ang

[eyres]

You are impossible.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) dir. Susan Johnson

[no-passaran]

Sometimes I wonder if native English speakers appreciate how much more comfortable the internet is for them than for the rest of the world

Like, you can go on tumblr and simply read stuff in your mother tongue? Amazing. Go on youtube and you don’t have to replay some sentences ten times to try to understand what they’re saying? Incredible. Look for practically anything on google and know that there will be a fuckton of results that you can read without having to spend half the time looking up words in a dictionary? Fascinating. Make a post or send an ask without panicking that you’ll make a silly mistake or that they won’t understand what you meant? Unbelievable.

[no-passaran]

@dovalayn I did. I’ve studied English for about 10 years and I have the official diploma for the C2 level (the maximum for a non-native speaker) given by the University of Cambridge.

But it’s still my 3rd language and there will be always things that escape me, mainly the slang. Always. Because you know you are always less than the majority. And it’s tiring.

That’s all I’m saying. It would be nice for once to not have to make the effort. And effort is something that no matter how many years of English class I take will always be there.

But not everyone can do that. Some people can’t afford private English academies or are bad at languages, and they should still be able to exist online as well. Why are you so bothered by people not speaking English perfectly? Or by people posting on the internet in other languages??

Since you think my English isn’t good enough, I’d like to see how you do in your 3rd language, and if you don’t get tired after a while 🤷‍♀️

[gringoslur]

@dasakuryo

[dasakuryo]

I hope @no-passaran doesn’t mind me going on a sort of tangent here, but the fact English is a lingua franca is, like it or not, permeated by features of linguistic imperialism.

Native English speakers are used to having the world, and by extension all non native speakers, accommodate to their language. If someone doesn’t know English then said person is uneducated, isn’t wordly, is not qualified enough. If a person doesn’t pronounce English like a native, they’re pronouncing it wrong. Tourists are expected to speak perfect English and be proficient in it to avoid any inconvenience to native English speakers when travelling abroad to English speaking countries (USA and UK particularly, yet interestingly enough we are demanded to speak in English when these people visit our countries). These are all mindsets and situations that exist and are part of the broader context, in which English does operate on linguistic imperialism grounds on a global scale; I’m going to quote Phillipson really quickly:

Linguicism: the ideologies and structures which are used to legitimate, effectuate and reproduce an unequal division of power and resources (both material and non-material) between groups which are defined on the basis of their language (i.e., of their mother tongue). This condition is best seen within the broader context of linguistic imperialism - an essential constituent of imperialism as a global phenomenon involving structural relations between rich and poor countries in a world characterized by inequality and injustice.

Language expansion is considered an essential part of a core country’s policy of extending its power and influence in order to achieve its imperialistic strategies. Phillipson holds that the legitimization of English linguistic expansion has been based on two notions: ethnocentricity and educational policy, with ‘ethnocentricity’ being the “practice of judging other cultures by standards of it own.” These two practices have been used to impose a distinction between languages. It has also been a way to promote the notion of the assumed inferiority of secondary languages with respect to the norms determined by the dominant culture.

Phillipson takes this notion one step further with ethnocentricity transformed into that of ‘anglocentricity’ with the consequence that the dominance of English is justified in terms of such oppositions as superiority/inferiority, civilization/backwardness, progress/regress, the first element of which is constantly attributed to the dominant English language.

According to Phillipson education serves the imperial center by having three functions: ideological, economic and repressive. The ideological function serves as a channel for transmitting social and cultural values. In this role English is regarded as a “gateway for better communication, better education and higher standards of living.” The second function – economic – legitimizes English as a means of qualifying people to contribute to their nation and operate technology that the language provides access to. The third function – repression – serves to dominate languages.

Linguistic imperialism calls attention to the potential consequences of English teaching worldwide when center country ideologies are embedded in instruction, having the effect of legitimizing colonial or establishment power and resources, and of “reconstituting cultural inequalities between English and other languages.”

[Cited and paraphrased from

-Phillipson, R. 1992. Linguistic Imperialism. Oxford. Oxford University Press. -Phillipson, R. 1988. Linguicism: structures and ideologies in linguistic imperialism. In J. Cummins and T. Skutnabb-Kangas (eds.), Minority Education: From Shame to Struggle. Avon: Multilingual Matters.]

It’s… interesting, for the lack of a better word, how non native English speakers must even accommodate to native English speakers, when in actuality non native English speakers far surpass natives by several millions and, if anything, it should be them who ought to change, not us.

English becomes our second/third/etc language, we use it with several degrees of proficiency, being affected all the time by our L1, or all the other languages that we might know, we are constantly building on our current interlanguage and gaining a better grasp on how to operate with English. When we talk or chat with other NNE speakers with whom we don’t share a language, we make ourselves understood, we manage to sort any misgiving in communication, if we make a mistake we re-phrase, re-arrange, express things in another way. We are communicating, we still get our messages across despite some slips of the tongue, little mistakes or even a few errors here and there.

We are able to engage, through the use of English, in cross-cultural exchanges, in cross-linguistic exchanges that are allowed by using English as a lingua franca. We are making the language ours, we’re reclaiming the language that for so long was used to shush us down and we’re using it as an asset, we’re using it as a weapon, we’re using it so our voices cannot be silenced any more.

Our messages do get across, they can be understood. When native English speakers claim our Englishes aren’t clear, or we aren’t making any sense, they are really not making the extra effort. In short, many are uncapable of cross-linguistic and cross-cultural exchanges and communication. It’s easier to say we don’t make sense, and by extension snuffing us out, than paying attention to what we are saying.

And we don’t only have to defend our languages and our cultures in a globalised world (in which the normalised culture is that of the center), but we also have to use English as a tool for doing it.

And we should be allowed to express ourselves, exist online without having to constantly accommodate to native English speakers. Because no matter how good our English is, how proficient we are, someone is always going to argue we aren’t good enough, that we aren’t trying hard enough.

[peggycarthr]

A year of french poems

This is a list of 52 french poems, one per week of the year. I found them all over the internet (I apologize for any inaccurate info) and themes go from children’s laughter to politics. The poems are organized by time period, and then by author name and title, with a link to the poem. This is my @langblrsecretsanta gift for the amazing @sennettyoung. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making the list. 

16th century

1. Louise Labé - “Je vis, je meurs”

17th century

2. Jean de La Fontaine - “La cigale e la fourmi”

18th century

3. Fabre d’Églantine - “Il pleut, il pleut, bergère”

19th century

4. Charles Baudelaire - “Spleen”

5. José Maria de Hérédia - “Les Conquérants”

6. Louisa Siefert - “Tous les rires d’enfant”

7. Marceline Desbordes-Valmore - “Les roses de Saadi”

8. Marceline Desbordes-Valmore - “Une lettre de femme”

9. Paul Verlaine - “Clair de Lune”

10. Stéphane Mallarmé - “Quelconque une solitude”

11. Stéphane Mallarmé - “Sainte”

12. Tristan Corbière - “Le poète e la cigale”

13. Victor Hugo - “L’art et le peuple”

20th century

14. Aimé Césaire - “Mot-macumba”

15. Aimé Césaire - “Nous savoir”

16. Alain Bosquet - “Célébrités”

17. Alain Bosquet - “Merci”

18. Andrée Chedid - “Ce que nous sommes”

19. Andrée Chedid - “La femme des longues patiences”

20. Andrée Chedid - “Liberté”

21. Anne-Marie Grosser - “Dans un coin, le sapin”

22. Christine Fayolle - “La rentrée de Poème”

23. David Diop - “Afrique mon Afrique”

24. David Diop - “Défi à la force”

25. Delphine Guichard - “Mes cinq sens”

26. Eugène Guillevic - “Durée”

27. Eugène Guillevic - “Étoile”

28. Géo Norge [Georges Mogin] - “Monsieur”

29. Géo Norge [Georges Mogin] - “Une chanson”

30. Guillaume Apollinaire - “Guerre”

31. Jacques Prévert - “Chanson pour les enfants l’hiver”

32. Jacques Prévert - “Confession publique”

33. Jacques Prévert - “Le discours sur la paix”

34. Louis Aragon - “Heureux celui qui meurt d’aimer”

35. Paul Eluard - “Liberté”

36. Pierre Reverdy - “Nomade”

37. Raymond Queneau - “Pour un art poétique”

21th century

38. Alain Kasanda - “L'instant d'avant”

39. Camille Case - “Le chant des sirènes”

40. Céline Renoux - “Par poignées de silence”

41. Chantal Couliou - “Crayons de couleur”

42. Clotilde De Brito - “Meus Pais (Mes parents)”

43. Édith Azam - “On sait l’autre”

44. Françoise Ascal - “[Je ferme les yeux et laisse le mot venir]”

45. Linda Maria Baros - “Le phacochère”

46. Lucas Ottin - “Tous les matins”

47. Lucie Taïeb - “[se cacher sous les mots]”

48. Maggy de Coster - “Poème acrostiche”

49. Mélodie Lauret - “Ma Lumineuse”

50. Nathalie Man - “Rouge Nation”

51. Nimrod - “[Tu poseras ton faix]”

52. Thierry François - “Je suis un solitaire”

[lalinguistique-blog-deactivated]

french adverbs

actuellement- currently déja- already d’habitude- usually encore- again ici- here immédiatement- immediately là-bas- over there longtemps- (for a) long time malheureusement- unfortunately peut-être- maybe plutôt- rather pourtant- however presque- almost rarement- rarely récemment- recently souvent- often surtout- above all, especially toujours- always, still tout de suite- right away trop- too, too much vite- quickly vraiment- really, truly

[brocas-n-wernickes-blog]

someone: you know french, right?

me: theoretically

[untitled61064]

a big list of french adjectives 💐

🌻 Describing People:

1. Physical appearance

aguichant- enticing, alluring avachi- limp, sloppy, baggy baraqué- well-built bizarre- strange boursouflé- bloated bronzé- tanned chétif,-ive- weak, sickly débraillé- untidy, sloppy dépenaillé- unkempt douteux, -euse- doubtful, dubious, questionable élancé- slim frêle- frail, fragile grand- tall grassouillet, ette- plump gros, grosse- fat hâlé- tanned insolite- unusual, quirky maigre- skinny mignon- nice, sweet mince- slender musclé - brawny, muscular nerveux- nervous, upset pâle- pale potelé- plump (like a baby) rabougri- wizened, shrivelled séduisant - attractive, charming, seductive

2. Character

abruti- idiotic acariâtre- sour, bad-tempered antipathique- unfriendly anodin- harmless astucieux, euse- clever, astute, shrewd atone- lifeless, expressionless avisé- sensible, wise borné- narrow-minded (“bornez-vous!” limit yourself) braillard- describes someone who complains a lot brave- good, honest, brave candide- naive, ingenuous, innocent, trusting casanier,-iere- homebody, home lover compassé- starchy, stiff compliqué- complicated; fussy (e.g. about food) compréhensif,-ive-  understanding dépravé- perverted dévoyé- perverted difficile- difficult distrait- absent-minded, distracted drôle- funny ennuyeux,-euse- boring évolué- broad-minded, independent, progressive exigeant- demanding extraverti- extrovert faiblard- weak, feeble fainéant- lazy, idle falot- dreary, bland farfelu- eccentric, bizarre franc- candid futé- cunning, smart guindé- stiff, awkward imprévisible- unforeseeable juste- fair lunatique- temperamental maladroit- clumsy mal commode- bad-tempered malicieux,-euse- mischievous, naughty malin- cunning malveillant- malicious, malevolent, spiteful maniaque- finicky, fussy marrant- funny; odd maussade- gloomy, sullen méchant- malicious, nasty méfiant- distrustful, suspicious méprisant- contemptuous, disdainful névrosé- neurotic perspicace- perceptive, insightful primesautier-iere- impulsive rébarbatif -ive- hostile, off-putting renfrogné- sullen replié sur soi-meme- introverted, withdrawn rusé- cunning sage - well-behaved, good saugrenu - absurd sensé- sensible sensible- sensitive sérieux,-euse- serious, responsible susceptible- touchy, sensitive, delicate sympathique- nice, friendly terre-á-terre- down-to-earth tordu- warped, twisted travailleur-euse- hard-working

3. Mood

accablé- distressed admiratif, -ive- admiring affolé- in a panic amer, -ere -bitter assoupi- drowsy béat- blissfully happy; smug, complacent cafardeux,-euse- in the dumps débordé (de travail)- snowed under (with work) décontracté- relaxed détendu- relaxed découragé- disheartened, discouraged dépité- vexed désemparé- distraught, at a loss effaré (de)- alarmed (at) énergique- energetic enthousiaste- enthusiastic gai- cheerful bien ententionné- well-intentioned lointain- distant mélancolique- gloomy navré- sorry, apologetic, upset paumé- lost, at sea ravi -delighted surpris- surprised tendu- tense vanné- exhausted vexé- annoyed

🌿 Describing ideas or events

1. Positive alléchant - tempting, mouth-watering attendrissant- touching bénéfique- beneficial commode- convenient cocasse- funny, comical conforme (á)- conforming (with) convenable- fitting, acceptable, respectable déroutant - disconcerting détaillé - comprehensive, detailed distinct - separate, distinct équitable - fair excellent - excellent, first-rate formidable - fantastic fulgurant - dazzling, thundery grave - serious honnête - decent hors pair - exceptional impeccable - great, without flaws important - important marrant - funny merveilleux - marvellous parfait - perfect passionnant - exciting percutant - powerful, striking, forceful primordial - of prime importance propice - favorable, suitable raisonnable - reasonable rarissime - extremely rare recherché - much sought-after, studied réconfortant - comforting réjouissant - delightful rentable - profitable, financially viable réussi - successful, well-done sagace - sagacious sage - wise sensationnel - sensational spontané - spontaneous subtil - subtle surprenant - surprising véridique - truthful

2. Negative aberrant - absurd, nonsensical abominable - abominable affreux - dreadful, ghastly agaçant - irritating aléatoire - uncertain, random ardu - arduous chimérique - fanciful, imaginary, idealistic, utopic complexe - complex courant - common, current déchirant - heart-breaking, gut wrenching dégoûtant - disgusting déprimant - depressing déraisonnable - unreasonable discutable - questionable, arguable écoeurant - sickening, nauseating ennuyeux,-euse - boring épouvantable - horrendous, ghastly, atrocious éprouvant - strenuous, punishing étrange - strange fastidieux,-euse - tedious, dull, tiresome frustrant - frustrating, irritating gênant - annoying immonde - filthy, vile impensable - unthinkable, unimaginable impossible - difficult; impossible improbable - unlikely inadmissible - intolerable inattendu - unexpected loufoque - crazy, over the top lourd - heavy/annoying malaisé - difficult malencontreux-euse - unfortunate médiocre - mediocre minable - seedy, hopeless, pathetic pénible - difficult, tiresome; painful pitoyable - pathetic prosaïque - prosaic quelconque - ordinary, mediocre rebutant - off-putting, unappealing répugnant - disgusting ridicule - ridiculous

[brainless-moe-white-lotus]

What you should all be impressed by is Alexander Hamilton’s ability to limbo right under the super low bar Eliza set for him as a husband…

[talesandfluff]

“Just stay alive, that would be enough”

[musicalsaregreat]

Favorite Movie Musicals (2/?) ↳ The Greatest Showman (2017)

Where it’s covered in all the colored lights Where the runaways are running the night Impossible comes true, it’s taking over you Oh, this is the greatest show

[anancientheart]

ok universe, i’m ready to feel good things. make me feel good things.

[anancientheart]

whenever i post this it works  reblog if u want to feel good things & the universe will bring u something sweet 

[sogothimdead-deactivated2020060]

[seagramsgingerale]

Me after using duolingo for a month

[gnarly]

single bells, single bells, single all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride nothing because I’m single, and no one wants to love me.

[georgiasokeeffe]

i get so grossed out when people make fun of other people’s appearances like u know when u overhear two guys talking about how “man she has no ass at all” or a couple of girls making fun of another girl for wearing a pair of shorts that “aren’t made for her body type” i legitimately feel sick to my stomach like why would u do that…

[gifmovie]

[neorattz]

this is how i run in nightmares

[haus-of-hiddleston]

I’ve never been able to describe what it’s like running in nightmares. This gif is a PERFECT representation!

[sadhearts]

i don’t want to exist what the fuck

[tastefullyoffensive]

[kaible-deactivated20181205]

This is one of my favorite posts because that cat’s fucking name is fucking meatloaf

Let us just appreciate that this person’s dad didn’t know when they would be home and so he couldn’t plan for them to be able to join the family for dinner, but he knew with no doubts that dear sweet Meatloaf staying in that exact position for hours was an absolute in this scenario. Truly, that cat was named well.

[pizzacatsandboobs]

one of my favorite posts on tumblr over the course of 5 fucking years.. clearly i need a life

[disgustinganimals]

Meatloaf is a reliable cat and did not steal the money for selfish reasons. A rare friend.

[yourshipsaregross-blog]

I love Meatloaf. :)

[whiska-aliapoh]

Bless Meatloaf

[coloradoqueen]

Reblog Money Meatloaf to get surprise $40

[loonaposting]

youre a 10 and i look like im 10

[pickleston]