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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

"Linguistics is a pile of cats"

Walrus and I have been talking again (at this hour, a sure sign of trouble/hilarity). We have just been expanding on the metaphor of languages as various kinds of house cats.

American English, we've decided, is a big, fat, orange tabby with a torn ear and no taste for new people. Japanese is a sleek gray kitty who will come investigate but doesn't like to purr or be played with. The Romance languages are purrers.

Russian is a big, angry tomcat who likes to sleep on things. "I claim this couch for RUSSIA!"

Swahili is a climbing cat, doesn't like to sit still. And the Nordic languages are the friendly ones, the ones that are almost dog-like in their affection.

Additions to the list are welcome.

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