Arts
The Origins of Terms and Phrases
There are terms and phrases which remain in use today, despite the fact they were coined many years or many centuries ago. In some cases it is quite remarkable that they have survived and stand [more…]
Language
Culture
An English to English Dictionary
I have long wondered if a dictionary existed that translates the bastardised version of the English language used in America to our original version. That bloke Webster has a lot to answer for, compiling his [more…]
Arts
A Taster Lesson in Italian
I am trying to learn Italian. Mia Nonna was Italian from Florence and I am going to the Italian Riviera for my main holiday this June. I can make a reasonable fist of reading simple [more…]
15th Century
Crom’s Deep Dive: Richard III, Act 1 Scene 1
A small confession: my first introduction to this opening soliloquy was as a child on a Saturday afternoon from none other than Arnold Judas Rimmer in Red Dwarf. He and Lister are marooned and, to [more…]
Arts
Macbeth Act 1 Scene 1
Welcome to the second of Crom’s Deep Dives. I was touched by some of your comments on the first of this series and found they motivated me to find the time to commence this second [more…]
Arts
Crom’s Deep Dive: Richard II, Act 3 Scene 2
“Let’s talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs” The first in this series of Deep Dives will look at the language and linguistic devices employed in Act 3, Scene 2 of Shakespeare’s Richard II. First, [more…]
Literature
Language today! Progress? No!
I do not know about you all but I am disgusted daily at what passes as normal and correct language. Swear words are the normal. I understand having been many years military and law enforcement [more…]
Arts
Sorrows of a Language Lover
The purpose of language is communication. Anything which muddies the language is the enemy of communication, and something which deliberately obscures the meaning of the words is the work of the Devil. I want to [more…]
Arts
Confessions of a Language Lover
“Grammar Nazi”: the words spit out at me from the screen. Because the paucity of the allusion profoundly depresses me, I have decided to spare the complainants personal embarrassment by no longer highlighting their individual [more…]