April 2014

Directly Speaking

Who cares about punctuation, anyway? Is it really relevant? You decide. Read the two letters below. The words are the same. See what a difference
punctuation makes?

The Importance of Correct Punctuation

From Games Magazine, 1984

We examine two "Dear John" letters ...

Version 1:

Dear John,

I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior.

You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy--will you let me be yours?

Gloria

Version 2:

Dear John,

I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior.

You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?

Yours,

Gloria

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Thank you for your time and interest!

Sharlene Vichness, President

and the rest of the Language Directions Team

Welcome!

We are delighted to bring the April 2014 issue of DIRECTLY SPEAKING

to your inbox. In this issue, we offer up some strategies you can use to push past language and cultural challenges at work. We will continue to post little tips to improve rapport, understanding, and efficiency, both at work and in any interpersonal communication with folks of a different culture.

Palindromes

Palindromes are words and sentences that read the same forwards and backwards. They have been popular since ancient times. Some palindromes in English include

race car, taco cat, never odd or even. Have you ever thought about palindromes in other languages?

Spanish

D�bale arroz a la
zorra el abad

(The abbot gave rice to the female fox)

Dutch

Koortsmeetsysteemstrook

(Thermometer, fever)

German

Eibohphobie

(This means a fear of palindromes)

Fast Fact

There are about 225 indigenous languages in Europe - roughly 3% of the world's total.

Tongue Twister

You've known me to light a night light on a light night like tonight. There's no need to light a night light on a light night like tonight, for a night light's a slight light on tonight's light night.

Language Directions, 188 Eagle Rock Ave, Roseland, NJ 07068, (973) 228-8848