The course taught me the phonetic alphabet! The phonetic alphabet has 2 perks: 1. only cool people learn it and 2. if you know this alphabet you can read and pronounce any language in the world! Unfortunately, I cannot lecture about it today. Who do you think I am, a fabulously dress, well-read English professor, whom I had a slight crush on (more so on the vocabulary words he used), but had no chance with, because he preferred other fabulously dress, well-read English professors.. ?
After we learned the phonetic alphabet, we dove into the history of the English language and where it originated from. This was my favorite part of the course. The following are words and where they originated:
Let's explore some Halloween words to be festive.
1. Ghost: From the Old English word "gast" meaning soul, spirit, life, breath. Also from the Old English word "gaestan" meaning to frighten.
Modern Example: The ghost was very spooky.
2. Witch: From the Old English word "wicce" meaning female magician, sorceress, and in later use especially known as a woman supposed to have dealings with the devil or evil spirits and to be able by their cooperation to perform supernatural acts.The Old English verb "wiccian" means to practice witchcraft.
Modern Example: The child dressed up as a witch.
3. Pumpkin: From Latin word "peponem" meaning melon. From the Greek word "pepon" meaning melon. "Pumpkin pie" is recorded from 1650.
Modern Example: We carved pumpkins on Halloween.
4. Halloween: From the Scottish word "Allhallow-even" meaning eve of all saints, last night of October. The last night of October, in the Old Celtic Calendar, is known as "Old Year's Night"- a night for witches.
Modern example: I hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!
references:
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