Slang & Speaking: Speaking Valentine's

Article 2 on Singtao Student Page:


Walking on the streets of Hong Kong as Valentine’s Day draws near, I have some observations to make and advice to offer.

Image from shoppingblog.com

Valentine's Day is just around the corner!  A time for the lovers' creativity to materialise and have your wallets emptied! Before you can even notice it, shops and malls are fully decorated to draw customers in the mood of mega-spending. Love is all around! Young couples hug and kiss every step of the way, presents wielded firmly. Pink hearts, white bears and red roses appear at every angle of eyesight even when your eyes are closed, not having any of these in a girlfriend's hands seemingly indicates a stingy or incapable boyfriend... or otherwise. 

To some, maybe gifts do not matter at all! 

"Having calm and staying a logical mind is what makes a man a man!" (Notice the wrong use of words!)

Image from sakura-hostel.co.jp

Inside that logical mind of this man, he thinks, "Gifts don't matter! Since a real heart is in fact not pink in colour nor is it the shape of two lobeless ears adhered together, polar bears are not cuddly nor naturally friendly to human and their fur is not exactly white, and red roses symbolise nothing but thoughtless, uncaring, and unoriginal as anyone would purchase the same flower for their beloved mother. Gifts are just for showing off! How practical can they be?"

Red Roses
Image from Flowers Photoblog

"It is the thought that counts!" is a cliché some keep in their armoury since their first empty-handed Valentine's Day.

And there is more than just one cliché. 

Take Hong Kong for example, according to my survey through years of observation, boys in Hong Kong overuse the word "baby", and abuse the word "cute". The former confuses me whenever I am near 11th floor of Langham Place in Mongkok, the latter irritates my ears because of the absence of the consonant "t" in its pronunciation.

"Baby! You are so Q!" is what I often heard in English, if any.

Why would any girls still buy this kind of compliment? He's saying you are a stick!!

What about "sweetie", "honey", "darling", "my angel", "my love", "cutie"and "cutiepie"? I understand the goosebumps issue and I am hearing some readers are shouting "Do you mind?" but let's put that aside for now. Where is the variety in the choice of vocabulary?

This might sound nothing related to English speaking or oral examinations but I must say, it is related. Consonant "t" at the end of words is a sound often omitted by students, often unaware of the error. Although arguably perfectly acceptable in some occasions, the absence of consonant "t" such as "cute" transforms the word entirely into a different one. It is crucial to pay special attention to such words when practising your speaking.

Another point is the lack of variety in the vocabulary. The most popular words students conveniently use in the secondary school level are "fine",  "okay", "do", "see", "play", "nice", "good", "happy", "sad", "hot", "cold", "painful", "easy" and "not easy".

Basic vocabulary is for survival English. If you are aiming for better grades in speaking and listening, you will need to start working on the variety.

This is no sweet little lie.

Image from somekindofawesome.com

By the way, if you are the recipient of the compliment, "Baby! You are so Q! I Lub U!" Tell the boy, "Practice your pronunciation at home before ever speaking to me again!" Because how hard he tries to correct his pronunciations is a measurement of how much he means the words he says.

Fun Tasks For You:

1. Which words have the same pronunciation as "Q"?
2. Find a total of 10 different terms which have the word "sweet" and "sugar" in it.
3. Try pronounce "sea" and "seat", "her" and "hurt" and note the difference.
4. Pick any selected adjectives in the vocabulary section and find words with similar meanings.
5. Search online for a list of sweet quotes and then ask the boys and girls in your class how sweet these quotes are to them.
6. Carry out a survey in your class for the list of presents your classmates hope to receive on Valentine's Day.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some of the Valentine's Day marketing strategies you have come across?
2. What does Valentine's Day mean to you / to the society / to other cultures?
3. What did the past generations do on Valentine's Day?
4. Are we over-materialistic?
5. Is materialism gender-specific? Discuss.
6. How to enjoy a low-budget Valentine's Day?

Vocabulary:

materialize -- (vb) [I] (UK usually materialise) If an idea or hope materializes, it becomes real

stingy -- (adj) informal disapproving unwilling to spend money

incapable -- (adj) unable to do something

or otherwise -- used to refer to the opposite of the word which comes before it

lobeless ear -- (n) [C] a ear with no lobe 

Image from bbc.co.uk

adhere -- (vb) [I] formal to stick firmly

cuddly -- (adj) approving liking to cuddle, or making you want to cuddle

symbolize (UK usually symbolise) to represent something

thoughtless -- (adj) not considering how your actions or words may upset someone

uncaring -- (adj) disapproving not worrying about other people's troubles or doing anything to help them

unoriginal -- (adj) the same as a lot of other things and therefore not interesting or special

cliché -- (n)[C or U] a comment that is very often made and is therefore not original and not interesting

armoury -- (n) (US armory) [C] a place where weapons and other military equipment are stored

abuse -- (vb) [T] to use or treat someone or something wrongly or badly, especially in a way that is to your own advantage

the former -- (n)[S] the first of two people, things or groups previously mentioned

the latter -- (n)[S] the second of two people, things or groups previously mentioned

irritate -- (vb)[T] to make angry or annoyed

cutie -- (n) [C] (also cutiepie) mainly US informal a woman or girl who you consider attractive or like a lot

goosebumps -- (n) plural noun (UK also goose pimples) small raised areas that appear on the skin because of cold, fear or excitement

Do you mind? said to someone when you feel annoyed with them for what they have just done or said

put sth aside phrasal verb to save something, usually time or money, for a special purpose

unaware -- (adj) [after verb] not understanding or realising something

conveniently -- (adv) humorous  suitable for your purposes and needs and causing the least difficulty

survival -- (adj) continuing to exist or wanting to continue to exist

recipient --(vb)  [C] formal a person who receives something

Pronunciation:

cliché /ˈkliː.ʃeɪ/ /-ˈ-/

The stress for the UK pronunciation is on the 1st syllable while the stress for the US pronunciation is on the 2nd syllable.

Do you mind? 

When pronouncing "Do you mind?", the word "mind" carries the strongest sentence stress, thus it should be the loudest, also, "mind" should take a high-low-high (up-down-up) tone to enhance the level of annoyance.

Structures:

not... nor

When nor is used as an adverb, it mean "also not", which is why it should be preceded by a negative not.

eg. 

1. Jason isn't online, nor is John.
2. Janet didn't speak, nor did Florence.
3. I am not clever, nor am I stupid.
4. A real heart is in fact not pink in colour nor is it the shape of two lobeless ears adhered together.

Notice the position of the auxiliary verbs "is", "did", "am" and "is" in the above examples. They are immediately after "nor".

Resources:
Interview: Angelababy opens cafe inspired by travels @ CNNGo.com
http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/eat/interview-angelababy-opens-cafe-inspired-travels-017462

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/materialize?q=materialise+#materialize__3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/stingy?q=stingy+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/incapable?q=incapable
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/or-otherwise?q=or+otherwise#or-otherwise__1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/adhere?q=adhere+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/cuddly?q=cuddly+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/symbolize?q=symbolise#symbolize__3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/thoughtless?q=thoughtless
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/uncaring?q=uncaring
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/unoriginal?q=unoriginal
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/cliche?q=clich%C3%A9
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/armoury?q=armoury+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/abuse_1?q=abuse
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/former_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/latter_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/irritate_1?q=irritate+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/cutie?q=cutie
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/goosebumps?q=goosebumps+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/mind_2?q=Do+you+mind#mind_2__3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/put-sth-aside_1?q=put+aside#put-sth-aside_1__2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/unaware?q=unaware+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/survival_2
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/recipient?q=recipient+

News, Science & Animals: Science News Digest (6th-9th Feb)

It is science week!!!! I have quite a number of news articles on science which I want to share because there are many amazing things happening in this field this week.

First, not a very happy news, more dolphins are stranded, this time in Cape Cod Bay, USA.

View Larger Map

So far the scientists can only say that the dolphins are very bonded and will help each other when any one of them are in distress, but why will any one dolphin be in distress? I have a theory to it, but I will wait to reveal that in another entry.

In the second article, scientists have recreated  the chirping sounds of an extinct Jurassic "cricket" with the help of the computers by analysing the fossils of this Tettigoniidae specie's wings, which is the part which makes such wonderful music. Imagine thousands of them singing at the same time!

Bush Cricket
Image from Wikipedia

Talking about extinctions, the Western Black Rhino was declared extinct by the IUCN on the 10th Nov, 2011 (yet those who got married the next day were happily cheering their 2011-11-11 marriage). I guess no one cares about these poor animals, but in case you do, please read this article published on the Business Insider.

The third article's title is clear and gross enough, Puerto Rico Plans To Slaughter Millions Of Iguanas And Sell Their Meat In The US,

Iguanas
Image from businessinsider

What kind of human wants to eat such creature? The article says "Latino and Asian immigrants in the U.S. have shown high demand for the meat, which allegedly tastes like stronger, tougher chicken."

View Larger Map

Asians? Seriously? Unless you are in a survival situation like Cody and Dave who were trapped on an isolated island, otherwise, why would anyone want to eat that?

Talking about Puerto Rico, after watching Gordan Ramsay: Shark Bait on TVB Pearl last week, which I have recommended watching on my Facebook update, I've learnt that the island is famous for wiping out beautiful sharks from the ocean. No surprise here with the iguanas.

The fourth article talks about the discovery of 100,000 year old seagrass on the floor of the Mediterranean Sea.

Meadows of Posidonia oceanica
Image from VOA

Spectacular, aren't they? The seagrass, Posidonia oceanica, is named after Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology, whom should be non strangers to comic fans of Saint Seiya,

Poseidon holding a trident. Corinthian plaque, 550-525 BC. From Penteskouphia. From Penteskouphia. Image from Wikipedi

Poseidon of Saint Seiya anime Image from wikia

Details can be found in this journal, but even if you don't read it, I guess we will know what will happen to the future of these seagrass -- illegal harvest causing total destructions. Let's hope I am completely wrong about it and may the Posidonia oceanica continue to thrive without disturbance.

View Larger Map

The fifth article reports the success of the Russian scientists in drilling deep into the Lake Vostok at South Pole,

Image from en.ian.ru

At 12,366 feet of depth, scientists are able to gather vital information which dates back some 20 million years before the most recent Ice Age occurred (there are many Ice Ages, the current one is called the Pliocene-Quaternary glaciation).

Image from nydailynews

The scientists are hoping to find information which could give clues "that may hold life from the distant past and clues to the search for life on other planets", but I suppose they will definitely not miss out reporting any possible forms of fossil fuel or energy resources should any be found.

Drilling so deep into the unknown is of course very exciting but also very dangerous because you don't know what you will find. It could be Captain America or highly contagious unknown virus from Contagion with no cure.

Captain America buried in thick ice Image from comicbookmovie.com

Image from bangordailynews

I prefer Captain America then.

Last but not least, "A computer model developed by a Yale research team traces one scenario for the shifts in Earth's continents, starting with a rewind from the present, then going forward through the latest Pangaea supercontinent cycle. The animation reflects the "orthoversion" model for the rise and fall of supercontinents."

And here's the animation,

So we were really once a big family! And so were the whales, the dolphins, the sharks, the iguanas, and the dinosaurs.

I learn through reading and watching, what about you?


Vocabulary:
stranded -- (adj) unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as not having any transport or money
(in) distress -- (n) [U] when you are suffering or are in great danger and therefore in urgent need of help
chirp -- (vb) [I] (also chirrup) (especially of a bird) to make a short high sound or sounds 
extinct -- (adj) not now existing
iguana -- (n) [C] Iguana is a herbivorous genus of lizard native to tropical areas of Central America and the Caribbean
Puerto Rico -- (n)[U] is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands
isolated -- (adj) happening or existing only once, separate
Mediterranean Sea -- (n) [U] is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant.
Posidonia oceanica -- (n)[U]  is a seagrass species that is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea.
Poseidon -- (n)[U] was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker,"[1] of the earthquakes in Greek mythology.
mythology -- (n) [U] myths in general
thrive -- (vb)  [I] (thrived or US ALSO throve, thrived or USALSO thriven) to grow, develop or be successful
vital -- (adj) necessary for the success or continued existence of something; extremely important
fossil fuel -- (n) [C or U] fuels such as gas, coal and oil, which were formed underground from plant and animal remains millions of years ago
contagious -- (adj) describes a disease that can be caught by touching someone with the disease or a piece of infected clothing

Resources:

Massachusetts stranded-dolphin death toll up to 92 @ CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/02/06/us/massachusetts-stranded-dolphins/?hpt=hp_t3

Night Songs of the Jurassic @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I9bl-5QFmZs

Scientists Reveal the Sound of a 165 Million Year Old Insect @ ecorazzi
http://www.ecorazzi.com/2012/02/08/scientists-reveal-the-sound-of-a-165-million-year-old-insect/

Black Rhino @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_rhino

The Black Rhino Was Declared Extinct Yesterday — Here Are 10 Other Species That Have Been Wiped Out By Man @ Business Insider
http://www.businessinsider.com/extinct-animals-2011-11

The 45 Most Endangered Species In America @ Business Insider
http://www.businessinsider.com/most-endangered-species-2011-7#

Puerto Rico Plans To Slaughter Millions Of Iguanas And Sell Their Meat In The US @ Business Insider
http://www.businessinsider.com/puerto-rico-plans-to-slaughter-millions-of-iguanas-and-sell-their-meat-in-the-us-2012-2

Dual Survival Season1 Ep3 Out Of Air(5) @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx3j4gYgwYE

Gordon Ramsay : Shark Bait @ Channel 4
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/gordon-ramsay-shark-bait/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1

Self-Cloning Seagrass May Be World's Oldest Living Thing @ VOA News
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/environment/Self-Cloning-Seagrass-May-Be-Worlds-Oldest-Living-Thing-138896854.html

Implications of Extreme Life Span in Clonal Organisms: Millenary Clones in Meadows of the Threatened Seagrass Posidonia oceanica @ PLoS ONE
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0030454

Poseidon @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poseidon

Saint Seiya @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_seiya

Russian scientists, using drill for 20 years, finally reach deep Antarctic lake buried under ice for 20 million years @ NY Daily News
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/russian-scientists-drill-20-years-finally-reach-deep-antarctic-lake-buried-ice-20-million-years-article-1.1019365?localLinksEnabled=false

Major Ice Ages @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_age#Major_ice_ages

Quaternary glaciation @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaternary_glaciation

Next supercontinent will amaze you @ MSNBC
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/08/10352397-next-supercontinent-will-amaze-you

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/stranded?q=stranded
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/distress_1?q=distress
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/chirp?q=chirping+#chirp__3
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/extinct?q=extinct+
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguana
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/isolated?q=isolated+
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediterranean_Sea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posidonia_oceanica
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poseidon
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/mythology_1?q=mythology+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/thrive?q=thrive+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/vital_1?q=vital+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/fossil-fuel?q=fossil+fuel
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/contagious?q=contagious+

Travelling & Living: Best Airport In The World

Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1
Image from CNNGo

I have lived in Singapore for years, I've studied there, I've got my tan there, I've travelled in and out of the airport many times, but I have definitely not tried spending 24 hours in the airport coz I'm not Viktor Navorski nor Tom Hanks.

Who has? It's unlikely that anyone will be stranded in Singapore Changi Airport as it was voted as the World's Best Airport 2010 by SKYTRAX, (although Hong Kong International Airport took its throne in 2011).

But the author of this CNNGo article really spent a whole day at the Changi airport intentionally back in December 2010!!! With the photos, it was really fun reading it and I was surprised to see what I have never realised or known about this airport.

Xbox-ers, PS3s and a Guitar Hero set (Terminal 2, third Floor)
Image from CNNGo

I do not intend to rewrite what he has already written, but I highly recommend you go and read it and compare it to the airport you know best. Here are the items I am most impressed with.

Free charging stations all around
Image from CNNGo

See which one you prefer?

Four-storey high The Slide @ Terminal 3
Image from CNNGo

Short article for today, long one on Friday.

Vocabulary:
stranded -- (adj) unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as not having any transport or money
throne -- (n) [C] the special chair used by a ruler, especially a king or queen


Resources:

The Terminal @ IMDb
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0362227/

I was trapped (voluntarily) in Changi Airport ... and I loved it! @ CNNGo
http://www.cnngo.com/singapore/visit/24-hours-changi-airport-039443

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/stranded?q=stranded
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/throne?q=throne