In L2 Everything is Exciting

Izq = izquierdo, Der = derecho
Spanish for: left and right
While living abroad and acquiring another language it is absolutely necessary to become infatuated with the language and culture being learned.  It will likely be a result of your interest as opposed to an active decision to become enamored.  You can't help it, you just fall in love.

When living in Chile I became fond of a store called Casa & Ideas, which carried many common household goods, such as Bed Bath and Beyond, but with a bit less of the bath and bed, and more of the 'beyond'.

I purchased these slippers, having abbreviations of the words 'izquierdo' and 'derecho', both adjectives following the word 'pie', such as pie izquierdo and pie derecho, meaning 'left foot' and 'right foot' in Spanish.  This was the coolest thing to me since I was in love with Spanish, so I bought them immediately.

An interesting fact about the word 'izquierdo/a' is that it has its origins in Basque, or Euskera, the language of the Basque people in Northern Spain.  What's really great about this language is that it is a language isolate, which is a fancy way of saying 'Where does it come from? We do not know.'  It is broken down as follows, esku (hand, From Basque) and kerros (Celtic word, meaning 'twisted').  The left hand has long since been the 'worthless hand' and been associated with all sorts of bad; not surprising considering that 'derecho' in Spanish also means 'right, or correct'.  Apparently the Latin words for 'right' and 'left' are 'dexter' and 'sinister', which are passed down to us in the roots 'skillful' and 'evil'.

Learning words in foreign languages can be fun and buying simple things--such as slippers--can make it even more exciting.

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Comments

  1. Andy do you remember the white board we had in the kitchen and you would correct my spelling and sometimes add the grammar rule I was breaking. You bastard, but that's why I love you. Cheers, Skylor

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  2. Oh, Skylor! Those were the good old days... Back when I was an authority on the Spanish language... I haven't been speaking it regularly for a while now, perhaps 3-4 years so I'm a bit rusty... Sure I can kick it like old times but I haven't been 're-immersed' since I left Chile. I really need to spend a while in Latin America again...

    Thanks for not hating me forever for that... That would suck if you did, then I would always feel bad about being a grammar nazi. Now I can look back and feel like I made a difference :) hahahahaha

    You're the man, Skylor!

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