Monday, November 11

One of my favourite authors is Simon Winchester.  The first book of his that I picked up was The Surgeon of Crowthorne which is the story of an American doctor and army officer who was arrested for murder in Britain and sent to prison for life.  As an officer and fairly affable fellow, he was treated well and ensconced in a pleasant, private room with access to the prison library and a newspaper delivered to him each morning.

At the time, the Oxford English Dictionary was being produced and a call had been put out for readers to assist the compilers by sending to them examples how particular words were being used.  Dr Minor, our hero, had the time and inclination to take part in this project and, in fact, submitted more suggestions than anything else.

It's not the sort of book I would normally read but, surprisingly, I enjoyed it.  All Simon Winchester's books have a similar theme: take an aspect of history and tease out the back story.  Currently, I'm reading The Perfectionists, which is about the Industrial Revolution and how, gradually, manufacturing became more exact.  It's the story of clocks and locks and so on.

A poem today, I think.

LEARNING JAPANESE

 

In the wilds of far Tasmania, it’s rare to hear the chatter

Of jolly Japanese jabbering about things that really matter

In this typical selection of the Aussie population

It’s English that we speak, like the rest of this great nation.

 

If we all could choose a language that we use to tell our story

And we all chose something different, conversation would be gory

To concentrate on English is a sensible decision

It means that all we need to say can be said without revision

 

But when we go to foreign lands, we’re faced with much confusion

The natives there don’t speak like us – I’ve come to that conclusion

Next time I go to distant climes, I’ll sort that out, by jingo

By learning how the natives speak and speaking in their lingo.

 

Instead of saying Good Afternoon, I’ll say Konnichi-wa

And sumimasen, kudasai and Mo tabemashita ka?

I’ll cause a stir where’er I go, they’ll stop me in my track

To hear me speak like natives do and slap me on the back.

 

I’ll order food in restaurants and chat with passers-by

They’ll think I’ve lived here all my life, I’m such a clever guy

I’ll know about the things that happen to people in the street

And talk about the weather with everyone I meet.

 

The Emperor will serve me tea and laugh at all my jokes

I’m told that all the Royal mob are just like other blokes

They sip their beers and scratch their bums and talk about the footy

And open fetes and wave to crowds and carry out their duty.

 

But really, when all’s said and done, I’m just a lazy fellow

Who thinks that folk will understand my English if I bellow

If I shout out loud and wave my hands my meaning will be clear

So I’ll leave my learning Japanese on the shelf for another year.