Italian + contests + 5 questions meme

[gothikmaus]

After months of not being inspired, here's the latest entry I wrote in my Italian blog:

Tu quoque, Carolina?

I also found a couple of interesting writing and photography contests. And, by the way, two people I know (they're friends of a friend's) won a music contest! We used to play in their recording studio and my friend DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME, I had to go and find out by chance! Some punishment is in order.

They're called Serpenti and here's their MySpace page - the winning song is "Sinuoso Vortice":

http://www.myspace.com/serpentispace

Also, I'll be a sheep: ask me five (or less, or more) questions and I'll try to answer them. Just don't ask about my sex life, because at the time it is quite non-existent.

Comments

[slash-kitten.livejournal.com]

it it just me, or is 'Tu quoque' a reference to Caesar's assassination?

(sorry, I've been on a Latin geekery trip for a coupla days now...)

[gothikmaus.livejournal.com]

Of course it is. (Maybe in English-speaking countries the "Et tu" version is more popular? Because of Shakespeare? No idea.) There are a few Latin idioms that are still used in Italian, like "De gustibus non disputandum est", "lupus in fabula", "do ut des", "mors tua, vita mea" etc.

"Tu quoque" is used when someone does something you would've never thought he/she would do, so you're surprised and feeling betrayed, in a way.

By the way, I've discovered why Italian men touch their balls to send away bad luck. It all comes from this Latin proverb: Testicula tacta, mala fugant.

Man, I should've studied Philology, I'm such a language geek...

[slash-kitten.livejournal.com]

ah, yes, I know the 'Et tu' version, and it's used in the German translation and in the same context quite frequently. 'Auch du, mein Sohn Brutus?'

Dude, I have a lecture where we talk about pretty much that. It's AMAZING. I love what I'm doing here, it's the best ever.

Also, I love Latin and the Romans - but in some aspects they're just plain weird. And Italians too. Which doesn't stop me from wanting to take Italian next semester... whoohoo!

[gothikmaus.livejournal.com]

Are you calling me weird? Are you? ARE YOU?

Because it's true, you know. :P

Well, if you've already studied Latin, learning Italian mustn't be too difficult. Just be ready to face a millions random exceptions to grammar rules. Just ask if you need any help.

[slash-kitten.livejournal.com]

I'll live, as long as it doesn't have as many weird exceptions as French, which... is probably impossible :D Seriously, I'm really excited about Italian. I would've taken it this semester if I hadn't gotten into English and American Literature... man, Italian! The language of Dante and... Hannibal Lecter. And Rome. Oh, Rome! Man, I can't wait :D

Also, I don't need to call you weird - I'm not one for repeating facts over and over again :D

[gothikmaus.livejournal.com]

I don't know about French, but I've read somewhere Italian is the second most difficult language to learn, the first being, of course, Chinese. But I'm sure you'll manage. ;)

And, Hannibal Lecter? I've seen Silence of the Lambs, but I must've missed something...

[slash-kitten.livejournal.com]

oh yes, Hannibal Lecter speaks beautiful Tuscan, and can quote Dante like nobody else, and managed to impress the Florence Studiolo (however, I'm not sure if that particular fine arts commission exists in reality) - though I'm sure they somehow managed to leave that out of the 'Hannibal' movie. I'm not a big fan of the movies, but the books are brilliant, and 'Hannibal' is one of the books I keep rereading. I'm sort of a Lecter fangirl, because he's just so perfect and intellectual and has amazing taste and is super intelligent and only has this minor drawback of being a cannibal.

But, you know, everybody has flaws.

[robtengel.livejournal.com]

Wie bist du auf die deutsche Sprache gekommen?
Lieblingsärztesong und warum?
Mama- oder Papakind?
Lieblingssüßspeise?
Bestes Konzert bisher und warum?

[gothikmaus.livejournal.com]

1) Ich musste es in der Schule lernen. I sag "musste", weil ich eigentlich Spanisch lernen wollte, aber meine Mutter sagte "Nee, Spanisch und Italienisch sind ziemlich ähnlich, du kannst Spanisch auch allein lernen. In der Schule lernst du Deutsch." "Aber..." "Kein aber." "D:"

2) Mann, das ist schwierig. Vielleicht "Rebell", weil der Text mir aus der Seele spricht. Oder "Teenagerliebe", weil er mich an Richy Guitar erinnert und er zaubert mir immer ein Lächeln aufs Gesicht. Oder "Zu Spät", denn wenn ich den Song live höre, kriege ich immer eine Gänsehaut.

3) Papakind, definitiv.

4) SCHOKOLADEEEEE

5) Das ist auch schwierig. Das DÄ Geheimkonzert in SO36 im Dezember 2006? Mein erstes DÄ-Konzert, aww. Und erste Reihe vor Rod, WHOO! Und ein lustiges Gespräch mit Mr Wayne Jackson danach. Oder Ärzte Statt Böller? Erste Reihe mit Freunden aus Deutschland und den USA, und ein Bild von uns in der Zeitung am nächsten Tag. Oder das Bela-Konzert in Potsdam letztes Jahr? Ich sag nur: "Traumfrau OMG"!

[polarforscherin.livejournal.com]

I didn't understand more than a few words, but I know Carolina Kostner. I have to admit my soft spot for figure skating. I can watch it for hours.

I learnt French at school and discovered I'm able to read Spanish and Rumanian, but it doesn't work with Italian though it's a romanic language too. Weird. ;)

[polarforscherin.livejournal.com]

And btw I'd like to know what she did, I reread the text, but I don't get it. XD

[gothikmaus.livejournal.com]

Haha, well, it's normal you didn't understand much, I mentioned a few advertising campaigns in that post, and if you don't know them, it's quite difficult to get the sense of what I wrote.

Basically, she's in the new campaign of Cepu, this "school" that helps university students pass their exams. Meaning, you pay thousands of euros and they "make sure" you get through. Just how they make sure of it is still a mystery, but you basically buy your exams and degree.

In the past also a couple of football players appeared in those campaigns, and those players weren't, you know, "the brightest crayons in the box". So I was a bit disappointed when I saw Carolina Kostner in such a campaign. But, well, it's money.

Also, I saw her live in a competition when she was still 16 and she was already amazing.

[polarforscherin.livejournal.com]

Aha, a very interesting "school". Hey, football players are smart guys. XD

Carolina has got an amazing charisma and she's so damn elegant... :)