Friday, November 30, 2007
No menus to spare
I’ve realised that I’m quite resourceful at entertaining myself… My flight was delayed, so I decided to have a little glass of wine at an airport lounge. To my delight, I noticed, in front of me, an Euskera-Spanish bilingual menu, so I started concluding meanings of morphemes, analysing phonetics, and looking at grammatical structure of noun phrases (menus are not normally written in full sentences).
Ok. Does that sound geeky to you? Well, when it was finally time to board my flight, I asked the bar lady if I could take the menu with me (a simple printed piece of paper wedged between two pieces of plastic – printable off any computer), and was deeply hurt by the resounding “no”. Not even when I explained that I was a linguist doing an analysis of Euskera. That really made me sad for a moment. Now that’s geeky. However, now I’m happily in mid-air, on a few too many painkillers (wisdom tooth coming out), and not the least bit perturbed by the untimely end of my scientific/linguistic research. Time to enrol myself in Euskera classes, methinks.
But despite all that, I have drawn a few basic conclusions:
There is no [v], or else if there is, I have a suspicion that it is not distinguished from [b] as in Spanish, and that this seems to be reflected in the spelling. There was no evidence of any “v”, even in places where the words were borrowed and the ‘proper’ spelling required one (eg. Spanish Vermouth → Euskera Bermuti). I would conclude that Euskera does have a [v], but that it has fallen out of use, so that v → /b/ and that it has been reflected orthographically. I wonder if the French Basques do have a [v], because if they do, it would be evidence of one effect Spanish has had on Euskera pronunciation (v → /b/). However, [p] and [b] are separate phonemes, as are [k] and [g], [t] and [d], the usual “unvoiced-voiced” suspects. Also, generally, there is a CNC structure – Euskera avoids consonant clusters.
NP = (Adj.) N / N (Adj.)
This means that Basque must be an inflectional language – as the word order didn’t seem to be so important.
Euskera morphemes:
Edo = Or
Eta = And
Garagardo = Beer (or possibly the partitive form)
Ardo = Wine (again, possibly the partitive form)
Barazki = (Adj.) Vegetable/vegetarian
Ogitartekoa = Sandwich (probably inflected)
Ogi = Bread
Ogian = Bread + an (inflection)
Gazta = Cheese (may be inflected)
Erdionduzko = (Adj.) Semicured
*** *** ***
Final note... ONLY with Mimo, do I arrive in Helsinki to be taken straight to a Gothic party (with all my suitcases!). At least in Porvoo with my Aunt, I relaxed, did useful stuff and went to a poetry reading...
Not that it isn't useful to do spontaneous, relaxing things! I definitely enjoyed my surprise gothic night!!
fon @ 1:19 PM link to post * *
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The Parable of Ernie and Bert
I was feeling more depressed after class today than I've been since I've gotten to Bilbao (I really need to start being able to express myself more and stop being so hard on myself - I hardly know who I am anymore!)... and well, I thought I'd come home and do something silly to cheer myself up a little... so I decided to google something obscure in quotation marks in the hopes of finding something funny to read... and instead, I found a blog full of zen quotes, and little things that can be related to Buddhist thought. Let go, fon, let go. (p.s. I googled "where is the cow?")
The parable of Ernie and Bert and the painting of the cow eating grass
8. Ernie and Bert were at home. Ernie was standing before a blank canvas wearing a smock and a beret and holding a palette and a paintbrush, as though painting. 9. Bert approached Ernie and asked Ernie what he was doing. 10. "I am finishing a painting," he replied. 11. "But what have you painted? I see nothing," said Bert. 12. Said Ernie: "It is a picture of a cow eating grass." 13. "Where is the grass?" asked Bert, pointing at the blank white canvas, 14. to which replied Ernie, "The cow ate it." 15. "And where is the cow?" asked Bert. To which Ernie replied 16. "Why would the cow hang around if there is no more grass?"
Sesame 6:8-16
Two Monks
Two monks were walking down the street after a heavy rain that left the streets quite muddy. They came upon a a lady of very easy virtue vainly attempting to find a dry path across the road without soiling her kimono.
One monk, more compassionate than the other, picked up the woman and carried her across the street, setting her down on the other side of the road. He returned to his companion and they continued down the road for some minutes until the second monk chided the first with the remark, "You really shouldn't have done that."
"Done what?"
"Why, you contaminated yourself by touching that impure woman."
"Oh, are you still carrying her? I put her down on the other side of the street."
fon @ 10:58 PM link to post * *
Monday, November 26, 2007
When I was a little boy...
Txoco was awesome... and man, Fernando can SING! ;)
(by the way, if you are viewing this as a posted item in facebook, in order to see the videos, you'll have to read the original entry by clicking "view original")
More pictures on facebook, of course!
Ok, so niño = little boy, niña = little girl. I generally get the genders all wrong in Spanish, because they differ with just a/o... so we were talking about drag shows, and I wanted to mention that it's quite normal - family thing - to attend drag shows in Thailand... "When I was a little boy..."
Since Marta started us off in a sentimental mood today, I shall continue.
Life is short,
Break the rules,
Forgive quickly,
Kiss slowly,
Love truly,
Laugh uncontrollably,
And never regret anything that made you smile.
Well, that was corny, but has a ring of truth... you know. Little chain thingies from Mimosa on facebook... :)
p.s. Sid, my dear, it was awesome talking to you again today... will really have to think about that trip to Oz in June/July if you are still thinking of inviting me by then!
fon @ 5:29 AM link to post * *
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Mistaken cats & the dangers of babelfish : I (heart) NOHA
Trusting internet translating tools is fatal. As part of a presentation I had in class, I presented the following slide (I'm missing Euskera, but otherwise, there are all the languages of the class represented on the slide (the majority Latin languages, as you can see).
Can anyone tell me what's wrong with it? Well, first of all, I used babelfish for the majority. This means that there are two errors - one with the Portuguese, and the other with the Dutch.
"Withdraw me a cat" in Portuguese.
In Dutch... Apparently, I'm suggesting that we engage in sexual activities with the poor (male) kitty.
Well, at least Tessa was very amused. Fortunately, the cat she drew did not reflect the mistaken nature of the instructions.
I definitely am having a lot of fun with the course. I'm only sad that this semester is almost over...well, half over. Let's just say that it's only in Spain where your lecturers come out and get drunk with the whole class, and dance the night away with their students! ... and it's only in a programme like NOHA where an entire classroom is so helpful towards each other, and mutually enjoy each others company, despite the fact that all are from different corners of the world (but I still think Colombians are the most awesome ;P!)
Viva la NOHA :) *sniff* (I'm getting nostalgic)
(and if anyone's seen my phone after last night, please tell me!!)
fon @ 10:13 PM link to post * *
Monday, November 19, 2007
Universalism, utilitarianism in the context of Human Rights
-- I only ask questions, in hope that the truth may be revealed through the process of blowing away grains of sand from the surface. I do not 'seek' the truth, because that implies that I already know what I am looking for, and thus, what I dig up may not in fact be the truth. --
After a chat with Joana Abrisketa and Adriana today, I feel a little more convinced that I am NOT a universalist, even though Joana definitely is.
If we say that human rights are universal, it means that we are finding a zone where there are a priori principles that ALL cultures agree upon:
This excludes the logical possibility of there being a culture that wouldn't share this universal zone:
Before I continue - let me explain the distinction between a logical possibility and a physical possibility:
A physical possibility denotes the limits of a system: If I were to jump out the window right now, what would happen? I would fall to the ground.
A logical possibility denotes the limits of the imagination: Can you picture, in your mind, me jumping out the window and floating to the sky instead of falling to the ground? The answer should be "yes". However, if I ask you to imagine a triangle with 5 sides, or that 2 +2 = 18, you are unable to, because these are logical impossibilities.
But there you are - above you have a logical possibility of there being a culture that doesn't share that zone. You can visualize it - there it is. So, because it is not necessarily true, it is no longer universal in the classical sense.
Thus - the conclusion that we come to, is that Universalism is something relative. It only is true within the 'box' that is called "Universalism":
However, even if we are to accept the universality of humanitarian principles, within the physical boundaries of this world, surely we can't believe that they are applicable in every case? Thus, if the principles are universal, but their applicability in certain areas is almost impossible, this makes the argument for universal human rights very weak. This is not to say, of course, that we should be rejecting them all together - it is simply pointing out that what we call 'universal' is still, logically speaking, relative. And also, to pose the question of whether there is any utility for a right that cannot be applied?
Here, I have a quote by Socrates, from Republic 9:
"In heaven, I replied, there is laid up a pattern of it, methinks, which he who desires may behold, and beholding, may set his own house in order. But whether such an one exists, or ever will exist in fact, is no matter; for he will live after the manner of that city, having nothing to do with any other."
This poses a new question for the universalist: Do you want to live in that city? What does it mean, if you live according to those 'universal' principles?
So - on to relativism. For those of you who find universalism unsatisfying, we can examine the dichotomy.
Relativists accept that there are many points of view, and that each point of view is correct, and fully justifiable:
Which means that we have a big problem already, for the relativist:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Universalism must be correct and fully justifiable if relativism is correct!
So where does this leave us? We have logically rejected both extremes of the dichotomy. Perhaps, we should, instead, be questioning the rigid framework that working with dichotomies imposes upon us? Accepting dichotomies, and defining the world in terms of yes/no, good/evil, black/white delegitimizes everything in between as somehow watered down versions of the two 'pure' extremes. However, it is us that create dichotomies. They are not created in juxtaposition to each other! We have drawn the boundaries ourselves. Thus, there really are a lot of solutions that we don't have to view as 'compromises'. They can have a strength of their own.
If you ask me, I subscribe to a utilitarian school of thought. I don't think that human rights exist a priori (for those of you not of a philosophical background - 'a priori' means 'first' - in other words, if something exists 'a priori', it's existence is not dependent on anything else, and so there is no question of whether or not it is true), and we are simply in a process of discovering them.
I think there are no a priori truths, ie, in this case, a priori human rights. What we have is social contract. There are certain compromises that we should all come to in order to maximize the benefit for all. There are certain individuals who would choose to ignore these agreements that we come to, and therefore we exclude them from our society, or, having strength in numbers, we punish them for not accepting our point of view. But they are not universal, a priori rights. There are always people who think differently, and within their society, if they have one, they are not wrong.
The weakness here is that I would thus have to accept in a society where it maximised the overall benefit to abuse women, ignore environmental degradation and trample over labour rights, that we should still act to maximise benefits.
I don't believe that such a society ever existed. All it means is that a handful of more powerful persons claimed that such a society existed in order to maintain the status quo. That's what I believe.
But, otherwise - just a small thought to keep in mind: Most western nations did not sign many, if any at all, treaties or conventions affirming the inviolability of 'universal' rights for workers, women, children or humans until they had built up a strong capital base.
So, a couple more questions:
Is it fair to demand of developing nations certain standards that developed nations never themselves applied whilst they were themselves developing?
Or is it, in reality, a mechanism that developed nations have developed in order to maintain their status quo of global economic disparity?
fon @ 9:39 PM link to post * *
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Alcibiades on love and a chat on vulnerability...
So, here's the story: Phaedrus, a humanist scholar; Pausanias, a sophist; Euriyximachus, a physician; and Aristophanes, a comic playwright; and Socrates, the philosopher are having dinner.
Socrates opens the theme of debate amongst the men, and it is the theme of love. Keep in mind, though, that this is ancient Greece. So, by way of analogy: People get together nowadays, and have heated debates about sex whilst drunk or high or just generally socialising. Back then it was love. And so Socrates poses the question, "What is love?"
And this has several responses.
Phaedrus argues that love is a part of human nature, and it is something beautiful, to be admired. His is the classical notion of romantic love, highly idealised:
"Love is the oldest of all gods, the benefactor of humankind, the inspiration of honor (a man would rather die than appear as a coward in the eyes of his beloved) and the spirit of self-sacrifice."
Pausanias distinguishes between base and noble love, whilst Euriyximachus, the physician sanitises love and gives it a very mechanical spin. Aristophanes reckons that we were split apart by angry gods, and we are wandering around looking for our other half (to which Socrates asks whether one would REALLY want to joined with the 'other half', physically and mentally, inseperably) if we were to find them. Then, finally, Agathon makes a few comments on the essential nature of love, at times agreeing, at times contradicting Phaedrus.
But then, in crashes Alcibiades, perhaps the only one actually IN love (with Socrates), completely drunk, and shares what he feels about the topic. And in it, he encompasses the rage, the desire, the admiration and frustration that no amount of theorising can capture.
"When we hear any other speaker, even very good one, he produces absolutely no effect upon us, or not much, whereas the mere fragments of you and your words, even at second-hand, and however imperfectly repeated, amaze and possess the souls of every man, woman, and child who comes within hearing of them. And if I were not, afraid that you would think me hopelessly drunk, I would have sworn as well as spoken to the influence which they have always had and still have over me. For my heart leaps within me more than that of any Corybantian reveller, and my eyes rain tears when I hear them. And I observe that many others are affected in the same manner. I have heard Pericles and other great orators, and I thought that they spoke well, but I never had any similar feeling; my soul was not stirred by them, nor was I angry at the thought of my own slavish state. But this Marsyas has often brought me to such pass, that I have felt as if I could hardly endure the life which I am leading (this, Socrates, you will admit); and I am conscious that if I did not shut my ears against him, and fly as from the voice of the siren, my fate would be like that of others,-he would transfix me, and I should grow old sitting at his feet. For he makes me confess that I ought not to live as I do, neglecting the wants of my own soul, and busying myself with the concerns of the Athenians; therefore I hold my ears and tear myself away from him. And he is the only person who ever made me ashamed, which you might think not to be in my nature, and there is no one else who does the same. For I know that I cannot answer him or say that I ought not to do as he bids, but when I leave his presence the love of popularity gets the better of me. And therefore I run away and fly from him, and when I see him I am ashamed of what I have confessed to him. Many a time have I wished that he were dead, and yet I know that I should be much more sorry than glad, if he were to die: so that am at my wit's end."
Symposium is just two pages long, but enough to give us something to think about: http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/ancient-Greece/plato/plato-symposium.asp
So leading on from that, the topic of cruelty - well... I see an obvious link, anyhow... Getting into the head of Alcibiades (if you read Symposium, you'll understand, I think)
Anyhow, perhaps this conversation does start out on the topic of the causes of cruelty. However, it moves on to show that perhaps, the unfortunate fact is that there is no sincerity in the world, or if there is, it's in very negligible amounts. Here, Fon the undying optimist is shown that her 'leaps of good faith' in people are, in fact, not good things as she would like to believe they are...
fon: why are some people so cruel when they are hurt?
p: cos they are afraid
fon: of?
p: and they need to make themselves feel better
p: afraid of looking vunerable
fon: and what's wrong with looking vulnerable?
p: it's not an attractive atribute in this world
p: look at me
fon: what do you mean?
p: well i am indecisive . . .as u know, that means I have a weakness, which can be expolited, if someone chooses to . . .
p: so out of fear I may try to hurt someone elses feelings to make them feel no better than me
p: hypothetically of course
fon: and you think that is attractive?
p: no I think it is unattractive
fon: Here's what I think: Someone who is vulnerable can be either attractive or unattractive.
p: oooh I see
fon: By being honest, they are attractive
p: ooooh, so that is good for me, now i know why ur in love with me . . .:D
p: haha
fon: By trying to look strong, when they really aren't, they become very unattractive - especially if they do that by being cruel to others
p: i see
fon: What do you think?
p: i think people will always try to appear better than what they are and attack people who aren't - it's human nature
p: it's not a question of attractive or unattractive
p: it's a fact of life
fon: All people?
p: i am very surprised that u have problems - u seem to be sooo . . . strong and assured
p: yes, most people in my experience
fon: Well, I do tend to be quite 'strong and assured' as you put it - but i don't have a problem admitting if i feel weak
p: well . . .be careful who u admit this too
p: if u admit it to the wrong person . . . it can be a very bad thing
fon: I'd rather be honest with everyone... and if somebody wants to abuse that trust, well, what can i say... at least i am not the one living with secrets
p: very noble
fon:is it?
fon: it seems logical to me
p: yes, ur like a prince in a fairytale
fon: by harbouring negative feelings, am i not just making life more difficult for myself?
[after some random banter, a return to the topic]
fon: i value the kind of people who like to find out the truth for themselves
p: very noble
fon: stop saying that!
fon: it's just logical!
p: like i said u live like a olden day knight
p: unfortunately this logic may not serve u soo well in this day and age
fon: if you look at the big picture, it makes more sense to have principles that guide you than live in sordid self-interest!
p: sordid self interest?
p: wow
p: very profound
fon: ok, maybe you are right.... i live in my own fantasy world with principles in it
p: i think people like you, are the type that are usually describes as "taking the high road"
p: do u understand?
fon: high road?
fon: oh shit
p: it means moral high ground
p: unfortunately this is "the road less travelled"
p: haha, wow, I am very philosophical too eh?
fon: so i'm screwed in other words
p: no ur not, as long as u only associate with people on the same road as you
fon: hehe.... well, you get philosophical, talking to someone somewhat bent on philosophy
p: u got me talking in metaphors tonite
p: :D
p: philosphy is good, but don't get caught up in it too much
fon: lol... but there's no fun in associating with moral people
p: ooooh i see, so u want someone different? someone exciting?
p: then ur setting yourself up to for a "big fall"
fon: oh, i've taken that big fall many a times
p: and u'll probably take it many times again I think
fon: it's like bunjee jumping though
fon: you don't really fall, and there's no limit, really, on how many times you can do it
p:yes but u know what happens with bunjee jumping?
fon: what?
p: after u go down u get quite as high as what u originally were, and over time the stress slowly damages ur joints and muscles
p: from the strain
[more banter]
fon: well, let's call it a strength, to be able to be open about weaknesses then!
p: oooh haven't u listened to anything I said
fon: nope, i'm really stubborn
fon: aren't i?
p: i know i know
fon: haha
p: even what u told me can now be used against u
p: if i choose to
fon: yeah, but i trust you
p: don't u understand?
p: u can't trust me, that's the point
fon: but i DO
p: got it?
p: but u can't, what if I turn around and betray ur trust?
fon: I trust everyone until they prove otherwise, and even then, I prefer to give them another chance
fon: so what?
fon: I won't die if you betray my trust
fon: I'll get over it and live another day, and I'll try to understand why you wanted to betray my trust
p: NO!
p: u don't let people make mistakes, cos oneday u lose something more important than what u experienced before
fon: There's nothing wrong with losing things
p: oooh fon fon
But if anyone would like to be encouraging, please defend my argument for trust!! I believe that there is no reason to distrust anyone until they prove that they are really not worth trusting - and that by trusting people, they will, in most cases, live up to that trust. But if you start off not trusting them, you are not giving that person an opportunity to show that they are trustworthy either... My "naive" conclusion: As a general rule, trust people.
This is my own version of rule utilitarianism.
Quick rundown: Utilitarian philosphy: "maximise overall benefits"
This means, in principle, that if I borrow $20 from you, and on my way to return it to you, I see a starving beggar, I should give it to the beggar. And then, I should tell you that the beggar needed it more than you, and therefore, I didn't return your money.
So, there's something wrong with that, no?
Thus, I should extract myself from everyday situations and look at general rules that maximise benefits, instead. So now I have a rule that says, "Always return what you borrow"
Thus, when in doubt, I have a rule to fall back on (thus, rule utilitarianism).
So now I do return you the money, if I live by those principles.
Ok... so in this case, trust. I don't know whether or not to trust you - but because I have a rule that says that the best way to maximize benefit is by trusting people (if you don't trust them, you'll never ask them for anything, and thus, never benefit), now I will trust you. Obviously, this doesn't mean that I ALWAYS have to trust everyone, but at least, now I have a guiding principle. Good, no?
fon @ 5:05 PM link to post * *
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Cooking... Por fin!!
As I was mentioning in my previous post, I feel like I am a clumsy foreigner unable to express myself... and for some strange reason, that makes the act of cooking undeniably important to me. It's a form of expression that has become central.
Or rather, it's become more central than it's ever been (for those of you who've been eating my food for years, you aren't going to believe that I love cooking even MORE now)... No cooking = sad Fon.
Communication is something important to all of us... and failing that, I suppose feeling useful is?
So please... anyone, everyone... invite yourselves over to eat!!
fon @ 12:33 AM link to post * *
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Lacking lemongrass, a true culture shock!
Of all people, I never thought I'd be the one to go through culture shock, or have difficulties settling in anywhere. I never have.
But all of a sudden, I feel this bumbling foreigner, totally imbalanced, and in a grey area of existence. I'm not me, I can't be me - I can't find the cultural contexts within which to express myself. Hell, I can't even find lemongrass!
I'm trying so hard to think and speak in Spanish, that when I finally do speak Thai, English or Finnish, it's a bit difficult to express myself again. I'm finding myself 'non-lingual'.
But I shouldn't be whining, should I? Lots of international student in Australia went through that all the time in Monash. But, in defense of my situation, and that of the few non-Hispanics and non-Basques living here, I guess I'd like to mention that, well... at least they had other people from their own countries to form communities with, to speak their own language with, to make their own food with. Like I said, I can't even find lemongrass here. Lime, coriander, and fresh basil are rare commodities. I brought back ginger from Barcelona, even! Oolong tea? Forget it? Spring onion, Kaffir lime leaf, Galangal? What's that?!
Ok, so that's just food. But if you take the culinary culture as a reflection of the population here... Well, you know where I'm headed. No lemongrass = no Thais.
Not much intention of letting foreigners feel comfortable, either. Barcelona is so nice and international. They all want you to feel like you are part of the group there. They try to teach you Catalan. Here? Well, "Euskera [Basque language] is too difficult for you - don't even try."
Like the obstinate creature that I am, I set out on a mission to find the one store selling any Asian commodities in town. It was a sad little shop, barely a quarter the size of my room, with some dry and frozen Chinese ingredients. Well, I did find a big sack of Thai jasmine rice. That's a start, at least!
Am I the village fool - refusing to just blend in and behave like everyone else? Should I stop trying to be comfortable just being me?
fon @ 5:47 PM link to post * *
Friday, November 02, 2007
The days grow longer...
Another day with Autumn Leaves stuck in my head... "I miss you most of all my darling, when autumn leaves, start to fall". I think that song was plaguing me two months ago... and well, it's doing it again now. Except this time I haven't exactly said good-bye to anyone recently. Or, well... maybe I have. And maybe that's why I'm feeling down.
The days grow longer... not only in the sense that it is autumn in Spain [I've had autumn in four countries this year - Finland (August), Germany (September), Holland (September), Spain (October-November)], but that I'm also leaving things to the evening. I was going to go to the post-office before 1.30, but then I here I am, on my sofa, reading "Zones of Peace" (ed. L. E. Hancock and C. Mitchell)... and it's 2.20.... siesta time. I guess that means it's not until 4.30 or 5.00 that I should worry about moving myself from this spot. It's always mañana, mañana here... I love it. I still haven't opened a bank account. I haven't registered with the town hall or police. I haven't paid my school fees, and I haven't enrolled at uni. And nobody cares...!
So... Zones of Peace, waiting for Green Leaf Christmas Tea from Sweden (thanks to IKEA), listening to Bay Smooth Jazz Internet Radio, and well... Mañana, mañana.
The only problem is that tomorrow never really comes. Not the tomorrow that I'd like to see, anyhow.
Bloody África. She's back from a walk, and has jumped on my lap with muddy paws.
Did I mention that Bilbao is NOT sunny all the time? Just cos it's in Spain, it doesn't mean it's nice. I mean, it's nice, of course, but certainly not in the cliché Spain sense. Here it's about the landscape, and the antiquity... For those of you who don't quite get me - and are not on facebook - here's some photos from San Sebastian (on a rare but much appreciated sunny day)
It makes me look forward to the day when I move to Bkk to work. I won't be suffering from many days of overcast skies, anyhow.
This is África:
fon @ 8:14 PM link to post * *