An English Speaker's Comment

After reading Svetlana Zaskoka’s interesting piece on differences in relationship terminology, I would like to point out a few things.

One of the most confusing things to me as an English teacher and resident in Russia for many years is my friends and students speaking to me of their “brothers” or “sisters” when they’ve told me before that they are “only children”. How they acquired siblings overnight totally amazes me! Then, upon questioning them further, I discover that they are referring to a cousin instead.

After several years of wrestling with this problem I assumed that this distortion of relationships came about because of small families (the desire for real brothers and sisters) and / or families living in close proximity as the children grow up together. I never suspected that it was because speakers of English overuse the word “cousin” to mean laterally-related kin. In my family, my mother was closer to several second-cousins (two brothers had married two sisters) than she was to her own two physical sisters, but she would never call them “sisters”. In fact, “Cuz” is a very affectionate way of referring to a cousin.

One other point here, why is it necessary to have a collective term for “nieces and nephews” when we only have the formal “siblings” to refer to the collective of brothers and sisters?

By Erin Bouma

Unit 2

Computer Dating Bureau

If you join a computer dating service, you will have to fill out this kind of form.

Computer Dating Information Form Please fill in the questions below: 1. Age ____________ 4. Sex ______________ 2. Height __________ 5. Hair colour ________ 3. Weight __________ 6. Languages ________ Qualities 7. The qualities I would like in a date are: (check if appropriate) beauty humоur generosity sexiness intelligence seriousness kindness energy honesty success mystery sympathy 8. I feel most comfortable with people who are: athletic articulate peaceful successful intellectual protective exciting fun-loving romantic artistic ambitious religious 9. The occupations I am most interested in are: medical fine arts engineering social work legal business science religion education sports home economics other 10. My favorite activities are: movies dancing politics partying Т .V. music religious cooking sports reading talking painting 11. People think that I am: shy pessimistic gullible talented strong brave attractive successful reliable intellectual amusing optimistic tough tactful argumentative a loner 12. I prefer to date someone who is: my age slightly younger much younger slightly older much older Mail this form, with $5.00 and a self-addressed return envelope, to COMPUTER CUPID. 2 Lovers Lane. Happytown, California. We will send you the names and addresses of three perfect dates!

Unit 3