What's the link?

In an Indian curry restaurant in Japan,
An Indian movie is displayed on a screen like BGM.
Its subtitle seemed like Italian, but not.
It was Roemanian.
What's the link between Indian movies and Roemanian ?

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Italin 5 week boot camp Part 2: Result

I started "Italian 5 week boot camp　Part 2"
on October 29th, with rather relaxed attitude.
Why it took two months for 5 week training ?
Because I took a break for a while.

Although I have not finished two text books,
nor spent 10 hours per week,
which were my targets at first,
I am amazed what during 5 weeks I have made.

I read "Vocabolarietto Italiano" to page 90.
Now I am thinking of reading the entire book (to page 210).
And I am also thinking of taking an exam for a diploma.

In short, I am quite satisfied with the fruits.


--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 35 look-alike

Something Italian language has which English does not is "gender".
There is a wide variety of conjugations of nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

As a result, completely different words sometimes look alike each other.
For example,  like this.

Here is another look-alike:
faccia (face, noun); and
faccia (do, verb, conjunctive, first/second/third person, singular, present form).

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 31 Iron Road

Italian:  "ferrovia"
ferri=iron, via=road

Japanese: 鉄道
鉄=iron, 道=road

Korean: 철도
철=iron , 도=road

Chinese：铁路
铁=iron, 路=road　

French：chemin de fer  
chemin=path, fer = iron

Spanish：ferrocarril
carril=path, (ferro) = iron

German：Eisenbahn
Eisen=iron, Bahn=road

<wallflowers, or going my wayers>

English: railroad

Dutch: spoorweg
spoor=trace, weg=road

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 22: The champion of monsters

Dutch: monster

Of course, it also means "monster"

Italian: campione
Of course, it also means "champion"

Japanese: 見本、試供品、サンプル

English: sample

Well, English and Japanese seem boresome.

Italian time last week：6.5 hours.
Maybe I am too relaxed ?

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 19 At a check out counter in a supermarket Vol. 3

At a check out counter in a supermarket
I realized that I had not brought a discount coupon


Then I suddenly recalled when I was an elementary school pupil,
almost all of the teachers at the school were strongly against the introduction of English language classes for us.


I have totally no idea what made me recall that.


At a check out counter in a supermarket Vol. 2

At a check out counter in a supermarket Vol. 1

Italian time yesterday and today: about one hour each in a train and a bus.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 17 in a supermarket

When I went to Rome,

in a supermarket in Termini station,

a young man at a check out counter said,

"Annyonhaseyo"  (hello in Korean)

So I said

"Annyonhaseyo, Konnichiwa"

Then he switched to Japanese and started talking.

Well, I was impressed.


Italian time yesterday and today: about  one hour each in a train and a bus.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 15 poco a poco

Suddenly, I realized I have just three weeks to go
by the end of this year.

So I decided to restart the 5-week Italian boot camp,
poco-a-poco.

Italian time today 1 hour in a train and a bus.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 14 two weeks in un attimo

(11th Nov 2012)
Japanese:あっという間 "Attoiuma" (instantly)

Doesn't it sound like...

Italian:attimo (moment) ?


Italian time this week 2 hours.
Oh-oh.
Well, I am going to take a break for a while.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Crazy pizza

pizza (pizza)

Does't it sound like...

piazza (square)   ?

Does't it sound like...

pazza (crazy) ?


--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Bitter Love

According to Google translate,

"zucchine amare " (Italian) means

"love zucchini"

lol...

Of course

"amare" means "to love"

though it also means "bitter."


--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 3 : Targets

ITALIAN 5 WEEK BOOT CAMP DAY 3

Here are my targets for next five weeks.

Achieving a level where I can easily read "Cuore"
with parallel translation.
I bought "Cuore" several months ago.
Even with paginal translation, I still do not feel
like to read the book with pleasure.

More specifically, I would like to
(1) complete a text book
(2) complete another text book
(3) read through  2200 basic words
(4) spend 10 h/w for Italian.

Let's see how it is going.

Italian time today 1 hour. .
Italian time yesterday 30 min.
--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Italian 5 week boot camp Part 2

I just decided casually to start
Italian 5 week boot camp again.
Last time, I can not say it was very successful.
So this time, I start with more relaxed attitude.

Unit 1, indefinite and definite Articles. Easy.
Italian time today: 1.5 hour

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

StrengthFinder

I went to a bookstore to buy a Korean book.
But I felt no chemistry.
So I bought the one I had been curious but had not had.
"Now, discover your strength"
And I have tried the strength test.
Here is the result.

Strategic
Learner
Relator
Input
Intellection

"Learner" and "Input" are understandable.
That is why I am a language collector.
What startled me totally is
"Strategic"
I don't remember having answered such a question.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Makilena

I was waiting a bus when I smelled something burned,
 which reminded me of my grand mother's house.
It was a small house made of wood.
 A bathroom was separated from the main house.
 There were a lot of knot holes on the wall of the bathroom.
My grandmother used to boil water for the bath by burning firewood.

 Japanese 薪 "Maki"

 Chinese 柴火　　"柴" in Japanese means somewhat thinner firewood

 Korean 장작

 English Firewood　

 Dutch brandhout　　brand = fire, hout = wood

 Africaans vuurmaakhout　vuur = fire, maak = make, hout = wood

 German Brennholz　　This looks like Dutch "brandhout".

 French bois de chauffage bois = wood, chauffage = hot

 Spanish lena

 Now, Maki (Japanse) + Lena (Spanish) = Makilena (Turkish)
although Makilena does not mean fire wood...

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Different ATM

From Linate airport to Milano central station,
I took what Japanese call "limousine," which is actually a shuttle bus.

Usually they sell bus tickets at a kiosk (tabacchi)
But a tabacchi in the airport closed already.

Conveniently, I found an automated ticket-vending machine.
But a man passing by told me that I had to buy a bus ticket directly
from the bus driver and he showed also me the bus to take.
So I went to the bus and offered 5 Euro to the driver.

 The driver did not receive my 5 Euro and explained something passionately.
I caught the word "ATM" and guesed that I had to buy a
ticket at the automated ticket-vending machine.
O.K.
I went back to the vending machine and bought a 5 Euro ticket.

When I came back to the bus with a ticket in my hand,
the driver smiled first But then he waggled his head.
He again explained something passionately to me, pointing a logo "ATM"
on his polo shirt.

I understood.

There are two bus companies running a shuttle bus between the airport and 

the central station,
The man worked for "ATM" but I had bought a ticket of the other company.

Oh Oh. 

OK. he said, and gave me a lift to the station.

Grazie mille !

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.



Brava!

I was shopping in a supermarket in Rome Termini station.
At a check out counter, I took my items from the basket and put them on a conveyor belt.
I tried to put my empty basket on the stack of empty baskets underneath the counter.
But I couldn't make it because the shape of my basket is different from the one on the top of the stack and there was not enough space.

So I just sorted out the stack of basket  re-stacked them, and put my basket on the top of it, successfully.
Done!

Then..

"Brava!"
A cute old woman waiting on the line behind me clapped her hands.
"Brava" is the feminine form of "Bravo."

It is nothing really... I thought for a moment.
But it made me flattered and happy.

"Grazie mille." (Thanks very much)

Oh I love this cheerfulness and friendliness of Italian people.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

A vest for swimming

I took KLM and found out that they call a life vest "zwemvest."

There is no such thing as a heroic resolution,　but just a vest for swimming.

In other languages,,,

Japanese 救命胴衣　vest for saving life

Chinese　救生衣　cloth for saving life

Korean　구명 조끼　vest for saving life

Italian　　"salvagente"
"Salvare" is "to save."

Spanish　"chaleco salvavidas"　 vest for saving life

French　　"gilet de sauvetage" vest for saving life

Well, then only in Dutch..?

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 35 completed !

ITALIAN 5 WEEK BOOT CAMP DAY 35 completed.

(25 July)
The last week has brought me many to-do’s and passed like a rabbit.

I bought two Italian books though.

(1)  "Vocabolarietto italiano"

I had borrowed this green book at a library.

Then I found one in a bookstore and I thought it is worth having my own.


(2)   Giorgio Vasari "GIOTTO, BRUNELLESCHI"


Italian time in 5th week about 7.5 hour.

Actually, I have not achieved any one of the targets I declared.

Maybe, may plan was too optimistic...

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 28 four weeks completed

ITALIAN 5 WEEK BOOT CAMP DAY 28 (yesterday)

Here is What I did this (last) week.

Passive voice, imperative form, gerondif.

There is a dialogue between mamma and her son in a text book.
I felt like.. perhaps, my son thinks I am a snappy mamma.

"Vocabolarietto italiano" (Book)
I have read 27 pages of 220 pages so far.
I am not trying to memorize word by word but keep reading example sentences.
It may be a good way to get used to Italian.

Italian time today: 1.5 hour
Italian time the day before yesterday: 2 h

Italian time this week 12h.  It is a half of the target 25 h/w.

I had a lot to do and was less active in learning.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 24 hot and cold

ITALIAN 5 WEEK BOOT CAMP DAY 24

In English, "cold" means low temperature or sometimes "please hug me."

In Italian, "caldo" means hot.

Italian time today, yesterday, the day before yesterday:
Because of one thing or another.... only during commuting time 1.5h each.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 21 three weeks completed

ITALIAN 5 WEEK BOOT CAMP DAY 21

Here is What I did this week.

"Studiamo con Veronica" (Book and CD)

Second round completed.
I went through exercises as well this time.
I feel like I am getting used to verb conjugation.

"Vocabolarietto italiano" (Book)
I read 18 pages of 220 pages.

Italian time today: 3.5 hours.
Italian time today: 3 hours.

Italian time this week 18 h 40 min.
It is not bad although my first target was 25 h/w.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 19 thou and he

ITALIAN 5 WEEK BOOT CAMP DAY 19


I have read "Cuore" Italian-Japanese paginal translation version.


Back and Forth, slowly.


Then I wonder what "egli" is...


Although the book explains words and phrases in detail in notes, no explanation for "egli"


It turned out that "egli" means "he" (written language)


"Cuore" was first published in 1886. Of course, it is a masterpiece.

I wish I could have Italian-Japanese paginal translation of some newer novels though.

Apparently, publishing such books is not profitable considering the number of people who buy them.

That reminds me:
some two decades ago I was reading an old English book and wondered what "thou" was.

Answer : "thou" means you.


Italian time today: 2.5 hours.
0 min in the morning, 1.5 h in a train and bus, and 1h in the evening.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 18 please eat a lot

ITALIAN 5 WEEK BOOT CAMP DAY 18

"Tanto" means "a lot of" or "very much" in Italian.

In Japanese too, 　「たんと」　[tanto]　means "a lot "

「たんとお食べ」　[tanto otabe] means "please eat a lot."

It may be "Mangia tanto" in Italian ?

"tanto" in Italian changes like: tanto, tanta, tanti, tante.

But たんと [tanto] in Japanese does not.

Italian time today: 2 hours !

0 min in the morning, 30 min in a train and bus, and 1.5 h in the evening.

Italian time yesterday: 2 hour.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

giorno 16 staccato

IITALIAN 5 WEEK BOOT CAMP DAY 16


Poor "c."
It is skipped sometimes in Italian.
For example...

doctor  ->  dottore

in fact  ->  infatti　

perfect  ->  perfetto

product  ->  prodotto

October  ->  ottobre

architect  ->  architetto

This staccato rhythm sounds really Italianish!
The word "staccato" is also from Italian.

Italian time today: 2 hours 10 min.  A little bit tired.
20 min in the morning, 50 min in train and bus, and 1h in the evening.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Giorno 15 Almost impossible

ITALIAN 5 WEEK BOOT CAMP DAY 15

Yesterday, I wrote I was going to

read three times  2200 basic words.

I know it is almost impossible now.

the basic 2200 words book have 220 pages and
I have spent 90 min reading 10 pages of the book.

Well... OK.

Then I am going to read through 2200 basic words (once).


Italian time today: 3 hours !
20 min in the morning, 1.5 h in a train and bus, and 1h 10min in the evening.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Italian 5 week boot camp

I concentrate on studying Italian right now.
I have done so these two weeks and now

 - I got used to Italian pronunciation and accent.
 - I have over-viewed Italian grammar for beginners.

Well, not bad so far.

I bought four books and borrowed also four books from a library, of which I used mainly three books.
My favorite one is  "Studiamo con Veronica"  with CD.
(Sorry for most of you reading this blog, but this book is in Japanese)

Here are my  targets for next three weeks.

- spend 25 h/w for Italian.  it will be possible if I utilize commuting time.
- read three times  2200 basic words
- output!  I am thinking of taking a private lesson.

Let's see how it is going.


--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Tempura

"Tempura" 　天ぷら ／天麩羅　is of course, a Japanese dish.

"Tempura no" in Japanese means "of Tempura."

"Tempura na" in Japanese sounds like "Tempra-ish" though grammatically not correct.

Every time I hear "temprano/temprana" in Spanish, which means "early,"

I cannot help thinking of Tempura 天ぷら

As you may know, "temprano" is for a masculine noun and

"temprana" is for a feminine noun in Spanish.

A noun that ends with "o" is almost masculine in Spanish.

A noun that ends with "a" is almost feminine in Spanish.

Isn't it easy to understand ?

You cannot spot Dutch "de" words (masculine/feminine nouns) and

"het" words (neuter nouns) so easily.

What I do is to treat every unknown words as masculine.

Then I will get better odds than 50 %.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

My Kindle was broken

My Kindle was broken... by a traffic accident.  Sad.

I am OK, partly thanks to my Kindle, which was in a bag that is hit by a car directly.

Actually, lower half of the screen is OK.

But you can not scroll a page with a Kindle, can you??

When I bought the kindle, My son was immersed in Harry Potter.

And so did I.

And I thought it might be fun reading Harry Potter in English.

And with a Kindle, I might enjoy reading Harry Potter in a commuter train.

So I bought the Kindle.

Then I realized that they do not sell a Harry Potter e-book.

Pity.

Anyway, I enjoyed reading Steve Jobs and other books in a commuter train.

And now I am sure I need another one.

How about these characters?

There exist no "f" sound in Korean.

For imported words, "f" is represented by "p"

For example, "waffle" becomes "wapple."

I think this sounds cute.

However, sometimes it is inconvenient.

Korean characters consist of a consonant part(s) and a vowel part.

For example, like this.

카 [ka], 키 [ki], 쿠 [ku], 캐 [ke], 코 [ko]

If you reverse left and right of the consonant "ㅋ",

It look like "F", isn't it?

Then [fa, fi, fu, fe, fo] sounds can be written like this.

In Japanese, a character ヴ [v] is used only for imported words.

In Italian, letters j, k, w, x, y are used only for imported words.

May be it is high time to introduce a new character representing "f" in Korean.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Doing dishes may be dangerous

From a bus heading to a jungle for a tour when I visited the Borneo island,

I noticed  traffic signs saying "afwas" from time to time.

The signal was red and it was obvious that it meant "dangerous."

Still, every time I saw the sign, I was not able to stop thinking of  doing dishes
like Pavlof'v dogs.

"afwas" in dutch means doing washes.

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

I don't want to say I am busy

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Tons of work to do.
Actually, I feel like I cannot afford to spend my time writing a blog entry.

Japanese : 忙しい　[isogashii]
I don't like this Kanji character, which means "no spirit".

Chinese ： 忙碌 [mánglù]

Korean： 바빠 [pappa] Sounds cute.

Dutch： druk

English： busy

Afrikaans ： busy
This does not sounds like Dutch but sounds like English.

French： occupé

Spanish and Portuguese ： ocupado

Italian : occupato

Vietnamese：bận rộn
This one really sounds like busy.

cha cha cha cha

The Cha-cha-cha is of course the name of a cheerful dance.

In Japanese, チャチャチャ　[cha cha cha] sometimes represents
sound of hand claps for example when encouraging a favorite player.

In Korean, 자자 자자 [ cha cha, cha cha ] means
"Let's go to bed, Let's go to bed."

If you pronounce it more plosively,
찾자　찾자 [ cha cha, cha cha ] means
"Let's make a search, Let's make a search."

(J120326)
--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Pierre de Fermat

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Fermat's Last Theorem is so simple.

There exist no X, Y, Z satisfying
X^ｎ＋Y^ｎ＝Z^ｎ
for natural number n more than 2.

But the proof had not been provided for almost 360 years.

Mathematics was his hobby.

He made his living by working as a lawyer.

He also enjoyed literature and languages  in his spare time.

He was proficient especially in French, Greece, Latin,

Spanish, and Italian.



--ref
PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS J. Tabak

pastel

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

Of course, pastel is a stick or crayon with soft gentle color.

In English, French, Dutch, Vietnamese, ... it is pastel.

And also in other languages,

Italian: pastello

Japanese: パステル　[Pasuteru]

Korean: 파스텔 [pastel]


However, in Spanish, "pastel" means a cake.

In Brazil, "pastel" means a deep fried pastry with filling in it.

Yum-yum.

Yes/No

--To read this post in Japanese, click here.

In Korean, "네" [ne] means Yes.

In Dutch, "Nee" [nei] means No.

When I first started learning Korean
after having lived in the NL for a while,
saying "네" [ne] when I meant yes was extremely difficult.

In Korean, "예" [je] also means Yes.

This may be easier for English speakers
since it sounds like English "Yes."


English:  yes/no

Japanese:  はい　(hai) /いいえ (iie)

Korean:  네 (ne)/아니오 (anyo)

Chinese:  是 (shi)/不是 (bushi)

French：  oui/non

Spanish：   sí/no

Italian:   sì/no

German：  ja/nein

Dutch:  ja/nee

Russion:  да/нет