What is a mascot? Where does the word come from?
When you buy a packet of Kellogg’s Frosties you see Tony the tiger looking strangely humanoid (like a human), and we have all been intimidated by the terrifying clown at McDonalds. These are mascots. Mascots are characters that represent a brand, a product, or a business. Wright English has Rupert the adorable (cute) fat robin. Rupert represents my lock-down tummy, my relaxed attitude to life, and he is permanently celebrating life like me.
Film Vs Movies – what’s right? Where do they come from?
As the UK, USA, Canada and Australia share more and more media with each other, there is increasing confusion over the “right way” to say certain things. Pavement or sidewalk? Ditch, Dyke, or Culvert? Cinema, Theatre, or Movies? Very confusing! If you are wondering which way to describe a film is “correct” I have bad news. They are all correct, in different places.
Great Britain – Land of the tattooed folk
The English language is generally accepted as a language with most of its origins being from North West Germany. What do we make of the name ‘Britain’ then? That’s not Germanic. So where does it come from?
Albino – where does that word come from?
Have you ever seen a white wallaby? A white squirrel? Have you been lucky enough to see a white peacock? I saw white (albino) wallabies in the zoo, and my brain went to where it always goes… where does the word albino come from?
Where does the word hedgehog come from?
How often do you learn a new word in a foreign language and think about where that word came from? How was it ‘born’, who were it’s ‘language parents’? Most people look at the little spikey creature with its pointy face, little black eyes and cute little feet and think “That’s a hedgehog” and go no further. I’m Lana Betts though and I’m always curious, so join me in my hedgehog investigation.
Hindi’s colourful influence on the English language
Britain and India have a long history together. As a result of this history, the English language has many Hindi words that we use every day without even thinking about it.
Nirvana - Heavenly spiritual enlightment
Enamoured - where does it come from?
To be enamoured with something means to strongly like something.
The English language is heavily influenced by old French. In old French en = in, amour = love. So to be enamoured with something means to be in love with it. Knowing where a word comes from can help to remember it, and to remember how to spell it.
Ghost words in the English Language
The English language has more words than any other language. It also has 'ghost words'. These are words that made it into the language by mistake.
Quarantine - where does it come from?
The word "quarantine" comes from "quarantena" which means 40 days in 14th and 15th century Venetian. This comes from sailors staying in their boats for 40 days before they could come onto dry land. This was during a pandemic.