mb palaver

MusicPalaver: Blurred LInes -- Il Tormentone Estivo di 2013?

 

I learned a phrase in Italian class a few months ago that I think of whenever I hear Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" on the radio.  "Tormentone estivo" literally means something like "big summer tormenter," but refers to catchy, blockbuster songs that burrow into your ears at the beginning of summer and hang on like grim death.  ("Call Me Maybe" anyone?)  The concept started in the '60s, and it's enough of a thing in Italian culture that La Repubblica ran a story last year called "Quarant'anni [40 years] di Tormentoni," listing (and seeking votes on) the songs meriting this title from 1972 to 2012.  The article talks about how these songs get so associated with the summer they were big that they always call to mind a story, love, friendship, or memory from that summer.  I don't know many Italian pop songs, but I randomly clicked on a link to one of the songs, "Tre Parole" by Valeria Rossi, and I recognized the song right off -- I guess that just shows how ubiquitous it was (though, to be fair, it was the 2001 entry, and I did go to Italy around Memorial Day that year so, needless to say, it gives me the warm fuzzies).  Here's a G-rated version of "Blurred Lines."  My apologies if it torments you for the rest of the day (or summer).

[Photo from La Repubblica.]

 

 

 

LanguagePalaver: Schadenfreude

The palaver word of the day, and one of my favorite expressions in another language (German, in this case) with no good English equivalent, is "schadenfreude":

shäd'n-froi'də

n.  Pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others

This is not the delight taken by freakish sadists when bad things happen to good people (cue devilish finger-drumming), but rather the natural and common, albeit not exactly laudable, satisfaction of seeing bad, self-righteous, or simply over-exposed people getting their comeuppance.

Here's an example, from the Simpsons episode in which Homer is gloating because Ned Flanders' Leftorium is going out of business:

Lisa:  Dad, do you know what Schadenfreude is?

Homer:  No, I do not know what shaden-frawde is.  Please tell me, because I'm dying to know.

Lisa:  It's a German term for `shameful joy,’ taking pleasure in the suffering of others.

Homer:  Oh, come on Lisa. I'm just glad to see him fall flat on his butt!  He's usually all happy and comfortable, and surrounded by loved ones, and it makes me feel... What's the opposite of that shameful joy thing of yours?

Lisa:  Sour grapes.

Homer: Boy, those Germans have a word for everything!

LanguagePalaver: Why Didn't I Think of That?

You know when someone says something obnoxious and the perfect comeback hits you too late?  The French have an expression for that:  l'esprit d'escalier.  Wikipedia defines it this way:

L'esprit d'escalier (literally, stairway wit) is a French term that describes the predicament of thinking of the right comeback too late. Originally a witticism of Denis Diderot, the French encyclopedist, in his Paradoxe sur le Comédien.

The phrase can be used to describe a riposte to an insult, or any witty, clever remark that comes to mind too late to be useful—when one is on the "staircase" leaving the scene.

This expression dates from a time when the word esprit, which now means "spirit" or "mind", meant more commonly "wit" (though mot d'esprit still means "witticism").

I prefer the definition in my old college French dictionary (defining "avoir l'esprit d'escalier"):  "to be slow on the repartee."  I love the fact that Wikipedia refers to "The Comeback" episode of "Seinfeld:  "the jerk store called and they're running out of you."

LanguagePalaver: Italian, Family-Style

Want your bambini speaking Italiano?  Casa Italiana's fall classes start this week.  In addition to its roster of adult language, literature, cooking, wine, and ceramics classes, it offers two options for children.

"Italian for Children" is a fifteen week course beginning September 16.  It is aimed at children 3 to 13 years old, and classes are formed according to age and linguistic ability.  Classes are held on Sunday mornings, from 9:30 to noon.

"Fun with Italian -- Mommy and Me" is a chance for parents to give their really wee ones (18 months to 3 1/2 years) some exposure to the Italian language.  The description says:

Learn basic vocabulary, simple phrases, colors and numbers through hands-on activities in this action-packed class. Sing. dance and play "in italiano."  (Prior Italian experience is not necessary in this child and parent class.)

Mommy and Me will be held from October 1 to 24.  The schedule says it will be held "Mon, Wed, Fri 10:00 - 11:45."  I'm not sure whether that means you pick one, or you can go to all three.  Given that it costs $165, I'm guessing the latter.

You can find more information about the school at my prior post about Casa Italiana and other DC language schools.

Casa Italiana
595 1/2 Third Street, NW
Washington, DC  20001
(202) 638-1348
[email protected]

LanguagePalaver: What's All the Palaver About?

I thought everyone knew the word palaver.  It turns out hardly anyone does.  MysteryWriter and NorthernOutlaw.  My friend Nettie's husband.  My physical therapist.

Pudding Man urged me not to use the word in my blog name, saying that it would mock him for not knowing what it meant.  Julie chimed in that she'd seen it used twice in the current New Yorker.  Pudding Man said that proved his point.

Answers.com includes the following uses as a noun:

• idle chatter
• talk intended to charm or beguile
• incessant and usually inconsequential talk
• flattery intended to persuade
• loud and confused and empty talk

and as a verb:

• to flatter or cajole
• to talk volubly, persistently, and usually inconsequentially
• speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
• influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
• have a lengthy discussion, usually between people of different backgrounds

with the following synomyms:

babble, blab, blabber, chat, chatter, chitchat, jabber, prate, prattle, small talk. gab, gas, yak, clack, rattle (on), run on, go on, spiel, run off at the mouth, shoot the breeze/bull, blandishment, cajolery, hot air, empty words, empty talk, rhetoric, chatter, piffle, tittle-tattle, twaddle, maunder, gibber, tattle, gabble, wheedle, cajole, blarney, coax, sweet-talk, inveigle.

It's from the Portuguese word palavra, speech, alteration of Late Latin parabola, speech, parable.

It's a great word.  I think the first time I came across it was in James Joyce’s story, "The Dead":

"Tell me. Lily," he said in a friendly tone, "do you still go to school?"

"O no, sir," she answered. "I'm done schooling this year and more."

"O, then," said Gabriel gaily, "I suppose we'll be going to your wedding one of these fine days with your young man, eh? "

The girl glanced back at him over her shoulder and said with great bitterness:

"The men that is now is only all palaver and what they can get out of you."

Gabriel coloured, as if he felt he had made a mistake and, without looking at her, kicked off his goloshes and flicked actively with his muffler at his patent-leather shoes.

(This reminds me of when I saw the musical version of "The Dead" at the Kennedy Center several years ago. On the way out I overheard a woman saying to her husband "well, that was an odd little thing to make a play out of.")

The reason that the palaver line stuck with me was that it appeared as the epigraph to Part I of Brenda Maddox's 1988 biography of Joyce's wife Nora.  (I just pulled the book off my shelf to make sure I didn't make that up and found the following line underlined:  "Ironically, it may have been Nora's singularly pleasing disposition and humor (traits common in second children) that marked her out for fostering."  I'm a second child.  No wonder I liked that book so much.)

What was I talking about?  Anyway, I realize I just made Pudding Man's point for him several times over.  I still think palaver is a great word, and an apt description of this post.

Plus, Egbert offered to stand on a street corner holding a sign reading "What's All the Palaver about MB Palaver?"

What's not to like?

LanguagePalaver: Speaking in Tongues

If you made a new year's resolution to learn a language, this is a good time to do it -- adult education classes often start new terms in January.  Here are some schools around the DC area that offer courses in foreign languages.  I've only listed ones I have experience with (except for the elusive Language One), though there are other universities and specific language schools in the area.   Let me know if you know of other good options here in DC, or would like to recommend schools in other cities.

Casa Italiana Language School
Casa Italiana's new term starts this Monday, January 8.  Although you can take Italian classes at general education schools (discussed below), there's a lot to be said for studying it here, where the entire focus of the organization is on Italian language and culture.  In addition to language courses, Casa Italiana offers courses in cooking, Italian ceramics, mosaics, and film.  (The cooking classes are taught by chefs of well-respected DC restaurants and usually are participatory and include a sit-down dinner at the end; they're also a good value compared with other cooking classes in the region.)

Casa Italiana school is located a short walk from the Judiciary Square metro station in what used to be DC's Italian neighborhood.  The school is associated with Holy Rosary Church, next door, which was established to serve Washington's Italian immigrant community, and still offers one Mass in Italian every Sunday at 10:30 a.m.  (The language school does not have a religious orientation.)

As noted, Casa Italiana's language classes start next week.  The website says the registration deadline was January 6, but that you should call the school office ((202) 638-1348) for late registration.

Alliance Française de Washington
Alliance Française, located on Wyoming Avenue in Kalorama, is in the middle of its winter term, which ends in early February.  The next term runs from February 26 to April 21, and the early registration (discounted) deadline is February 13.  See their calendar for additional dates.  Alliance Française requires a placement test (as long as you're not taking a beginning level), but they now offer it online.  They also offer private lessons, immersion days, cultural events, and cooking classes (at Brasserie Les Halles).  To be kept up to date on their events, you can sign up for their email newsletter without becoming a member.

Georgetown University's School of Continuing Studies
Georgetown's online list of upcoming language courses seems skimpier than I remember it; if you're interested in taking a class there it might be wise to call or request information online.  It appears Georgetown's language classes don't start until late January at the earliest.

Graduate School USDA
Anyone outside the DC area might think it's weird to suggest taking a language class at the Department of Agriculture.  Anyone inside DC knows that the Ag Department is a big local source of continuing education classes, from languages to computers.  Classes in the evening/weekend program start the week of January 22, and registration is underway.  Browse through their entire online catalog or check out the foreign language classes here.

Language One
This townhouse on Calvert Street in Woodley Park intrigues me every time I go past, but I'm mystified by their website, which, as far as I can tell, doesn't say when classes are or how much any of their services cost.  Does anyone know anything about this place?  Front for the mob?  (All I know is they have a sign on their door right now saying they're closed for the holidays until January 8.)