That is profound. I noticed this by accident when asked about adjectives by a Japanese student. She translated something from Japanese like “Brown big cat” and I corrected her. When she asked me why, I bluescreened.
I’m kinda reading “brown big cat” as “brown (big cat)”, that is, a “big cat” - like a tiger or lion or other felid of similar size - that happens to be brown. “Big brown cat”, on the other hand, sounds more like a brown cat that’s just a bit bigger than a regular housecat - like a bobcat or a maine coon cat or something like that.
yeah, if you put the adjectives out of order you wind up implying a compound noun, which is presumably why we have this rule; we stripped out so much inflection over the centuries word order now dictates a huge amount of our grammar
Just looked up why we do this and one of the first lines in this article is, “Adjectives are where the elves of language both cheat and illumine reality.” so I know it’s a good article.
Things this article has taught me:
This same order of adjectives more or less applies to languages around the world. “It’s possible that these elements of universal grammar clarify our thought in some way,” says Barbara Partee, a professor emeritus of linguistics and philosophy at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Yet when the human race tacitly decided that shape words go before color words go before origin words, it left no record of its rationale.
One theory is that the more specific term always falls closer to the noun. But that doesn’t explain everything in adjective order.
Another theory is that as you get closer to the noun, you encounter adjectives that denote more innate properties. In general, nouns pick out the type of thing we’re talking about, and adjectives describe it,” Partee told me. She observes that the modifiers most likely to sit right next to nouns are the ones most inclined to serve as nouns in different contexts: Rubber duck. Stone wall.
Rules are made to be broken. Switching up the order of adjectives allows you to redistribute emphasis. (If you wish to buy the black small purse, not the gray one, for instance, you can communicate your priorities by placing color before size). Scrambling the order of adjectives also helps authors achieve a sense of spontaneity, of improvising as they go. Wolfe discovers such a rhythm, a feeling-his-way quality, when he discusses his childhood recollection of “brown tired autumn earth” and a “flat moist plug of apple tobacco.”
Brain scans have discovered that your brain has to work harder to read adjectives in the “wrong” order.
TL;DR: No one knows why we do this adjective thing but it’s pretty hardwired in.
after the rain comes the sunshine (endo sakura, non-no; 19.04.2024)
much like the blue sky appearing once the rain has stopped, if you keep up your hard work, surely a bright future will be awaiting you. an irreplaceable moment where saku-chan has felt this way.
19.04.2024
seeing the members giving it their all, [makes me think that] doing your best is the norm
before long, the rainy season will arrive. rainy days tend to be a bit gloomy since - even with an umbrella - i get rained on no matter what, and my hair also gets frizzy easily, so i have to wage war against the humidity. back in my junior high days, in order to brighten up my dejected mood even a little, i used to use an umbrella with a flower design that sprung up once the rain started. since my last time wearing rain boots was in elementary school, i was amazed by how stylish their designs are these days.
my favourite way to spend a rainy day is relaxing at home. even if i stay at home even when it's sunny (lol), my ideal [rainy] day would be watching a movie in a dark room with the curtains drawn, all while getting immersed in [the movie's] world. in any case, the movie that would be perfect in such a situation is 'the parent trap'. when i first saw it on TV a long time ago, i got immersed in the twin characters' cuteness and its exciting story, after which i bought the DVD. i even brought it along with me when i moved to tokyo, and it's such a great movie that i end up watching it over and over again.
this month's theme is 'after the rain comes the sunshine'. in the same way that 'no matter how much it may rain, one day it'll stop raining and the sun will shine', i hope that - as you continue working hard, great things will be awaiting you. having said that, i don't think i had much to do with hard work in my student days. i was able to work hard even if it was tough when it came to things i liked - for example, during brass band practice - but i had zero interest in studying. to make up for that, i started reading books in order to arm myself with knowledge. such as i may have been, since joining nogizaka46 i've been influenced by the members' hard work, and it's become second nature for me to try my best in everything. on a day when everyone had to learn the choreography for a new song, some members stayed behind out of their own will to practice on their own. but in that case, when i [tried to] do that i couldn't concentrate, because my attention got drawn in all sorts of directions..... i knew i couldn't go on like this, so when it was decided that i'd be center for the second time for the single 'gomen ne fingers crossed', i bought a large full-body mirror so that i could practice dancing at home to my heart's content. ever since, it's become a custom for me to dance at home all day, especially on the eve of a music video shoot.
i didn't feel the need to reward myself for my hard work at all, the feeling of relief - 'i'm glad it safely came to an end~' - was more than enough for me (LOL). i think what motivates me is something of a strong sense of responsibility, this 'so long as this has been entrusted to me, i want to respond by giving it my all'. whenever you feel like giving up, it's important to have some time away from your work. until about two years ago, i used to [metaphorically] bring certain things from work at home, but little by little i've become better at switching on and off between work and personal life.
what i'm secretly working on right now is being able to fill up my bookshelves at home. last year, i bought a big bookshelf - not quite an-entire-wall big, though - and i'm currently lining up all the novels i've read up until now there. but there are still about two thirds of the space left, which i hope to fill up someday!
BONUS
saku-ranking!
my top three companions to time spent at home are...
#1 glasses
#2 snacks
#3 warm socks
i'm embarrassed to be seen wearing glasses so i wear contact lenses outside (lol), but as soon as i get home i take them off. i like snacks so much that i always have some in stock ♡
UTB x Nogizaka46 6th generation (Masuda Mirine, Up to Boy; 22.03.2025)
Masuda Mirine: Born on the 1st of November, 2009. From Osaka prefecture. Blood type: O.
22.03.2025
"I want to find something that'd make people say 'That's SO Mirine'"
Q: First up, Masuda-san, what motivated you to take the audition?
A: I wanted to change myself. I lacked confidence and couldn't show my true self in front of others. However, I did want to be true to myself. I applied for the 6th generation audition in hopes of finding something that'd make people say 'That's SO Mirine'.
Q: Once you heard about the audition, did you immediately decide to take it?
A: No, I was really torn about whether to take it or not. But I felt as if - if I don't take it now, I'll for sure regret it once I grow up, thinking "I should've taken it". And finally, when I saw the tagline of the audition - 'The world can change with just one step' - I took that step forward.
Q: Did you like Nogizaka46 beforehand?
A: Yes. I saw them on TV when I was in primary school and thought "What a beautiful group of women!". From there on, I grew to like them more and more. The senior I admire is Ikeda Teresa-san. I admire Ikeda-san's stoic attitude. she's been studying while doing her activities, and she's written lots of blogs. I too want to be someone who spares no effort, like Ikeda-san.
Q: Do you have an ideal image of the kind of idol you'd like to become?
A: I'd like to be able to put on a performance or do something that'd deeply move someone. I watched the 'Nogizaka46 Daikanshasai 2024' and was moved to tears by how wonderful Kubo Shiori-san's solo dance was during 'Sing out!'. I thought I'd do my best in order to someday also inspire someone myself! I also have the desire to try my hand at acting.
Q: So you're interested in acting?
A: Yes, I like movies. My mother's a film buff, so I grew up watching old movies from an early age. I hope to also move someone with my acting.
Q: Now, Masuda-san, please tell us about your hobbies and interests.
A: My hobby is making sweets. I started baking when I was in the fifth grade of elementary. Up until now, I've made financiers, cookies, brownies and more. I don't eat them though.
Q: Huh? You make them but don't eat them?
A: I have my family eat them. I love making people smile with sweets. They were particularly happy when I made cheesecake, which made me happy too!
Q: What a wonderful anecdote! I feel like the fact that you like making others smile ties in nicely to being an idol too.
A: Indeed! I want to change within Nogizaka46 to make my fans smile too!
prguitarman
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