal party. Ms. Copps said she was ready to run for the leadership if somebody could come up with $1 million to pay for it. “I think I’ll make the same offer,” he said. Well, said Ward, at least you’d be a quieter leader than Copps would make. time in taking me to task. ‘‘Senor Canon,” he intoned, “stop molest­ ing that woman.” A statement like that was guar­ anteed to get the immediate atten­ tion of the entire class and it did. All eyes we^e upon me to see just what it was that I was up to. In case some of my readers have arrived at the opinion that I was possessed of deviant behaviour at an early age, let me explain that the instructor had got his English mixed up again. The verb ‘‘molestar” in Spanish has the meaning of “dis­ turb” but in English it is a considerably worse action as you may guess. The instructor had not got around to that subtle nuance of the language and used the verb which came natural to him in Spanish. I did, I admit, stop molesting the woman. Then again I was sitting in a subway train in Paris one day minding my own business when the woman across from me suddenly addressed me. “Do you have fire?” she asked. If she had asked for it in French, I would have had no difficulty understanding but I guessed that she presumed that foreigners simply could not speak French. Seeing my puzzlement she asked again, “Do you have fire?” For a minute I played with the idea that she was trying to pick me up and was just curious as to whether or not I was hot stuff. To clarify the situation, I decided to ask her in French what she meant. Her reply was immediate. “Thank God you speak French. What I wanted was a light for my cigarette.” I was secretly relieved to learn that hot stuff I was not. There are times when it is better not to be able to speak English. I got rather tired of being approach­ ed by people of dubious appear­ ance asking in just as dubious English if I wanted to buy a watch, exchange currency or even sleep with their alleged sister. Saying no in English did not seem to do the part-time employment and will be a boom to local business. Wingham Mayor Ian Moreland appeared equally pleased by the Fusiliers’ announcement. “I’m de­ lighted to have them (the Fusiliers) come to Wingham,” said the mayor, who added that a steering committee has been formed to “act as a shoehorn to ease their (the militia’s) way into the commun­ ity”. The Fusiliers have been offered the use of the Wingham Armouries building two nights per week and on weekends, Mr. Moreland said in an interview following the press conference. The mayor also pledg­ ed that no groups which now use the Armouries on a regular basis will be displaced. Listowel Mayor Bert Johnston also added his congratulations and offered his town’s facilities for drill hall. A spokesman for the Highland Fusiliers, Jerry Mann of Wingham, said, “We’re really excited about bringing the army reserve into this area.” He also paid tribute to the town’s fine reserve regiment, the 21st Field Artillery Regiment, which disbanded 20 years ago. A commanding officer in the Fusiliers, Capt. J. Fitton, said army reserves have existed for many years in Canada to be called upon at any time. In addition to providing training for its officers, the militia also puts money back into the local economy through part-time wages - approximately trick; they were nothing if not persistent and so I hit upon the ploy of telling them that I was Finnish. Finns (like Canadians) are thin on the ground in foreign countries; English is not one of their official languages and they speak a langu­ age that nobody learns or can even understand. 1 proceeded to learn a few expressions which I used repeatedly when accosted by the above mentioned undesirable ele­ ments. This usually got them off my back immediately which is precisely what 1 wanted. I also admit to using a variation of it in Quebec. Now and again when I talk French in that province, 1 meet a nationalist who has it in for the hated Anglos and refuses to admit that he understands my French. There is nothing wrong with it; it is simply European and not Quebecois. What they do is look me right in the eye, ignore my French and reply in English. I assure you that two can play the game as well as one. I ignore totally their English, tell them that I am Swiss and speak only German, French and Italian. Which one of those would they like to speak? They back down immediately and continue in French. I did, however, meet my match one day. I was leaving the station in Olten, Switzerland, when a police­ man approached me and took me to task for jaywalking. I replied that I did not speak German. He switched to French and I replied in the same manner. He then to my surprise tried Italian, the third of the Swiss national languages. Again I played dumb and so he tried English. I gave in, reasoning that any police­ man in a small city like Olten who could speak four languages deserv­ ed to be given a chance to chastize me for jaywalking. I stood there, took my medicine and promised never to do it again. In languages, as in many other situations, you win some and you lose some. $6,000 per month - paid to reserve members. In conclusion, Mr. Fitton said, “we are pleased as a unit to be allowed to come and what you will see over the next short time will make you very proud and happy.” Mr. Mann explained that Wing­ ham was chosen as the site for the new militia unit because it is at the “hub” of a wide area of South­ western Ontario. A total of 80,000 people live within a 60-kilometre radius of the town, he said. The Fusiliers will begin a recruit­ ing program in the near future, which will involve F. E. Madill Secondary School. Involvement in the militia is particularly beneficial to young people because, in addi­ tion to providing them with a part-time salary, they receive trade training and summer employment. The militia is open to men and women, said Recruiting Officer MacGregor. They can be 17 to 45 years of age, landed immigrants with at least a Grade 10 education. They must write a short selection test and pass a medical examina­ tion, he explained. In answer to a question about security of weapons from Bert Morin of Wingham, the last regi­ ment force warrant officer, Mr. Fitton replied, weapons cannot be stored here on a regular basis, at least for the time being. In some cases, arrangements have been made with police stations, he added. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1989. PAGE 5. Letters Recycling working in Brussels THE EDITOR, The Theme of Recycling Week is Changing Attitudes: Reduce, Re­ use and Recycle. As part of Recycling Week awareness, Brussels residents will receive a Recycling brochure with a survey included. Residents are asked to complete the survey and return it to the Municipal Office by December 1. The program has been in exis­ tence since April 5, 1989 and this should be enough time for resi­ dents to evaluate the program. Some prizes will be awarded to show appreciation for good recy­ clers. Over a period of weeks, I visited homes with recyclables out and presented prizes. Those names will be placed in a draw for a Grand Prize. Also as part of the survey, Residents will be asked to guess the number of pounds collected in Recycling Week and the closest People putting too much pressure on young Bulls THE EDITOR, It is this writer’s belief that the Brussels Bulls early season success in their maiden year of Jr. C hockey has placed an unbelievable amount of pressure on the Juniors to “win” every game and the players are unable to relax, learn from their mistakes, and play their game. While six players have previous Jr. C experience and six more have played Junior hockey, nine skaters are playing Junior calibre hockey for the first time. In contrast Hanover has 12 players returning from last year’s All-Ontario final­ ists and have signed nine more with Jr. C or better experience. The fact that in three games the Barons and Bulls have played to one win - College teachers damage profession, students THE EDITOR, Thank you for your column “Students get a lesson” in the Nov. 15 issue of The Citizen. Your support of the community college students is commendable. The many letters to newspapers, and jammed lines on talk shows clearly indicate where the public stands on the issue. I feel the Community College Stratford box office better than expected The Stratford Festival’s Box Office revenue for 1989 season was $12,541,475, the Festival announc­ ed recently. The total number of admissions for the season, which concluded October 29, was 468,148 surpassing the Festival’s budgeted figure of 460,000 admissions for theatre performances. “We are very pleased with these figures,” the Festival’s General Manager Gary Thomas said today. “The 1989 Box Office results, after discounts, are $310,000 higher than we budgeted. Under John Neville’s leadership as our Artistic Director, this represents the third consecu­ tive year we have surpassed our budgeted revenue and the fourth consecutive season the Festival will finish in the black.” The gross box office revenue figure for 1989 was $12,54'1,475. Discounts totalled $672,573 in 1989, leaving a net box office revenue of $11,868,902. The 1989 season opened May 29 (school performances and previews guess will receive a prize. To date we have collected 63,890 lbs. Early in 1990, we hope to be able to collect plastics and take part in a composting program for leaves. Also in Recycling Week, we will be switching to a see through blue tinted bag to allow for more privacy and better visability in the snow as winter will soon be upon us. Please use up your supply of clear bags first and then the blue bags will be available free of charge at the Municipal office as long as the supply lasts. Then the bags will be available at local retailers. Thank you for your excellent participation in the Brussels Recycling Program and we look forward to continued success. Also please take a few minutes to fill out the survey and return it to the Municipal Office. DONNA WHITE DEPUTY CLERK VILLAGE OF BRUSSELS. one loss - one tie is a credit to the Brussels club. As well the Bulls have an excellent 4-1-1 record on home ice scoring 46 goals and holding the opposition to under three goals per game. Although outscored on the road they have compiled a 3-2-1 record and in an offensive league the Bulls goaltenders have an excellent 4.25 average. If the Bulls present pace was maintained they will finish second in goals scored, powerplay goals and goaltending average and first in shorthanded goals. As the saying goes we should Accentuate The Positive. Hugh Nichol Brussels. teachers have done irreparable damage to their profession. There are many fine teachers, but for those who allowed the strike to happen, the word dedication does not belong on their qualifications. Do we live in Canada that 110,000 students can be held hostage? Ruth Jardin Auburn. began May 6). There were 14 productions (with a total of 526 performances) presented in Strat­ ford’s three theatres. Goderich lights up Friday Goderich’s Square takes on a festive flare, Friday evening, Nov­ ember 24 at 7 p.m. when thousands of twinkling lights come to life in the trees in Court House Park. Besides the tree lighting cere­ mony, Santa will be in town to visit and the ever popular low level fireworks display is on deck once again, under the supervision of Chief King. The program starts at 6:45 with a carol singing performance by Robertson Public School’s Grade 3 - 5 Choir. Presentations will also be made to the Christmas Contest Winners.