Month: August 2018

MEANDERINGS ABOUT THE WEAR.

~ silverliz ~ 2 Comments

English is the only language I speak, read and write, fortunately many millions of people all around the world do the same, it is a linqua franca. It was bequeathed to us from the Anglo-Saxons, a Germanic language. David Crystal estimates about a 1,000 million people can speak it and use it to conduct trade, business and education. This is hugely  influenced by the power of the USA, Bill Bryson asks, “why in short is American English the way it is?”  His book, “Made in America” is an informal history Of American English, Bryson writes clear, elegant and laugh out loud funny prose. His books are easy to read and so amazingly successful, he has lived in both England, Yorkshire and Durham   and also Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania in the USA.

     This morning I have been busy trying to find a home for books which just keep turning up!  I came across ” The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, ” by David Crystal. It is a huge, heavy volume; Steven Pinker, author of The Language Instinct, and Director of the Center for Cognitive  Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; he refers to this book as; “A delight and a treasure. …David Crystal does a brilliant job of satisfying our curiosity about our mother tongue while illuminating the deepest questions of who we are and where we come from. A magnificent achievement.”

With judicious moving around, (some books are now on the lowest shelf) I have found a shelf in my eye-line as a home for this amazing book. The top shelf is just out of my reach, (I’ve given up wearing high heels). I have also put my other English Language books, Bill Bryson and Melvyn Bragg companionably standing side by side. this may give the impression I am obsessed with the English language. I can’t deny it, long, long ago I learnt some French, some Latin, less Greek and a little German. Alas all I have left un petit morceau of French, some Latin roots and nothing of Greek. I’m fascinated by words; how they sound, how they look, how they can make me laugh and in the hands of a skilful practitioner explain this complicated world to me.

    Almost as long as I can remember the printed word has cast its magic spell on me. I found it difficult to throw and to catch,but reading came easily. I did learn to talk, in those long  ago days the problem with speaking is you need someone to listen, mother was very busy washing, cleaning and feeding us. The magic of a book is it speaks to me, almost as if the author were sitting next to me and telling me the story. Now it is possible to have a story read out to you from the computer or talking books. If I want to I can tell my story electronically, I can speak my own words. Real Harry Potter type magic.

     I see I haven’t mentioned the river Wear yet, although I think I have done some meandering. There is a new bridge over the river, I haven’t seen it yet, that’s a story for another day.

 

SUNDAY 5TH AUGUST.

~ silverliz ~ 4 Comments

                                 DELIGHTFUL  TREASURES.

The morning begins with bright sunshine, the weather forecasters promise another hot day. Looking around the home I share with my husband I realise what a lucky person I am. Firstly that my partner of 52 years is here with me. There are aches and pains shared between the two of us and some lapses of memory (mainly mine) . We did not in the modern fashion ‘ live together ‘ , we recklessly got married. For us both it was I think the wisest thing we have ever done. Of course there have been trials and tribulations, joys and sorrows, life in other words.

     This morning I look around our home and there is ‘stuff’ everywhere. The largest quantity of small ‘stuff’ is made of paper covered in small black symbols and fixed together with a front and back cover, yes books! Only the bathroom is free of books. Mostly they stand propped up on shelves, touching each other but still having their own space. Frequently there is an overflow lying on the edge of shelves and on any flat surface. It is tempting to think that they are breeding in the darkness, fortunately after the initial outlay, they cost nothing to keep.

     Books are scattered on occasional tables, on bedside tables, any horizontal space. Periodically the desire to see a clear space overcomes me and I rush around squeezing books together and making a firm decision, some will have to go to the charity shop. Of course not all these items are mine, yesterday a parcel arrived at the front door: the parcel contained,’ The Curious Map Book’ a large and heavy volume and a smaller volume,’ In Gratitude’  by Jenny Diski . I am not responsible for either of these books. which shelf will    hold them I have absolutely no idea.

     Have you ever tried parting with your treasures? I don’t mean your children.   They will up and leave you just when you thought they might become interesting companions. I mean those stories which have cheered you up in sad times and made you laugh at the silliness of life. One of my favourites is ‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott, not in the least bit like my family, no, more the family I could imagine myself belonging to. Probably my most favourite author is Jane Austen her skill seems so effortless and her choice of words so absolutely perfect. The book which describes falling in love so wonderfully is Pride and Prejudice, a tall, handsome hero and rich too. A fairy story completely captivating. Sadly Jane did not meet the man of her dreams, happily I did.