tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382372480323971385.post5298226286553238118..comments2008-03-10T12:04:54.159-07:00Steven C. Scheerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04422207189176381447noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382372480323971385.post-71278365561017616172008-03-10T08:45:00.000-07:002008-03-10T08:45:00.000-07:00Hi there!<BR/><BR/>Today, a teacher of mine gave me this example, regarding to the arbitrariness of the connection between the signifier and the signified:<BR/><BR/>Pôr-do-sol (Portuguese)<BR/><BR/>Sunset (English)<BR/><BR/>Tramonto (Italian)<BR/><BR/>Coucher du Soleil (French)<BR/><BR/>If you look up the etymology of each of those words, you will verify that not only do they differ in sound, but also in concept, even if they mean the same. It's fascinating. Another interesting example is the fact that Eskimos have about thirty-three different words to describe different types of white. This means that they are able to actually see thirty-three different kinds of white just because they have names for them. For the ordinary person, snow is just white.durfohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04293569490494350310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8382372480323971385.post-35716373549809781682007-10-28T11:28:00.000-07:002007-10-28T11:28:00.000-07:00O my gosh, you have no idea how much you have helped me with writing my essay on the significance of the relationship with words and the things to which they refer in Romeo and Juliet.<BR/><BR/>Tnx a bunch ^^Merelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15225273367086358009noreply@blogger.com