CORONA NEW VOCABULARY

Good morning, everyone, and happy New Year once again!

As we find ourselves still in the midst of this ongoing lockdown season, it feels as though time has stood still. I understand that it’s a challenging time for us all, but let’s continue to remain strong and hold onto hope.

While we may not be able to return to our normal routines just yet, perhaps we can view this period as an opportunity to truly appreciate life and its simple joys. What do you think?

Today, I want to explore how the meaning of certain words has shifted during this time. Have you noticed it too? Words that once held positive connotations now carry a different weight in light of the pandemic.

For instance, we used to praise positivity, but now being around a “positive” person can be risky due to the potential for infection. Even something as fundamental as human touch has taken on a different meaning, as we navigate the necessity of social distancing.

Words like “quarantine,” “restrictions,” “closed,” “ambulance,” “hospital,” “vaccine,” “infected,” and “dead” have become a part of our daily vocabulary, evoking feelings of stress, depression, and anxiety.

However, amidst these challenging times, there are words that continue to offer hope and strength. While they may be familiar, let’s not overlook their significance:

“Home,” “family,” “Earth,” “savings,” “love,” “hugs,” “health,” and many more. Let’s hold onto these words, as they can serve as sources of motivation in our daily lives.

Perhaps the most important word right now is “patience.” We must remain patient as we wait for better days ahead and approach this situation with a positive mindset. Additionally, let’s not forget the importance of gratitude. Despite the difficulties, we can be grateful for what we have, including the ability to connect with loved ones through social media.

My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones or livelihoods due to this virus. Know that you are not alone, and I stand with you during these challenging times. Personally, I am grateful for my health, my family, and the everyday comforts that I have.

Let’s continue to hold onto hope and strive for a better future.

Good luck to each and every one of you!

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They came back home!

Hello Everyone,

Words travel all around the world, and after so many decades, they come back home. As I continue reading “L’Italiano e’ bello” by Mariangela Galatea Vaglio, I came across some fascinating insights that I would like to share with you. It turns out that many words we think are of Anglo-Saxon origin are actually Latin. So, even when we believe we are borrowing these words from another language, we are, in fact, using them correctly because they originate from Latin, our mother tongue!

For example:

Sport: While it is commonly associated with English, its origin is Latin (sportula). Sportula was a small basket used by housewives to buy food. In ancient Rome, during sports competitions, winners received a crown and a sportula, which was useful and significant for everyday life.

Computer: This word also derives from Latin (computo, meaning calculation). Interestingly, the first personal computer was Italian, created by Olivetti. It was called Perottina, named after its inventor, Perotto. It was even used in NASA operations that sent humans to the moon. Curious, isn’t it? A small yet significant step for mankind made by Italians… just saying… 😊

Jeans: The term “blue jeans” comes from “blu di Genoa, Genova” (the cloth used by dockworkers for their uniforms due to its durability). Similarly, jeans became the uniform for American workers.

To sum up

these words and many others have Latin roots (Latin is considered a dead language today, except for its use in writing Catholic books by the church). They were exported abroad and became part of the English language, causing confusion by making people believe they had a completely different origin.

Incredible, right? This is just another example of how a language evolves!

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