Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
In article 1104917378.33e402cc30bfd22cb86573c2e70ae991@teran ews, Tim
Challenger writes On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 18:08:45 -0000, BAC wrote: The point is, a person who doesn't speak Japanese either knows what the term tsunami means, or does not, so no confusion, whereas an English speaker who does not know the accepted definition of 'tidal wave' might be tempted to derive a definition intuitively, hence the possibility of confusion. But they'd be pretty sure to guess it has something to do with a big wave, and let's face, that's what counts. Plus there's more chance that an English peaker would have heard it and actually know what it means. That's an interesting point. Perhaps in these days of international travel, it would be helpful if we all agreed on some internationally understood words for certain key concepts, eg 'fire' 'help' 'ambulance' (in the same way that most of Europe and I think some other countries have agreed on 112 as the phone no for emergency services). In which case, tsunami vs tidal wave comes down to which one is most readily understood by the international community -- Kay "Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river" |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Fish found after tsunami | Ponds | |||
Tsunami victim - Help please | United Kingdom | |||
[IBC] OT - Tsunami relief | Bonsai | |||
[IBC] OT - Tsunami relief | Bonsai | |||
Donations for relief efforts for Tsunami survivors | North Carolina |