Arlene Miller's Blog, page 14

Not in English!

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

In last week’s post we talked about words that do not translate into other languages, including English words that cannot be translated. Today, we talk about words in other languages that cannot be translated into English.

Loskop – Afrikaans – Literally “loose head”; absent minded, forgetful.

Besa – Albanian – A pledge to honor your word.

Samar – Arabic – Staying up late and having fun with friends.

Ya’ Aburnee – Arabic – An emotional declaration and hope that a loved one will outlive you.

Aspaldiko – Basque – The happiness you feel when catching up with someone you haven’t seen in a long time.

Ghodar-dim – Bengali – Literally “horse’s egg,” a sarcastic term for false hope.

Ailyak – Bulgarian – Doing everything calmly and without rushing, while enjoying the experience and life in general.

Re-nao – Chinese – A fun, lively place with an inviting vibe.

Litost – Czech – Torment created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery.

Arbejdsglaede – Danish – (No, I cannot pronounce it.) Literally “work happiness,” the joy you get from having a great job.

Hygge – Danish – The emotional warmth one feels when relaxing in the company of loved ones and getting cozy with blankets and candlelight (rather specific!).

Uitwaaien – Dutch – To go outside, especially in windy weather, to clear one’s mind.

Epibreren – Dutch – To give the appearance of being busy and important when in reality you are being really lazy. 

Leilviskaja – Estonian – Someone who throws water on hot rocks to make steam in a sauna (someone has to do it!).

Poronkusema – Finnish – The distance a reindeer can comfortably travel without having to stop for a potty break.

Shemomedjamo – Georgian – Describes someone who is full, but continues to eat. (Who?Me?)

Schnapsidee – German – Brilliant ideas that originate when one is intoxicated.

Tsundoku – Japanese – Hoarding books and never reading them (Who? Me?).

Gattara – Italian – A woman who has many cats and enjoys their company more than she does humans. In other words, a crazy cat lady.

Kummerspeck – (German) – Translates into “grief bacon.” Weight gained  because of excessive eating when one is depressed.

Gigil – Tagalog – A situation of overwhelming cuteness.

 

 

You’d Better Say That in English!

Image by Oli Lynch from Pixabay

Some words and phrases in the English language cannot be precisely translated into other languages. Certain words can be translated into some languages, but not others. Sometimes other languages need to use a close substitute to translate it. And other words and phrases just exist in English.

jinx – cannot be translated into Italian or Polish with a single word. The Polish language needs to use a translation for “something that brings bad luck.”awkward – has no equivalent in Italian. The closest is scomodo, meaning uncomfortable.shallow (meaning superficial) has no Italian equivalent.insight – has no direct Spanish translation.nice – is a vague word that can have a subtle range of different meanings that many other languages cannot reproduce.put – has no German equivalent. Germans use place, set, or lay for translating. off- is hard to translate into French. The translation is covered by de, but de means more of, from, or by.bully – there is no Portuguese word for bully. Maybe there are no bullies in Portugal or Brazil!fortnight – this British English term, meaning two weeks, has no translation into American English.

These words and phrases don’t have translations into any (or many) languages:

serendipity – a coincidental discovery of something beneficial.about to go down (as in Things are about to go down at Twitter today).tabling an item – office talkbandwagon – I guess you can’t get on it in other languages.cold turkeyflabbergastedsillyscroll (used as a verb)spam – something undesirable but plentiful. And yes, the word does come from that disgusting meat in a can (sorry, Hawaii). cheesy (not the pizza kind, but the “insincere” or  “of poor quality” kind).gobbledygook – the lack of translation is understandable!pimphillbillybrouhaha (a noisy big deal)facepalmbaloney (not the sandwich king, which is bologna)bamboozletrade-off

And there are probably many more!

 

English-to-English Dictionary

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Would you like a biscuit?  Or would you prefer a cookie? Well, they are the same. Those of us in America call it a cookie. The British call it a biscuit.

In addition to the our that appears in British English when we just use or (flavour/flavor, honour/honor, etc.) and the slight differences in punctuation and pronunciation, many words mean one thing in British English and another in American English.  Here is a beginner’s dictionary for English to English:

While we say counterclockwise in America, the British say anticlockwise .Our birds are flying animals, but in Britain bird is colloquial for women. Blinkers are flaps on a race horse’s face to restrict vision in England, but indicators on cars in America.We say swamp ; they say bog .A bonnet on the other side of the Atlantic is what we call the hood of a car. Candy floss isn’t very good for your teeth, as Americans call it cotton candy . We don’t use it after brushing.You wouldn’t want to be buried in a casket in English; it is a jewelry box there!If you order chips in England you will get french fries . If you go to the chemist in England, you can pick up a prescription, for it is a drugstore. Car park?  We Americans call it a parking lot.  Give that baby a dummy because we know it as a pacifier. Wipe up after that baby with a flannel , known to us as a washcloth .If you live on the first floor, in American you will be on the ground floor, but in England you will be on the floor above the ground floor.You might be disappointed if you order flapjacks in English and instead of pancakes you get a flat oatmeal snack.You rent a flat over there, but an apartment over here. If you trim your fringe o ver there, you trim your bangs over here. We come to a full stop at a stop sign (well, some of us do), but they come to a full stop at the end of a sentence.That geezer might be an old man over here, but he is a tough guy or gang member over in England.British football is American soccer .That hair slide is called a barrette over here.You might not want to talk about the big hoo-ha   because while it means an argument in British English, it is female genitalia to us.Would you like hundreds and thousands on your ice cream? Or would you prefer sprinkles ? They are the same.A jumper to us is more like a dress; to the British it is a pullover sweater. If the lift is out of order, the elevator isn’t working.Our highway or freeway is their motorway .They call it a mobile phone. We call it a cell phone .Change that baby’s nappy — in other words, diaper .Would you like to play naughts and crosses? Oh, you mean tic-tac-toe !Now that you have changed the nappy , baby is ready to take a walk in the pushchair , otherwise known as a stroller.If you are peckish, you are slightly hungry in England, but irritable or angry over here.Whether you call it petrol or gas , it is expensive these days.If you tell someone to put on their pants , the British might put on underwear , while an American will put on trousers .They say rubber; we say pencil eraser. Shag: Remember those carpets from the 70s? Well in England you can shag (colloquial for sex) on a shag.No solicitors: To the British that would mean no lawyers .In England sneakers are called trainers. Do they actually train you?We wear pantyhose, but the British wear tights. To us tights are usually thicker and colored rather than sheer.If you have a big wardrobe, you have a large collection of clothing; In England you have a place to put the clothes into, because it is a close t.In America a vest goes over your shirt. In England a vest is an undershirt.

That should get you started!

If you are one of my readers from “over there,” just reverse everything! LOL

 

Why I Go to Book Fairs

I have been writing and publishing books since 2010, and I have gone to a number of book fairs during that time. What is a book fair? I use the term pretty liberally in this post, but generally it is an event where a variety of authors buy tents with tables and bring books and swag in an attempt to make some sales and make their presences known.

I have been a vendor at the San Francisco Writers Conference, attended the now defunct Sonoma County Book Festival a couple of times, bought space at the Sonoma County Fair section for my writing club, was invited to an author day at the local library, and attended one or two other book fairs in California. Shortly after my move to Florida in 2019, the pandemic happened, which put a stop to most such events. My first foray in Florida was the Venice Book Festival, which I attended both in 2022 and again this year. 

So we pack a rolling suitcase (or wagon or some sort) and schlep some books, bookmarks, business cards, signs, and other paraphernalia (don’t forget some cash to make change and some way to take credit cards) in the hopes of selling books and making friends and connections. Some of us try to lure people to our tables by providing candy, pens and other giveaways. 

Several hours later, we pack up our books – a lot fewer than we came with, we hope – and drag everything back home. For me personally, it is a lot easier to stay home and let Amazon sell my books – they do a whole lot better than I! 

I have the following personal perceptions about book fairs:

I think it is easier to sell grammar books on Amazon than at a book fair. I mean, do you go to a book festival on a nice sunny day to buy a grammar book? I would think people might be more intrigued by a fantasy, thriller, children’s book, or interesting travel story for an impulse buy. That said, I don’t think anyone goes to book fairs to make a living off book sales.Book fairs are just a nice social event for authors and book lovers, especially if they are outside and the weather is nice. As a shopper or browser, you never know what you might find; as an author, you never know whom you might meet.Which leads me to book fairs as networking and marketing events. Authors give out bookmarks and business cards in hopes of future sales. They meet other authors and perhaps trade books. You talk to some interesting people.It doesn’t seem to matter whether you go all out or do a low-key kind of thing. At least it has not mattered for me. Some people have fancy roll-up signs and T- shirts and stuffed animals and banners. I have never had a roll-up sign, and for this recent book fair in Venice, Florida, I did it as low-key as I could — especially since I was out late at a concert the night before, and Venice is an hour away from where I live. I do have a tablecloth (as they are not generally provided) and a table runner with my name and logo. I brought only a few bookstands (you can always just pile the books up) and not even all my titles. I did bring bookmarks and business cards — and  a grammar quiz for those interested. I tried not to bring too many books, but I would bet every author has the fear they will sell out before the end of the fair — heaven forbid — which has never happened to me and probably hasn’t happened to too many authors.I usually sell 10 or 12 books, which is pretty good. I did not do too well at the San Francisco Writers Conference because the people there were all authors – and authors tend to think they don’t need a grammar book.

I really must compliment the planners of the Venice Book Fair, particularly this year. They had high school students helping the authors bring their books from the car to the tent. And this year, those kids were so helpful and always coming by to see if we needed anything. There is plentiful and easy parking.  There were four or five food trucks with breakfast, lunch, coffee, ice cream etc. And one of the food trucks sent someone around with a cart of breakfasts and then lunches and water bottles, so that authors didn’t have to leave their tables to get food. Really nicely done.

The biggest observation I made this time around: I had a particularly good spot with an aisle next to me, so I was very visible. And I noticed that everyone has something to say about grammar, good or bad. There are those who chuckle and murmur “grammar” as they walk by. I take no offense. Most of the people who come up and talk with me are wondering where grammar went and what a shame it is that they don’t teach it enough anymore. Of course, most of these people are older (most, but not all, although teenage students tend to pass me by!) and many of them are retired teachers. We commiserate for a while, and then they go on their way after I tell them I am fighting the good fight. The most common issue people talk about is the Oxford (series) comma. All ages for that one.

Then there is the occasional person who comes by and says “I think I have one of your books.”

 

 

Once in a Blue Moon

Image by Donate PayPal Me from PixabayIdiom: A type of phrase or expression that has a meaning that can’t be deciphered by defining the individual words. The word idiom is derived from the ancient Greek word idioma, which means “peculiar phraseology.”

Here are some common idioms and their derivations.

Under the weather – To feel ill

This idiom is believed to be nautical in nature. When a sailor was feeling ill, he would go beneath the bow, which is the front part of the boat. This would hopefully protect him from adverse conditions. Thus, he was literally “under the bad weather” that could make him sicker.

 Beating around the bush – To circle around the main point This common phrase is thought to have originated from  game hunting in Britain. Hunters would beat bushes in order to draw out the birds. Therefore, they were beating around the bush before getting to the main point of the hunt: capturing the birds. Spill the beans – To reveal a secret  This idiom is most likely derived from an ancient Greek voting process involving beans. People would vote by placing one of two colored beans in a vase, white typically meaning yes, and black or brown meaning no. If someone happened to spill the beans, the secret results of the election would be revealed before intended.  Chewing the fat – Idle chatter Another nautical idiom, this phrase refers to the days before refrigeration when ships carried food that wouldn’t spoil. One of these foods was salted pork skin, which consisted largely of fat. Sailors would eat it only if all other food was gone, and they often complained as they ate it. This idle chatter became known as “chewing the fat.”  Close but no cigar – You are close, but not quite there.  In the late 19th century, carnival games were targeted to adults, not kids. So instead of getting a giant teddy bear, winners might get a cigar. If they almost won but didn’t earn a prize, they’d be “close, but no cigar.” By the 1930s, the phrase extended beyond fairgrounds.  Once in a blue moon – Not occurring very often The “blue moon” is a real astronomical phenomenon, referring to the second full moon in the same month. It’s a rare occurrence—usually occurring just once every 2.7 years. Giving the cold shoulder – Ignoring someone or being unfriendly Surprisingly, this doesn’t just refer to coldly turning your back on someone. This phrase likely originated from medieval etiquette. After a feast, hosts in England would subtly signal that the meal was over (and it was time for guests to leave) by serving a cold slice of pork, mutton, or beef shoulder.  Let the cat out of the bag – Reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake In medieval markets, people used to sell piglets tied in bags for farmers to carry home. A shady dealer might swap the piglet in the sack with a less expensive animal, such as a cat. So when you let the cat out of the bag, you were exposing the con to everyone. Red herring – A clue that is meant to mislead or distract someone.

During the 17th century, hunters would train their dogs to follow the correct scent. They would do this by placing pungent smoked fish in trees to distract the dogs, so they would become used to ignoring irrelevant scents. 

 Til the cows come home – For a very long time Cows were often milked in their barns at night, making that task one of the last on a farmer’s to-do list. The expression has been around since at least the late 1500s and is likely to continue until … the cows come home. Thank you to the following websites for the information: Reader’s DigestBritannicaTCK Publishing 

What Rhymes with “Silver”? Some Word Trivia

Image by Okan AKGÜL from PixabayDID  YOU KNOW?

No words in English rhyme with month, orange, silver, or purple.

Bookkeeper is the only word in the English language that has three consecutive double letters.

The word strengths is the longest English word with only one vowel.

Skiing is the only common noun with a double i. (Hawaii is a proper noun).

Rhythms is the longest English language word  with no vowels (unless you count y as a vowel.)

Queuing is the only word in the language that has five consecutive vowels.

None of the words from one to nine hundred and ninety-nine have an a in them.

Polish is the only word in the English language that changes from a common noun or verb to a nationality when the P is capitailzed.

Uncopyrightable is the only English word with 15 letters where no letter is repeated.

The dot over the letter i is called a tittle.

The only number that has the same number of letters as the value it represents is four.

You can type the word typewriter just using the top row of the QUERTY keyboard.

Faced and decaf both use the first six letters of the alphabet without repeating any letters.

Often the last entry in the dictionary, zyzzyva is a type of weevil.

The only common language that has no governing association to make and change grammar rules is . . . English.

English Is My Second Language

It is my pleasure to present a guest post by author Esther Erman.After receiving her BA and MA in French from different divisions of Rutgers University, Esther returned there for her doctorate in language education. A multi-published author, she now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Lee. When they’re not traveling—especially to be with family in other parts of the United States and in England—she loves to bake, quilt, and add to her monumental book collection. Her latest book, available on Amazon and in bookstores, is Rebecca of Salerno: a Novel of Rogue Crusaders, a Jewish Female Physician, and a Murder ,  and her website is  EstherErman.com .

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At the ripe old age of four months, I arrived in New York with my parents. We were refugees from Germany, where I was born. We moved into a building on

Image by Dmitriy Gutarev from Pixabay

Manhattan’s Lower East Side. The main language of the streets was Yiddish, which my parents, Holocaust survivors from Poland, spoke as the main language of the house, and which they taught me. Polish was reserved for secrets.

My parents started learning English right after arrival. My father, a risk taker as a language learner, would go up to people and try out his English, not caring if he made mistakes. My mother, much more cautious, did not attempt to speak any English until she’d taken more than a year of night school classes. Neither attempted to teach me this new language. Then, when I was four, we moved to the Bronx. There I made my first conscious distinction between people—some were Yiddish speakers, some English speakers. I was in the first group, but I wanted to be in the second.

My opportunity came when I went to kindergarten. I wish I could remember anything about the learning process, but I can’t. I started kindergarten as a Yiddish speaker and ended it as an English speaker. From then on, I refused to speak Yiddish—the language my parents always spoke to me. I must have made a very strong point because they never taught my brother, born in the Bronx, Yiddish.

I loved school. I loved my first-grade class and my first-grade teacher. I was a successful student and all was good and harmonious until…. I don’t remember what prompted my teacher to ask me about something I did. Instead of answering, I responded with, “Let’s forget about it.” Back then, this was a shockingly rude thing for a previously good student to say to her beloved teacher. Beloved teacher demonstrated her shock by demanding that I stay for after-school detention.

Horror! Doom! I saw my life going down the tubes. Unpleasantly surprised that I did not come home at the usual time, my mother walked the five blocks to my school with my little brother in his stroller—a hassle for her.  I was sure that Mom would join my teacher in punishing me. My mother always sided with adults and often found her own reasons for being less than pleased with whatever I did.

But then came my turn to be shocked. When my teacher explained why I was in detention, my mother shook her head. She said I had just recently learned to speak English and obviously didn’t know the import of my words. My mother stood up for me to another adult—and such an important one! When my teacher heard this very plausible explanation, the world tilted back into balance. With a smile, she dismissed me from detention. Relieved, but mostly surprised at what my mother had said and done, I practically skipped home.

The truth was, I really did know what I was saying.

That was the only time English being my second language came up as a problem…until college. Unless exempted, freshmen were required to take a speech class. In the queue to try for a much-desired exemption, I heard that both girls ahead of me succeeded. Since they had thick New Jersey accents, I figured getting the exemption would be a piece of cake. With great confidence, I read my paragraph. The speech teacher looked at me with a slight frown. She then asked, “Where were you born?” 

When I answered, she nodded and signed me up for the speech class.

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Announcement and News:

Here is a video of an interview I did with Robert Brandwayn, The Language Coach from Colombia

If you are anywhere near Venice Florida, come down to the Venice Book Festival on Saturday, March 25! I will be there selling my books. 

I am always seeking guest posts, so if you have something relevant (to this blog, which is a pretty wide area) to say, please submit your ideas or your posts!

Upcoming Posts:

Grammar Trivia The Origin of Some Common Idioms

 

 

 

Does Everyone Have a Home Office Now? Five Tips on How to Upgrade Yours

A guest post from Amber Ramsey with an introduction by The Grammar Diva . . .Image by lumbridgecity from Pixabay

It seems as if everyone has a home office these days — even those people who don’t “work” at home. Of course, especially since the pandemic, many of us do work remotely or have a home business. But even for those who don’t technically work at home,  the home office seems to be a necessity. And if you think about it, it makes sense.  Almost everyone has some kind of computer, either a desktop, or more likely a laptop or notebook. Where are you going to put it if not in an office? And since much business is conducted by email, almost everyone has a printer. We need to print out our tax statements and other such things, as few people seem to send things by snail mail anymore. And we need a place to store paperwork (even though we like to think we are paperless). We need a quiet place to surf the internet, play Wordle, shop online. Yes, the home office is definitely important.

But this was not always the case. I watch House Hunters, and  everyone seems to want an extra bedroom, or even two, for home offices. After all,  two partners cannot share the same office!  But long before the era of House Hunters, I watched sitcoms — a long time ago. I remember that the dads in these sitcoms always had a “study.” It was a mysterious place where the kids — and even the wife — were not welcome.  It had a big wooden desk. It was usually dark. It was a place for the man of the house to read the newspaper or perhaps have a puff on the pipe or a drink. How we have evolved!

When I lived in California, I had a “home office,” since I was writing books — maybe even before I was writing books. It was at the end of my living room. I had two empty bedrooms upstairs after the kids left, but I never moved my office up there  I was comfortable at the front of the house, my office sharing the space with a piano and a living room. Actually, come to think of it, my office had a chandelier because it was supposed to be the dining area.

I am now in Florida, and things have not changed much. I have only two bedrooms, so one of them must be a office. However, I also need a guest room, so now my office has a daybed and a piano (well, a keyboard).  I “need” a third bedroom, so I have been thinking of enclosing my screened in-lanai and making it my office. Then I can probably build out a new screened- in lanai. When I pull out the daybed for guests and put the keyboard in the garage, it is still very crowded in there. 

If you have a home office and would like to make it more welcoming and make yourself more productive, her are some ideas from Amber Ramsey…

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Amber is a career woman. She’s fierce, confident, and has the “can do” attitude we all strive for. Like most of us, she started out in the corporate world, but she found that her fire, spirit, and creativity were better suited to the entrepreneurial lifestyle. Amber has been on both sides of the desk, as an employee and the boss, so she has plenty of career advice to share.

 

5 Tips on How to Upgrade Your Home Workspace on a Budget

With the growing popularity of remote work, it’s more crucial than ever to set up a dedicated workspace in the comfort of your home. Or, you might already work from home as a writer or are planning to open a home business. In that case, the following five tips presented will help you upgrade your at-home workstation to meet your needs on a budget.

Add Mood-Affirming Colors to Your Workstation

Repainting a room is a low-cost method that can make a significant impact. Before diving in, however, consider the emotional impact of the colors you choose. Brighter, more saturated colors are associated with more robust emotional responses. For instance, the color blue has a calming and friendly effect. The color green is associated with hope and growth. Using neutral colors might help you feel relaxed, but dazzling white can increase your anxiety.

Add Some Greenery to the Room

Adding some greenery to your writing workstation is a simple way to boost morale and productivity. In addition to enlivening a space with color and vibrancy, plants may be helpful in many other ways. For example, ciphr.com explains that plants around the office have been shown to provide several health benefits, including reduced stress, higher efficiency, and enhanced focus. Plants are also quite affordable, both to purchase and maintain.

Improve Your Workspace Comfort

Sitting on a low-quality chair can cause discomfort or back pain, thus reducing productivity. Instead, try to get a high-quality office chair that can be adjusted to your ideal height and offers lumbar support. Most shops have excellent options if you are on a tight budget. You can get a basic and affordable chair with an ergonomic design without sacrificing elegance for comfort and support.

If you’re on a budget, look into business acquisitions whose sale has made offices – and their furnishings – unnecessary. Sometimes the company will sell or even give away the items in their physical office space that are no longer needed. It can be a great way to get quality furniture for a fraction of the price.

Invest in Equipment That Increases Efficiency

Using a laptop for work might be inconvenient due to the limited space for typing and the inefficiency of the trackpad. However, increasing your productivity doesn’t require a brand-new, high-priced computer. Instead, look for a mouse and keyboard compatible with your laptop to transform it into a desktop computer.

If you’re experiencing slow internet speeds, CNET points out that upgrading your wireless router should help. While most internet service providers (ISPs) will hand you a modem and router, they may not provide the best speeds. Instead of paying a monthly charge to have one provided by your ISP, you may save money in the long run by purchasing your own router.

Keep Your Workspace Climate Controlled

A well-maintained climate control system is the key to a healthy, pleasant, and cost-effective indoor environment and workspace. For example, suppose your HVAC system is noisy or not maintaining the desired temperature. In that case, it may be caused by the system’s age, faulty ductwork, or malfunctioning heat sensors. First, prevent further system damage by having it serviced as soon as possible. Then, use review sites to find a reliable company to fix it for you.

How to Pay for Your Workspace Upgrade

When it comes to running a business, there are a lot of expenses that can add up quickly. From overhead costs like rent and utilities to the price of inventory and marketing materials, it’s important to keep a close eye on your bottom line. But what about the costs associated with your home office? Can you count those as business expenses?

The answer is yes! In fact, the IRS allows small business owners like freelance writers to deduct a variety of home office expenses, including the cost of furniture, equipment, and even renovations. So if you’re planning a home office upgrade, be sure to keep track of your receipts and include those costs in your business expense budget. And remember, when it comes to deducting business expenses, it’s always better to err on the side of caution. If you’re unsure whether or not an expense qualifies, it’s best to consult with a tax professional.

Of course, there are other avenues you can explore as well. For example, a cash-out refinance is a type of mortgage loan that allows you to access the equity in your home and use it for other purposes. The funds from the refinance can be used to cover the cost of new furniture, renovations, or any other expenses related to setting up your new workspace. Cash-out refinances typically have lower interest rates than personal loans or credit cards, so they can be a more cost-effective way to finance your home upgrade.

Furthermore, the tax deduction on mortgage interest can help offset the cost of the refinance. If you’re thinking about taking out a cash-out refinance to pay for a home workspace upgrade, be sure to compare offers from multiple lenders to find the best rate and terms for your needs.

Upgraded Workspaces Can Enhance Productivity

Having a comfortable and beautiful climate-controlled office is just one of many ways you can boost your productivity as a writer working from home. Take steps to make your workspace a calm, productive place to spend your day. Then, do some research to help you determine how to cover the costs. You’ll soon have a great area to call your own.

 

Image by lumbridgecity from Pixabay

“Can’t Get No Satisfaction”: Bad Grammar in Music

Image by Albrecht Fietz from Pixabay

You might have noticed the “bad” grammar in some song lyrics. Should we let it slide for the sake of art? Would the Rolling Stones song, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” suffer if the title and lyrics were “I Can’t Get Any Satisfaction”? If you say yes, it might just be that you are so used to hearing it with the double negative, that it sounds funny any other way.

My personal opinion is that sometimes the song just sounds better with the incorrect grammar. In the case of the song above, I can imagine it with any instead of no, and it sounds okay if you put any to the right notes. But even being the rather conservative grammarian that I am, I am inclined to let incorrect grammar remain in song lyrics. As I have said before, I used to write song lyrics. I don’t recall, but I may have put some incorrect grammar in — but probably not!

That said, I think most of these “grammar mistakes” are intentional because somehow they sound better.

“I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” is one of the more well-known songs with bad grammar. But there are others:

“Lay Lady Lay” – In this Bob Dylan song we have both grammar and a punctuation issues.  It should be Lie Lady Lie, but that sounds odd, and the lie could be mistaken for the other meaning of lie. I looked on the Dylan website and other online places, and it does seem as if the commas are there most of the time. It is Lay, Lady, Lay.

“I Got You (I Feel Good) “- Websites I found on the topic of grammar mistakes in lyrics said that this James Brown song should be I Feel Well. I disagree. Actually both good and well are correct. Good is actually grammatically correct: with a sensing verb such as feel (as it is being used here). we use an adjective (good), not an adverb (well). However, well is acceptable to describe a state of health, so either is fine. But I Feel Well — can you imagine James Brown singing those words?

“Hungry Eyes” – Lyrics in this Eric Carmen song include “I feel the love between you and I.”  I think this one is a real error. And you and me would sound just as good, if if not better. 

“Rich Girl” – Gwen Stefani goofs on this one with “If I Was a Rich Girl.” If is generally followed by the subjunctive mood (because it isn’t true). Fiddler on the Roof got it right with “If I Were a Rich Man.” Beyonce also got it right with “If I Were a Boy.”

“Everytime You Go Away “- Paul Young uses everytime, which isn’t  a word at all. It should be every time. Although sometime and some time are both words, and anytime and any time are both words, there is no everytime. But sometime and some time are different: Come see me sometime Do you have some time to spare? Same with anytime and any time: I am available anytime today. Do you have any time to do that?

“Ghostbusters” – Who You Gonna Call, asks Ray Parker, Jr. Do you think it would sound better as Whom You Gonna Call? I don’t think so.

“What’s Love Got to Do with It? “- Tina Turner has made the common error of saying got instead of have. (May not be her fault. I don’t know who wrote that one.) What’s love have to do with it? I don’t know. I could go either way on this one. 

“Hound Dog” – It really bothers me every time I hear Elvis say “When they said you was high class.” If she was high class, I hope she would say were!

“Bad Romance “- Lady Gaga probably knows better than to say, “You and me could write a bad romance.” But then, how many people do you know who talk like that? Lots. Of course, it should be you and I. 

“Somebody That I Used to Know” – Gotye uses that instead of who according to some websites. So they are wrong too because it should be whom. Actually that is better than who (which s wrong). It is okay to use that to refer to a person. Of course you could just leave out that entirely (someone I used to know), but that might ruin the rhythm!

“The Way I Are” – I don’t know who Timberland is. Never heard of him, but whoever wrote this song must have done this intentionally!

“Two Less Lonely People ” – Well, in this song by Air Supply, the internet says that it should be fewer rather than less. Fewer would sound a little off. AND, maybe the lyrics really mean less: less lonely (than they used to be) rather than fewer lonely people.  It’s a possibility!

“Bad” Titles

Tons of songs have incorrect grammar in their titles, many of them using ain’t. (Oh, I guess ain’t is in dictionary, but still…. and the double negatives!!!)

“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” – Diana Ross (Isn’t Any Mountain High Enough???)

“Ain’t No Sunshine” – Bill Withers (Isn’t Any Sunshine???)

“Ain’t That a Shame “- Fats Domino (Isn’t That a Shame???)

“Brown Eyed Girl” – Van Morrison (Brown-eyed Girl???)

“Don’t Ask Me No Questions” – Lynyrd Skynrd (Don’t Ask Me Any Questions???)

“Lay Down Sally” – Eric Clapton (Lie Down, Sally – sometimes the lyrics are written with the comma, which is correct)

“Me and My Shadow”  – Ted Lewis (Oh, come on: My Shadow and I??? Or even My Shadow and Me if used as an object???)

“That Don’t Impress Me Much” – Shania Twain (That Doesn’t Impress Me Much???)

“Where You At “- Jennifer Hudson (Where Are You???? Artistic license, definitely in this case.)

…and many, many more.

 

 

 

 

Remember When: Hits of the 1960s

Image by stuart hampton from Pixabay

Grammar is one of my passions, but music has also been one of my long-time passions. I believe I mentioned in last week’s post  that I began listening to music seriously in around 1960. The music of the late ’50s and most of the ’60s has remained my favorite music. And maybe because I like to dance — or perhaps because at this point most of the music I listen to is while I am driving — I prefer fast music with a good melody and a driving beat.

About a month ago Sirius XM Channel 73, music of the 1960s, played the top 1000 songs of the ’60s. The songs were voted on by listeners; it wasn’t an official top hits list or sales list by Billboard or any other such source. I didn’t vote because I didn’t know about it. Obviously, I couldn’t listen to the whole thing because it went on for about three days straight.  I did hear about half of it, and I did hear the top 50 or so, anxiously awaiting the top 10, which surprised me. 

If you happen to like music of that era, you will know these songs. I went through the Billboard Hot 100 of each year from 1960 through 1969, marking down my favorites. I was trying to get my Top 10; it was too difficult, so I have a Top 20. It consists of songs I love to listen to when I drive and songs that I think are just good!(The official Sirius XM results are at the end of this post.)

The Grammar Diva’s Top 20 songs of the ’60s: 

20. Happy-Go-Lucky Me – Paul Evans (loved it as a kid – I remember dancing to it pretending I was a “beatnik”) (1960)

19. It’s Over – Roy Orbison (1964)

18. Love Potion #9 – The Tokens (1965)

17. Get Ready Here I Come – The Tempations (1966)

16. Baby Love – The Supremes (1964)

15. Deep Purple – Nino Tempo and April Stevens (1963)

14. Bristol Stomp – The Dovells (because I won a dance contest at a temple dance doing this one) (1961)

13. Think of the Good Times – Jay and the Americans (actually, these are my guys; loved them since I was a preteen; so actually my top 20 are all their songs, but I tried to restrain myself, and this is my favorite, even though I know it isn’t their favorite) (1965)

12. Grazing in the Grass – The Friends of Distinction (and also Hugh Masekela) (1969)

11.Crazy – Patsy Cline (1961)

10. I Saw Her Standing There – The Beatles (1964)

9. Let Me In – The Sensations (1962)

8. How Do You Do It – Gerry and the Pacemakers (1964)

7. Norman – Sue Thompson (1962)

6. Easier Said Than Done – The Essex (1963)

5. Breakin’ Up Is Hard to Do – Neil Sedaka (1962)

4. Take Five – Dave Brubeck (1961)

3. Higher and Higher – Jackie Wilson (1967)

2. Runaway – Del Shannon (1961)

1  Take Good Care of My Baby – Bobby Vee (1961)

Other Favorites from the 60s: Good ones that didn’t quite make my personal top 20.

The Twist – Chubby Checker

Crying – Roy Orbinson

Who Put the Bomp – Barry Mann (actually a great songwriter)

His Latest Flame – Elvis

Mashed Potato Time – Dee Dee Sharp

Midnight in Moscow – Kenny Ball

The Wah – Watusi – The Orlons

I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More) Barbara George

Love Me Warm and Tender –  Paul Anka

If I Had  a Hammer – Peter, Paul and Mary (and Trini Lopez?)

I Will Follow Him – Little Peggy March

She Loves You – The Beatles

Do Wah Diddy – Manfred Mann

Suspicion – Terry Stafford

Little Old Lady from Pasadena – Jan and Dean

You Really Got Me – The Kinks

Bad to Me – Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas

Louie Louie – The Kingsmen

You’ve Lost That Lovin- Feeling – Righteous Brothers

My Girl – The Temptations

Cast Your Fate to the Wind – Sounds Orchestral

All Day and All of the Night – The Kinks

Laugh, Laugh – Beau Brummels

96 Tears – ? and the Mysterians

Red Rubber Ball – The Crykle

Elusive Butterfly – Bob Lind

I Fought the Law – Bobby Fuller Four

Zorba the Greek – Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass

Respect – Aretha Franklin

Sweet Soul Music – Arthur Conley

Brown-Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

Tighten Up -Archie Bell and the Drells

Classical Gas – Mason Williams

Solitary Man – Neil Diamond

Lay Lady Lay – Dylan

Time Is Tight – Booker T and the MGs

Twenty-Five Miles – Edwin Starr

The Worst That Could Happen – The Brooklyn Bridge

Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town – Kenny Rogers

Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ – Crazy Elephant

The Lion Sleeps Tonight – The Tokens

I’m Into Something Good – Herman’s Hermits

And there are many more.

Billboard’s #1 songs from the 1960s

1960 – Theme from a Summer Place – Percy Faith

1961 – Tossin’ and Turnin’ – Bobby Lewis

1963 – Surfin’ USA – The Beach Boys

1964 – I Want to Hold Your Hand – The Beatles

1965 – Wooly Bully – Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

1966 – California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and the Papas

1967 – To Sir with Love – Lulu

1968 – Hey Jude – The Beatles

1969 – Sugar Sugar – The Archies (I kid you not)

So as I awaited the Sirius XM top 10, I expected to hear certain songs. I knew some didn’t make it because I had already heard them.  I thought for sure that either Hey Jude, Satisfaction, or Light My Fire would be #1. I thought there would be Beatles, Stones, Elvis.  Well, agree or not, here is what the listeners said:

Top 10 Songs of the 1960s: (according to the listeners of Sirius XM channel 73)

10. Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison

9. Sounds of Sience – Simon and Garfunkle    

8. Kathy’s Clown – Everly Brothers

7. California Girls – The Beach Boys

6. Downtown – Petula Clark

5. Dock of the Bay – Otis redding

4. Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones

3. Theme from a Summer Place – Percy Faith

2. Runaway – Del Shannon

 1. Only the Lonely – Roy Orbison (Surprised? I was.)

And there you have it. I you aren’t familiar with 60s music, give a listen!

Next week – something a little more grammar-ish??