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These emojis make you ‘old’ according to Gen Z

Language is an ever-evolving thing, full to the brim with nuance and meaning that might not seem obvious upon first glance - and it turns out that emojis are no exception. Members of Generation Z have taken to social media claiming that using certain emojis is a sign that you’re “officially old” and that the popular thumbs-up emoji is actually rude. According to users on Reddit, the official list of “cancelled” emojis includes: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> ❤️ (Red heart) </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 👍 (Thumbs up) </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 👌 (“OK” hand) </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> ✅ (Tick or Checkmark) </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 💩 (Poo) </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 🙈 (Monkey covering eyes) </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 😭 (Loudly crying face) </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 👏 (Clapping hands) </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 💋 (Lipstick kiss mark) </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 😬 (Grimacing face) </li> </ul> Many younger users also considered the thumbs-up emoji to be rude, explaining that it gives off a passive-aggressive or even confrontational air. “For younger people (I’m 24 for reference) the thumbs-up emoji is used to be really passive-aggressive,” one person wrote. “It’s super rude if someone just sends you a thumbs up. So I also had a weird time adjusting because my workplace is the same.” They chalked up the difference in the workplace to a “generational communication culture difference”. “Everyone my age in the office doesn’t do it, but the Gen X people always do it,” they wrote. “Took me a bit to adjust and get out of my head that it means they’re mad at me.” Others agreed, saying using it in the workplace makes team members “unaccommodating” and seems “unfriendly”. “I understand what you mean, my last workplace had a WhatsApp chat for our team to send info to each other on and most of the people on there just replied with a [thumbs-up emoji],” one commenter said. “I don’t know why but it seemed a little bit hostile to me, like an acknowledgment but kind of saying ‘I don’t really care/am not interested’? Don’t know if that’s the way you feel but I got used to it in time and I’m just as bad for sending a thumbs up now.” Another said: ““It’s not that odd to see it as passive-aggressive. Just imagine how would it feel to go into your boss’ room, say something, and then see him turn to you, look you in the eye, and [give a thumbs-up].” But, older users expressed their confusion at this emoji etiquette, with one saying it must be “a younger generational thing”. “So it’s like a sarcastic thing? Man I’m getting old lol,” one wrote. Another defended their use of the thumbs up, saying it “means many things”. “It means ‘I approve’ or ‘I understood and will obey’ or ‘I agree’. If anything, my only objection would be that some days it might be hard to tell which one it means,” she offered. “But it is generally pretty clear.” “It’s just a way to say ‘i’ve read your message and have nothing to add and I hope and pray to all the gods all the bazillion people in this group chat have nothing to say on it too,’” another chimed in. Linguists have been studying emojis since the appearance of the modern emoji in 2015. In her book Because Internet: Understanding how language is changing, linguist Gretchen McCulloch explains that some emojis, like most of those that have been “cancelled”, are gestures, like the ones we make with our hands while talking. While these can be quite universal, like the thumbs up or smiling emojis, there can also be nuance based on culture and the writing systems people use. With younger people interpreting emojis such as the thumbs-up as “rude” or “old”, it seems there is nuance between generations too. Image: Getty Images

Entertainment

5 funniest words added to the dictionary in the last decade

Language is used to decipher the world in which we live, and that world is ever-changing. So are the words we use to describe it. Dictionaries keep track of words that are important enough to make the cut, including the seemingly strange ones that are culturally relevant at a certain point in time. In the past decade, some of those words have been downright funny. Why? Elin Asklöv, a language expert at Babbel, explains it’s because “we have a feeling they’re made up, and it’s funny to see them in a serious context in a dictionary, when in reality, all words are made up.” Here are a few recent additions to some very serious dictionaries that might surprise you – and make you giggle. Meh In our fast-paced, tech-driven world, it can be tempting to shorten your words, especially when writing online. Social media has a big influence on language, according to Asklöv. Meh is essentially the verbal equivalent of shrugging. It might sound surprising that such a meh word was added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, but Asklöv isn’t surprised. “A lot of the words they’re adding come from informal settings, like through social media,” she explains. “It then travels to other types of media, gains popularity and becomes common enough to be added to the dictionary.” Twerking Merriam-Webster, which added this word in 2015, defines twerking as “sexually suggestive dancing characterised by rapid, repeated hip thrusts and shaking of the buttocks especially while squatting.” That may be the least hip way to describe twerking, says Kevin Lockett, author of The Digital Handbook 2020. But despite the clinical definition of the dance that was popularised by Miley Cyrus, Lockett gives kudos to the dictionary for including the word at all. After all, even though it seems like a silly thing to put in a formal book of language, twerking has – for better or worse – been culturally important to an entire generation. Bromance This word melds bro and romance to encapsulate “a close non-sexual friendship between men,” according to Merriam-Webster. Bromances are categorised by back-slap hugs and exchanges of “I love you, man,” with the emphasis on man. Asklöv points out that from a traditional gender-role perspective, the concept of a bromance is comical – and maybe a bit mocking. Right or wrong, that’s because it characterises a close relationship and emotions that men typically (or, rather, stereotypically) don’t show. But once a bromance is official, men can let their friendship flag fly. Coot This word has two meanings: an aquatic bird and an eccentric old man. The nature of the bird – small and unassuming – has been adopted to describe an older person of simple manners. But it’s usually used in conjunction with the word crazy, so it’s not quite as innocuous as that definition may sound. If you see such a person talking to himself near the coot pond, don’t worry – he’s just a crazy old coot. Although this word has been in existence since the 15th century, it was only added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2014. Scrumdiddlyumptious You might be able to guess what this word means, but let’s see what the experts have to say. “Extremely scrumptious, excellent, splendid; (esp. of food) delicious” is how the Oxford English Dictionary defines it. This word was first used by novelist Roald Dahl and popularised in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and it was added to the dictionary in 2016. Written by Isabelle Tavares. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/our-language/12-funniest-words-added-to-the-dictionary-in-the-last-decade?slide=all">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a>

Entertainment

Prince William and Duchess Kate’s date full of love: Body language expert dishes verdict on couple’s night out

After eight years and three children together, the royal couple looked just as loved up as they would have been on their first date night, a body language expert has revealed. Judi James says both Prince William and Duchess Kate, who are not a couple to publicly display acts of affection, exhibited “subtly flirt” behaviour that royal fans got to see at the beginning of their relationship. While their displays of love and appreciation may be a little more downplayed than the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, James told<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html"> FEMAIL</a>, they still signal they have a solid foundation rooted in mutual affection. The body language expert noted a photograph showing Prince William’s hand on the small of his wife’s back appeared “gentlemanly.” “William and Kate aren’t known for their overt PDAs and they can keep their touch rituals to a minimum in public but this back-touch from William looks unusually tactile and affectionate,” she said. “His smile looks almost shy here and the splayed hand appears gentle and gentlemanly, although that raised thumb suggests intense happiness.” It was not the only snap that showed the royal’s looking starry eyed and in love that got James’ attention though. An image shared by Kensington Palace’s official Instagram page displayed the Duke and Duchess in their seats at the London Palladium during the show. “The couple’s mirroring is always tight, showing like-minded thinking and a subliminal desire to present as an double act based on two empathetic equals,” James said. “Here though they add some strong eye-engage signals, leaning their heads together at matching angles to do so. “The eye contact has produced facial expressions that suggest the classic "look of love", with a softening of the features plus a dimpled smile from Kate.’ Once more, a picture of the couple laughing in their box during the show signalled to the body language expert that they were both having fun. “Royal Variety performances can prompt some smiles from the royal box but here William and Kate are literally rocking with laughter,” Judi explained. “Again it is mutual though, with mirrored movements, suggesting a shared sense of fun.” However, what stood out to her was a snap of the couple leaving the event and heading back to their car after a long night in public. “When any smiling public displays have been an act it’s the moment a couple take their seats in the car that you’ll often see masks begin to slip,” Judi said. “But if anything Kate’s expression of delight appears to intensify here. Her excited, widened eye expression, her rounded cheeks and her symmetric smile all make her look like someone on a first date.” Scroll through the gallery above to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looking loved up on date night.

Lifestyle

How to invent a Tolkien-style language

The success of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies brought the languages that JRR Tolkien invented for the Elves to the attention of a much wider public. There are <a href="http://www.councilofelrond.com/content/elvish-resources/">now numerous books and websites</a> that allow devotees to learn Quenya and Sindarin. The <a href="http://www.oocities.org/petristikka/elvish/tikka.pdf">origins of Quenya in Finnish</a> and the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z2hthyc">Welsh inspirations of Sindarin</a> have fascinated Tolkien fans, with many learning and expanding on the tongues that were created by the author the best part of 100 years ago. Though enchanting, language invention has also baffled readers and critics alike. Bewildered critic <a href="https://www.ewtn.com/library/HOMELIBR/TOLFAIR.HTM">Robert Reilly exclaimed in 1963</a>: “No one ever exposed the nerves and fibres of his being in order to make up a language; it is not only insane but unnecessary.” But that’s where he was completely wrong. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6de_SbVUVfA?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> JRR Tolkien recites the Quenya poem Namárië, sung by Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings. Language invention for works of fiction has a long history, from <a href="http://www.bl.uk/learning/histcitizen/21cc/utopia/more1/moreutopia.html">Thomas More’s Utopia</a> and <a href="http://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/item104566.html">Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels</a>, all the way to Tolkien’s immediate predecessors, such as <a href="https://archive.org/details/acrosszodiacsto01greggoog">Percy Gray</a> and <a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/atl/vril/">Edward Bulwer Lytton</a>. Tolkien himself began composing his Middle-earth mythology at a time when the vogue for artificial languages was at its zenith. At the turn of the 20th century <a href="http://www.omniglot.com/writing/esperanto.htm">Esperanto</a> was taking the world by storm, and it competed with more than 100 other artificial languages, including Volapuk, Ido and Novial. It is also worth remembering too that this same period was a time of language experimentation. Russian zaum, the Dada movement and Modernism (among others) were attempting to break language and make it afresh. <h2>Tolkien’s vice</h2> In <a href="https://www.harpercollins.co.uk/9780008131395/a-secret-vice">A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Languages</a>, edited by myself and Andrew Higgins, we present Tolkien’s own reflections on his language invention. In particular, the full publication of A Secret Vice, a paper Tolkien gave in 1931 at Pembroke College, Oxford, where he talked about his engagement with Esperanto and his contribution to nursery languages (codes children use, often for playful communication). Tolkien went on to unveil his many experiments in inventing new languages that would be aesthetically pleasing, including a sketch of a previously unknown imaginary language, published for the first time in the new book. He also commented on the “coeval and congenital” art of creating a world and characters that would speak these languages – the first seeds of the vast secondary world of Middle-earth. The book also includes a hitherto unpublished new essay on phonetic symbolism, in which Tolkien muses on the idea that the sounds of words may fit their meanings. Tolkien’s drafts and notes for both essays are also included. Some of these notes make mention of James Joyce and Gertrude Stein – hardly the literary company one expects Tolkien to be seen alongside. Contemporary popular culture has witnessed a renewed interest in fictional languages. Perhaps the best-known recent examples are <a href="http://docs.dothraki.org/Dothraki.pdf">Dothraki</a> and <a href="http://www.makinggameofthrones.com/production-diary/2014/5/8/high-valyrian-101-learn-and-pronounce-common-phrases">High Valyrian</a>, the languages invented by linguist David J. Petterson for HBO’s Game of Thrones. But they are by no means the only ones. Even non-fans of the Star Trek franchise will have at least heard of <a href="http://www.kli.org/about-klingon/klingon-history/">Klingon</a>, and James Cameron’s Avatar also includes an invented language: <a href="http://learnnavi.org/">Na'avi</a>. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0knxW76bDuI?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> The creators of Na'avi, Klingon and Dothraki explain how to make a language. Whether intentional or not, Tolkien’s language creation has been highly influential for this new generation of inventors. In A Secret Vice, Tolkien outlined several rules for constructing imaginary languages, which later inventors appear to have followed. First, invented names and words should be coherent and consistent. Their sounds should both be aesthetically pleasing and fit the nature of the people who speak them. For example, the phonetic make-up of Klingon befits its militaristic speakers (who else would recite <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiRMGYQfXrs">Shakespeare’s “To be, or not to be” as “taH pagh taHbe”</a>?) Second, fictional languages should have a grammatical structure behind them. In <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Language-Dothraki-Conversational-Original/dp/0804160864">Living Language Dothraki</a>, Peterson gives all the grammatical rules you need to form questions such as “hash yer dothrae chek asshekh?” (“do you ride well today?”). And finally, invented languages should be an integral, indeed vital, part of myth-making - as Tolkien said: “Your language construction will breed a mythology”. There are far too many examples to list here, but what may have astounded Tolkien is the central position that language invention has achieved in the building of new entertainment franchises such as Star Trek, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, and Game of Thrones. Like Tolkien himself, many inventors of today’s fictional languages have been linguists and communicators: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Did-eVQDc">Marc Okrand</a>, the inventor of Klingon, has a PhD in linguistics from Berkeley; <a href="http://www.marshall.usc.edu/faculty/directory/frommer">Paul Frommer</a>, creator of Na'avi, is professor emeritus of clinical management communication at the University of Southern California. Tolkien’s legacy also lives on in the many thousands of constructed languages (con-langs) which are invented just for fun and discovery through groups like <a href="http://conlang.org/">The Language Construction Society</a>. What is rarer, and shows Tolkien’s genius, is that the complex interweaving of myth-making and language invention that make Middle-earth feel real was the achievement of a single man. And that is a tough act to follow.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/57380/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Written by Dimitra Fimi, Lecturer in English, Cardiff Metropolitan University. Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/how-to-invent-a-tolkien-style-language-57380" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.

Entertainment

21 movies that have hilarious titles in other countries

When movies travel abroad, their titles can get a little lost in translation. Check out what your favourite films are called overseas! The War of the Stars That’s the French title for Star Wars; in Spanish, it was The War of the Galaxies. Makes sense! The title isn’t the only thing that got a major switch in translation. In Germany, the Millennium Falcon became the Speeding Falcon. In France, Han Solo was instead Yan Solo and his Wookie sidekick got the name “Chico.” And their ship? The “Millennium Condor.” The Force definitely wasn’t with those translators. Knight of the Night It kind of makes sense…? In Spain, that was the title of The Dark Knight. You may have thought that the Batman movie got its title from its brooding protagonist and gloomy cityscapes, but in Spain, they were much more literal – it’s because so many scenes take place at night! Super Power Dare Die Team You’re not going to be able to guess this one: Super Power Dare Die Team would have been the Chinese title for the Ghostbusters reboot starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Leslie Jones – had it ever been released. Guidelines in China forbid movies that “promote cults or superstition,” though the country’s censors said the official reason was that it wouldn’t appeal to the Chinese audience. A Very Powerful Whale Runs to Heaven The beloved tearjerker Free Willy is known for its happy ending. The Chinese saw things differently, giving the movie the above title instead. Then again, Willy did jump (not run) to the metaphorical heaven of the open ocean. He’s a Ghost! The Sixth Sense has one of the greatest twist endings of all time – unless you happen to live in China. Although most audiences were stunned by the movie’s revelation in the final minutes, Chinese viewers were already clued in by the title. The Boy Drowned in the Chocolate Sauce Denmark gave Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory quite the dark (but also kind of hilarious) spin! While greedy Augustus Gloop does take a harrowing swim in a chocolate river, his fate is not quite that grim. While many countries kept the original title of the Gene Wilder classic, and others tweaked it to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the title of the Roald Dahl novel it’s based on), Portugal changed it to Charlie’s Wonderful Story and Spain picked A Fantasy World. But Denmark’s interpretation definitely takes the (chocolate) cake. Die Hard: Mega Hard Let’s face it: It’s only a matter of time before Hollywood co-opts this Danish title for Die Hard with a Vengeance. In Denmark, mega means huge, but it also signifies a million. Those Danes are intense. “Die Hard: A million times hard.” I’m Drunk and You’re a Prostitute The Japanese get points for brutal honesty with this title for Leaving Las Vegas. Nicolas Cage won the Best Actor Oscar for his devastating performance, and his co-star Elisabeth Shue was riveting in her role in the acclaimed drama. Nonetheless, he was portraying a drunk, and she did play a prostitute. (The title also happens to be a paraphrase of one of Cage’s lines from the movie.) It’s Raining Falafel Israel, where meatballs are not a popular dish, clearly wanted to make Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs more appealing to its audience. So the Hebrew title swapped out the meatballs for falafel, a more recognisable food. In the film itself, though, the animated meatballs were not altered. Sexy Dance In the first Step Up film, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan come from opposite sides of the tracks. But they’re able to bond through dance and it’s beautiful. Whoever titled the French version of the film simply cut to the chase and called it Sexy Dance. That pretty much nails it! Vaseline Yep: Grease. Everyone loves Olivia Newton-John as Sandy during her epic transformation in this iconic musical from 1978. John Travolta as Danny is the one that she wants, even though he’s a tough guy greaser. In 1950s slang, that means he slicks his hair back and has a bad reputation. But for the movie release in Argentina, the title was simply Vaseline. Talk about lost in translation… A Twin Seldom Comes Alone This German designation for the reboot of The Parent Trap is quite… literal. It was Lindsay Lohan’s first starring turn – the 1961 original starred Hayley Mills. The story is about twin sisters, raised apart by feuding parents, who decide to reunite the family; the twins are played by a single actress in both film versions. Maybe that’s why the German title-writer decided to get philosophical with this title. My Boyfriend is a Psycho The point of Silver Linings Playbook is that they’re both a little crazy, Russia! However, we can’t blame translators for changing this title. Since the English phrase “every cloud has a silver lining” doesn’t really have foreign equivalents, other countries had to seek an alternative name for the film. France called the comedy Happiness Therapy, and Lithuania went with The Story of the Optimists. And finally, since a “playbook” is an American football term, the United Kingdom dropped that part and just went with Silver Linings. Seems reasonable. The Teeth of the Sea The marketing of the blockbuster Jaws was brilliant for its minimalist simplicity. With one word, audiences got a taste of the horror to come. The visual of the iconic movie poster – a woman swimming above a massive open-mouthed shark – gave the single word “Jaws” its power and impact. In France, the effect was a bit muted: The Teeth of the Sea sounds much less scary and a lot more confusing. Mum, I Missed the Plane The French must have decided that every parent’s worst nightmare – leaving a child behind – is actually the child’s fault. That can be the only explanation for altering John Hughes’ Home Alone to the above title. That’s right: Kevin missed the plane, and he brought all this home alone burglar mayhem stuff on himself! Dimwit Surges Forth Adam Sandler comedies are not usually known for their inspirational, overcoming-the-odds tales of high stakes struggle and survival. So it’s not clear why The Waterboy was titled Dimwit Surges Forth in Thailand. However, the dimwit’s rinky-dink team does, ahem, surge forth in the end. The Incredible Journey in a Crazy Plane This was Germany’s interpretation of the madcap-comedy-slash-disaster-movie-spoof Airplane! Italy also went literal, calling it The Craziest Plane in the World. Several other countries, including Croatia, France and Peru, also lengthened the one-word title, calling it some variation of Is There a Pilot on This Plane? But the funniest title of all might be the working title used for the film during production: Kentucky Fried Airplane. Big Liar Anthony Hopkins gave an acclaimed performance as the disgraced president in the biopic Nixon, a drama that humanised the flawed American leader. Oliver Stone’s three-hour epic intended to depict the complexity of Nixon’s impact on history. In China, the film was released with the title Big Liar. Why mince words? Fantastic Emotional Turmoil The beloved Pixar film Inside Out told a complicated emotional tale to child and adult audiences alike. However, multiple countries struggled with a quick, clear title for this movie: In China, the movie was called The Great Team Inside the Head. Russia went with Jigsaw. Vietnam chose The Puzzle Emotions. But Thailand may have taken the day by dubbing it Fantastic Emotional Turmoil. That works! Honey, Wait, I’m On My Way To be fair to the Slovenian translators, that is an accurate summation of the road trip buddy comedy Due Date. Robert Downey Jr. must take a cross-country trip, with Zach Galifianakis as his wacky travel companion, to arrive home in time for the birth of his baby. Unlike Slovenia, some other countries took the original route, working the pregnancy into the title. In Portugal, the film was called A Childbirth Trip. Perhaps most hilarious of all, the movie’s Polish title translates to Before the Water Goes. Grandpa Carl’s Flying House Most countries kept the simplicity of the title of Pixar’s Up. Argentina chose Up: An Adventure Up High and the Czech Republic chose To the Skies. Japan, however? Not so much. They chose Grandpa Carl’s Flying House. While that might sound like a comically literal summation of the film, it’s actually somewhat inaccurate – a pivotal detail of Up is the fact that Carl is childless, and therefore not a grandpa. Though we suppose this is a more tactful title than Grumpy Old Guy Carl’s Flying House. Written by Molly Pennington, PhD. This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/entertainment/21-movies-that-have-hilarious-titles-in-other-countries" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Entertainment

10 common sayings that sound way funnier in other languages

‘Nice guys finish last’ means something very different in Spain… have a giggle at some of these international sayings. When you think about it, they’re probably giggling at some of ours! Money doesn't grow on trees Instead of ‘Money doesn’t grow on trees’, try: ‘The sky doesn’t throw chicks’. (Arabic) Nice guys finish last Instead of ‘Nice guys finish last’, try: ‘A cat in gloves catches no mice’. (Spanish) Don’t count your chickens before they hatch Instead of ‘Don’t count your chickens before they hatch’, try: ‘Don’t praise the day before evening’. (German) All talk and no action Instead of ‘All talk and no action’, try: ‘If he made 100 knives, none would have a handle’. (Farsi) To beat around the bush Instead of ‘To beat around the bush’, try: ‘To walk like a cat around hot porridge’. (Finnish) The grass is always greener on the other side Instead of ‘The grass is always greener on the other side’, try: ‘Tasty is the fish from someone else’s table’. (Yiddish) A drop in the bucket Instead of ‘A drop in the bucket’, try: ‘Nine cows, one hare’. (Chinese) Out of the frying pan, into the fire Instead of ‘Out of the frying pan, into the fire’, try: ‘Fallen from the sky, stuck on a date palm’. (Hindi) To cost an arm and a leg Instead of ‘To cost an arm and a leg’, try: ‘To cost the eyes in your head’. (French) Nothing ventured, nothing gained Instead of ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’, try: ‘If you don’t enter the tiger’s cave, you won’t catch its cub’. (Japanese) Written by The Bathroom Reader's Institute. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/10-common-sayings-that-sound-way-funnier-in-other-languages">Reader’s Digest</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Entertainment

Affect or effect?: How to use the terms

It is one of the most popular conundrums in the English language. Choosing between the word “affect” and “effect” can indeed be confusing – they are both verbs and nouns, and their meanings overlap. To help quash any doubt, there is a simple trick. In most contexts, the acronym RAVEN – Remember Affect Verb, Effect Noun – can be applied. Affect is more often used as a verb, meaning to influence, produce a change, make a difference in something. For example, bad habits affect your health, an argument affects your relationship, and a nightmare will affect your mood. Effect is generally used as a noun, meaning a result or a consequence. The group warns of the effects of climate change. Cycling has positive effects on your health. The effect of the policies has been overwhelming. The word can also be used as part of phrasal verbs, such as take effect (rather than affect) and in effect. For example, the new rule may take effect soon and once it does, it is in effect. Keep in mind that some exceptions apply – affect can be used as a noun, and effect can be used as a verb. In the noun context, affect means a feeling or an emotion: “My friend has a sad affect”. Effect as a verb could be defined as to bring about or cause something to happen: “The government is unable to effect any change”, or “The tax cut is hoped to effect economic growth”. These cases are less common, but it is good to understand how the two words can be used in different ways.

Entertainment

10 commonly misused words you need to stop getting wrong

Did you know that every time you misspeak, a kitten cries? Okay, that’s not true. But get these commonly misused words down and you’ll look smarter than ever. 1. Definitive You think it means: Clearly true or real; clearly stated Incorrect use: My boss gave a definitive no to my idea for a start-up centred around the Sprocket – a Spring Roll/Hot Pocket hybrid. It really means: Done or reached decisively and with authority; conclusive Correct use: Instead, he told me to do a thorough study of the Croissant/Hot Pocket category because he thought there was great demand for a definitive history of the Crocket. 2. Actually You think it means: Used to emphasise a strongly felt opinion Incorrect use: I believe that Love Actually is actually the finest film about relationships ever made. It really means: As an actual fact; used to stress something unexpected or surprising Correct use: But I may be biased by the fact that the movie was actually recommended to me by both Hugh Grant and Chiwetel Ejiofor, two of its stars. 3. Addicted You think it means: Having a love or a particularly strong preference for a particular person, place, thing, or activity Incorrect use: He grew so addicted to his Fitbit fitness tracker that he found himself walking in his sleep in order to rack up more steps. It really means: Having a compulsive physiological or psychological need beyond one’s control and to one’s detriment for a habit-forming substance. Correct use: He started playing late-night poker to curb his sleep-walking, and while his nighttime marches ended, he got addicted to Texas Hold ‘Em. 4. Disruptive You think it means: Unconventional; cutting-edge; bold Incorrect use: Her blind date told her that the two of them were incompatible because her favourite TV shows were Big Little Lies and Game of Thrones and his tastes were “much more daring and disruptive” than hers. It really means: Marked by unrest, disorder or insubordination; in business terms, the process by which an innovation enters a market or sector and redefines it Correct use: The next day, she used her influence with the transit union to launch a disruptive strike that forced him and other commuters to walk miles to work. 5. Granular You think it means: Extremely detailed or specific Incorrect use: Much to their dismay, the weary accountants were instructed to go more granular with the budget and break down each of the 20 categories into 256 sub-categories. It really means: Resembling small grains or particles Correct use: In shredding the old budgets, a malfunction turned the sheets of paper into teeny-tiny spitballs and the accountants became buried under a granular blizzard of numbers. 6. Tortuous You think it means: Very painful or unpleasant; like torture Incorrect use: After sitting through a tortuous, all-mime version of Moby Dick, she found the musical adaptation sung in Icelandic to be enjoyable if a bit noisy. It really means: Twisting or winding; devious or indirect; circuitous or involved Correct use: Still, she appreciated the tortuous, decades-long road that the mimers had silently trudged to bring their show to her town. 7. Nonplussed You think it means: Unfazed Incorrect use: Jack was nonplussed when his new girlfriend described him as “slovenly” – he had been called that since he was a toddler and took it as a compliment. It really means: Confused, surprised Correct use: But Jack’s brother Will was nonplussed when his new girlfriend described him as slovenly – he had always been neat, even as a toddler. Make sure you know these other words that mean the complete opposite of what you thought. 8. Ironic You think it means: Coincidental Incorrect use: Patrick told his friend it was ironic that both their children were training to join the police force. It really means: Using words that mean the opposite of its literal meaning; marked by an incongruity between expectation and reality Correct use: It’s quite ironic that Patrick’s son was arrested the day after he graduated police academy. 9. Verbal You think it means: Relating to spoken words Incorrect use: Nancy gave me a verbal “yes” to my request to have baby animals visit the office on Fridays, but I still need written confirmation. It really means: Relating to words or language in any form Correct use: After baby sloth day, I got tons of verbal enthusiasm via email and by the water cooler from coworkers who said it was a hit. 10. Travesty You think it means: Tragedy Incorrect use: It was such a travesty that I was sick when there was cake in the office. It really means: A horribly inferior imitation Correct use: Then again, I heard down the grapevine that the gluten-free, vegan, keto-friendly cake was a travesty of the birthday cakes I grew up with. Written by Daryl Chen. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/our-language/10-commonly-misused-words-you-need-to-stop-getting-wrong?slide=all">Reader’s Digest</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

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What Kate and Meghan's body language says about their supposed "feud"

<div> <div class="replay"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply_body"> <div class="body_text "> They’ve been dabbed the ‘royal fab four’ but reports at the end of last year alleged there was a strain in the relationship between the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Although the royal foursome has not attended events often together since then, royal fans have a kept a keen eye on the family, who all appeared together last week to mark the 50-year anniversary of the investiture of Prince Charles becoming the Prince of Wales. More recently, they all came together again for the Commonwealth Day celebrations in London on Monday. The only factors royal fans are able to speculate on from the outside is Duchess Kate’s and Duchess Meghan’s body language. The question arises: What does the fab four’s body language tell us about the supposed feud? Kirsty Milligan, a body language expert, told Yahoo Lifestyle that if there is a "feud", the royal family are good at hiding it from the public and keeping it purely behind closed doors. “The ‘Fab Four’ are definitely well versed in how to maintain a professional/regal presence in public,” she said. “If there is a rift, they’re very practiced in not allowing that to show. “We can usually see this in facial expressions and guarded or protective body movements that show discomfort.” Through analysing the behaviour of the Dukes and Duchesses at Buckingham Palace last week, Milligan added: “What we can see of their facial expressions is very composed. This could certainly be masking many other feelings and emotions. “We do see a very polished and practiced public appearance, but it’s what we don’t see that might be more telling.” Elly Johnson, another body language professional, believed the 37-year-old Duchess of Sussex had other thoughts on her mind that are actually quite far away from the alleged "rift". Speaking on the public appearance last week, Johnson said: “I believe Meghan is more focussed on figuring out exactly what she should do and when they should walk in, she is feeling a bit awkward, not having attended an event exactly like this before.” She also explained the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are both aware of an order that should be “respected” in the royal family and are “conscious not to lead the way into the room". Do you believe the reports that there is a rift between the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex? Let us know in the comments below. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div>Scroll through the gallery above to see Duchess Kate and Duchess Meghan's body language.</div>

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What Kate and Meghan's body language says about their supposed "feud"

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