E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: Christmas

Christmas is not only a very special major celebration in American culture, but around the world. There is a saying that goes like this: Jesus is the Reason for the Season. If you are in the USA you will see all kinds of decorations at homes and businesses as early as the end of November until after New Years Day including nativity scenes with baby Jesus, his parents, visitors; Santa Claus, sleighs and reindeer; wreaths, holly, Christmas trees, angels, snow, mistletoe, Christmas lights; special Church liturgies; feasts; carols; and gift-giving among family and friends, all of which are part of the season. Christmas means Christ's mass. 

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In Christian tradition, Jesus Christ is the greatest example of gift-giving, who was the gift sent to this world by God the Father to redeem mankind from sin which separates man from God. Once a person receives the gift of Christ, considering him their personal Savior and Lord, asking him for forgiveness of their sins...from that moment they are forgiven. They begin to live for Christ in relationship with him, growing in, expressing and living the teachings and principles of Christ who promises them eternal life through his death and resurrection.

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Nativity scene in the front yard of a house

A verse in the New Testament Bible depicts the motivation behind Christ's coming to earth as God in human flesh and his mission: For God loved the world so much that he gave his only son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (The Living Bible, Book of John, chapter 3, verse 16). This is the historical event which began the Christmas celebration. The exact date of Jesus' birth is unknown. It began to be celebrated by some Christian groups in the mid-4th century on December 25, and later celebrated by the majority around the world on this date.  

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There is also the secular part of the Christmas tradition which includes Santa Claus (aka: St. Nicholas, Father Christmas and Christkind), with his sleigh, reindeer, the Christmas tree, entering homes via the chimney to deliver gifts. Gift-giving is also part of this secular tradition and a very happy time for good children who look forward to receiving presents from "Santa". 

Santa Claus
demenglog.com. Photo: public domain

St. Nicholas of Myra (modern day Turkey) of the 4th century was known for his generous gifts to the poor. The 19th century poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas, popularized this image of Santa Claus. Since the 20th century the idea was established of Santa Claus delivering candy and toys to good children and coal to naughty children around the world in a single night on Christmas Eve.

pdsh.wikia.com Photo: public domain

A 13th century depiction of St. Nicholas of Myra from St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai
Photo: public domain.

The important thing is to remember the true meaning of Christmas and to keep the spirit of Christmas alive in our hearts all year around, as demonstrated through the life of Christ, the Prince of Peace.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: The laptop

Do you know why the laptop computer is called a laptop? Can you guess?

Give up?!? Well, when we are seated our legs form what is called the lap*. We put things on top of it when seated like a dinner tray, a child, a girlfriend, a cat, a puppy, a book...or a mobile computer. 

So, we put these two words together to form a new word: laptop. This new term coined in the early 1980s differentiated the mobile computer from the larger and stationary desktop computer (which usually is set on top of a desk). The laptop computer is light enough to be placed on the top of one's lap. Thus, was born the term laptop.

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Notebook computers came later and were a bit lighter and smaller, like a note pad or notebook children use in school. Nowadays, the term laptop pretty well dominates as the term for all mobile computers.

You are on your way to speaking impressive American English!

*TheFreeDictionary by Farlex defines lap: a. The front area from the waist to the knees of a seated person.

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: Punctuality

Punctuality is an important American virtue. If you are in the USA or if your boss is an American and you have made a commitment to meet at a specific time, it is a good idea to get there on time. Whether it be a dinner engagement, a walk in the park, a business meeting, a tennis match, a conference call or whatever, care should be taken to be there at least 5 minutes before the set time. 

If you are more than 5 minutes late, that is unacceptable. If you arrive late, it is considered disrespectful to the other person or persons, and it is not taken well. It could be disastrous if you are consistently late and could mean losing a friendship, a deal or even your job. When you are late you convey the message that those waiting for you are not as important as you, that their time is not as important as yours. Even if that is not your intent, it will be seen that way.

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Hardly anyone ever misses a flight. Why? Because it is important. It would cost us money, a lot of time and inconvenience if we were to miss a flight. Americans will use this comparison to stress the importance of being on time to colleagues who are late. Everyone's time is valuable, so if you want to show you agree with that, show up on time!

The only acceptable cases for being late are emergencies such as a car accident, sickness, or an act of nature like an earthquake or an unavoidable traffic jam. In any case, if you know you are going to be late, you should inform the people you are going to meet.

This is the American mindset concerning punctuality. If you make the effort to arrive 5-10 minutes before the set time of any commitment, Americans will love you for it.

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: 24/7

24/7 is a very popular expression in the USA. Shortening things is popular, for example, from proper names to nicknames like: Robert-Bobby-Bob, Elizabeth-Lisa, Rudolph-Rudy, Deborah-Debbie-Deb, etc. Not too long ago someone had the idea to shorten "24 hours, 7 days a week" to "24/7". 

Then someone added the number of days in one year - 365 - (with the exception of a leap* year, which has 366 when February has 29 days). 

We used to say "That restaurant is open around the clock" or "That restaurant is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week". Some people may still say this. But, 24/7 has pretty well replaced these longer phrases.

So, you could say things like:

• Wow! You work 24/7! You must be a workaholic!
• That restaurant is open 24/7.
• The saw mill is running 24/7/365!
• She would talk 24/7 as long as someone is listening.

Now, when said orally, you should hear this:

• Wow! You work twenty-four seven! You must be a workaholic.
• That restaurant is open twenty-four seven.
• The saw mill is running twenty-four seven three sixty-five!**
• She would talk twenty-four seven as long as someone is listening.

So, this gives you an idea how and when you use the expression 24/7 or 24/7/365.

You are on your way to speaking impressive American English!

*The Leap year usually happens every 4 years according to the Gregorian Calendar.

** You would say twenty-four seven three sixty-five, instead of twenty-four seven three hundred and sixty-five. 

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: Comments, questions, clarifications?

American Way English has written a few posts now and will be writing more on the subjects we have promised in the first post "What our blog offers".

But, we would like you to know how important your questions are to us and we are sure you have some. Your question represents the question that others may have, so asking yours is important to them as well as to you.

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Please know that you can post your comments, questions or requests for clarification on anything written in this blog or anything that has not yet been written regarding American culture and English. You may want to read all of the material in this blog before posting your question, as it may already be answered. We only ask that it all be said and done in good taste. 

American Way English would like not to deal with indecency, as we are sure everyone will understand and appreciate. Swear words and gross language, you will discover are well defined in movies and in novels. So, we would not have much to add on these in this blog. The use of the same should be pretty clear as you hear them spoken in the context of the movie or book.

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In the near future, American Way English will be offering cultural orientation seminars for corporations which have employees who will take positions outside of Brazil. These seminars will especially focus on the United States, on other English-speaking countries and countries where businesspeople speak and write English in the workplace. Please keep an eye on the Contact page for information regarding these seminars. If you have any questions or special needs regarding this subject, please send us an email.

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If you have any distinct cultural differences of any country that you would like to explain or information that you would like to offer, please contact us by email (please see the Contact page for our email address).

Thank you for being willing to help make this blog a better source of information for you. We are here to serve. Please help us reach this objective and in doing so you will be that much closer to speaking impressive American English!

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: Thanksgiving Day

Today we are celebrating Thanksgiving Day!!

Thanksgiving Day is a major federal holiday that has been celebrated ever since 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficient Father who dwelleth in the Heavens", during the civil war. In 1789, George Washington proclaimed it a national celebration, but it was not yet a federal holiday. It is observed on the last Thursday of November.

The Embarkation of the Pilgrims
By American painter Robert Walter Weir
Painting: Public Domain

The English Pilgrims (as they were to be called) separated themselves from the established Church of England, supporting the Protestant Reformation. Under Oliver Cromwell's leadership the monarchy was for a time replaced by a republic which included England, Ireland and Scotland. Later, when the monarchy was reestablished, the Pilgrims (my family's forefathers) left England for the New World in search of religious freedom. In 1620, the Pilgrims founded the Plymouth colony in what is today Plymouth, Massachusetts. 

Royalty Free Stock Images
dreamstime.com

The First Thanksgiving feast was celebrated by the Pilgrims for three days for God's blessing on their very first harvest in the New World in 1621. Fifty-three Pilgrims were joined by ninety Native Americans for the feast. Days of prayer thanking the Lord God were a regular practice of the new Americans. About two and a half centuries later, Thanksgiving Day was declared a major federal holiday in the United States.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States) 

It is also celebrated in Canada on the second Monday of the month of October, however many Canadian families choose to have Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday because of the convenience of the weekend.

Horn of Plenty
itsdaybyday.com

Thanksgiving (today referred to also as "Turkey Day") is celebrated with the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner in homes as an expression of the "Horn of Plenty", the abundance of the first harvest of the Pilgrims in the New World and by Thanksgiving Day Parades in many cities. 

The Thanksgiving Dinner traditionally has turkey; ham; mashed potatoes; gravy (made from the juices of the cooked turkey); caramelized yams; turkey dressing made of bread chunks, onions, and spices (part of the dressing is placed inside the turkey before going into the oven); cranberry sauce, hot bread rolls, green beans, jello salads and more.  It is a time to be with family and friends and to just have a great time thanking God for his provision. Even those who do not necessarily thank God, celebrate this day. It is part of the American heritage. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: Go figure

Go figure is a North American idiomatic expression which means: It's really strange.; Just try to figure it out.; Incredible.

Here are some examples in sentences:

• I was talking to her on the phone, when she hung up on me! Go figure.
• The TV series was really popular, yet they took it off the air - go figure, right?
• He is such a nice guy, but ended up in prison for identity theft. Go figure!

• We were all late for the meeting by about 15 minutes. Yet, they didn't start the meeting until we got there...go figure. Our presence must have been extremely important.

This expression is informal, but used in all circles: formal and informal social gatherings, classrooms, family get togethers, and business meetings.

This will help you on your way to speaking impressive American English!

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: "When push comes to shove..."

"When push comes to shove" is an American idiomatic expression meaning: when things get tense or difficult or when the pressure is on. The implication in such a situation is that some kind of action is required on the part of those involved to successfully get through or resolve the difficult situation. This expression can begin with if, also: "If push comes to shove..."

Push means to apply pressure or force against something in order to move it, like the action taken to open a door with one's hand.

Shove means an aggressive action of pushing forward.

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Rafting at Brotas, Brazil

When looking at these two words individually and then relating them one to the other you get something like this: The application of pushing against something that becomes more intense, stronger. So if we think of the expression, when push comes to shove, the imagery we get is that someone is pushing against some opposing force, be it a difficult situation, or challenge, or something in the physical realm which causes discomfort or presents a degree of danger. In other words the opposing force could be a heavy door, a divorce, a race, a fight that someone needs to get through (survive or conquer) and not be defeated by it.

Examples in sentences:

• When push comes to shove we are going to make it to the top of Mt. Everest.
• If push comes to shove they will have to confront the boss.
• You'll do well in the competition when push comes to shove.
• If push comes to shove the astronauts have the necessary training and stamina to deal with any tough situation they might encounter. 
• When push comes to shove the little girl conquers her shyness the first few days at the new school.

So, there you have it! This should help you on your way to speaking impressive American English!

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Lisa's first River Rafting experience at Brotas (2014)

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: Phrasal verb "call off"

Call off is a phrasal verb (verb + preposition) widely used in American English. Depending on the context within which it is used, the meaning changes. And as you may already know, you cannot take the two words literally when together. This is why phrasal verbs are a real challenge for people whose English is not their mother tongue.

Here are some examples:

• You better call off the dogs before they bite somebody. 

In this context, the phrasal verb call off means to "control" or "stop" the dogs from advancing on  someone.

• The boss told Jim to call off the 2 p.m. meeting.

In this context, the phrasal verb means "cancel".

Trained attack dog Samo leaps forward toward a decoy's arm wrap as Tech. Sgt. David Adcox restrains him.
www.wikipedia.org. Image: Public domain

See if you understand the correct meaning of call off in the following sentences - stop or cancel. 

Note: the verb tense may change.

1. Hey buddy, I heard your fiancée called off the wedding?
2. Due to rain, the baseball game was called off.
3. Call off the cops. There's no thief here!
4. The teacher is calling off the contest until further notice.
5. Tony calls off the boys when the argument intensifies.

See how you did below:

Answers: 

1. cancelled
2. cancelled
3. Stop
4. canceling
5. stops

You are on your way to speaking impressive American English!

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: The thank you note

THE THANK YOU NOTE in American culture is extremely important. Whenever you receive a gift from an American it is customary to send a thank you note to the giver. This applies to Americans in or outside of the United States...wherever you find them.

If you fail to send a thank you note after receiving a gift, Americans will think you didn't like it, or that you didn't appreciate it, or that you took the gift and gesture for granted. You might get a gift for your birthday, wedding anniversary, wedding, graduation, or for any occasion. 

tietheknot.co.za

You may never get a gift or present again from that friend or colleague, if you don't send a thank you note. It may sound like we are an overly sensitive bunch, but that's our cultural tradition: to say thank you via the thank you note where gift-giving is concerned.

It is a good idea to send a thank you note even after a stay overnight or eating a meal in an American home having received an invitation, that is, after you have eaten the meal and gone. But, not immediately after. You can wait a couple of days and then send it by mail, or email, or from an e-card site, or make one yourself and send it!

Invitationcreations4u.com

The thank you note is usually very simple (not notes for children). It may only have the words "THANK YOU!" on the front and nothing inside, so you can write any additional words yourself.

The thank you note is considered an ideal way to show your appreciation for the gift, kind thoughts behind such a gesture or just for your participation in an event. It also saves you time calling on the phone to thank your friend, colleague or relative.

So, you can buy a packet of thank you notes and keep it in your study, den, workplace or in a drawer in the kitchen or bedroom. This way you are ready for any occasion when you might get a nice little (or big) surprise and can send a thank you note off the very next day if you want! 

thecardgallery.co.uk

Even if the gift-giver hands you the gift personally and you thank them verbally, you can still send them a thank you note! You cannot overdo thanking Americans (see post on Thank you).

Making this a practice will build relationships. Thank you notes are a great way to win friends and maintain relationships, whether they be casual or business. Your American friends will love you for it and think you are really into the their culture!

design-milk.com

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: Mealtime visits & phone calling

Visiting during mealtime is generally viewed as a no-no. If you wish to visit American friends at any time, it is customary to first call and ask them if you can "come over". Visiting unannounced is not normally acceptable, unless you are really good friends and even with this level of closeness, it is better to give them a call first just out of courtesy. 

If you happen to call during mealtime most American friends might say, "Could you come over in about an hour, because we just sat down to eat dinner". If you should happen to call at this time you should end your call something like this: "Oh, okay. Sorry for disturbing your dinner. See you in about an hour. Bye-bye". 

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Eating out American style

Calling by phone (or any other telecommunications device) at mealtime is also a no-no. Americans living in the USA usually eat dinner anytime between 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. when at home. Lunchtime is usually between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Breakfast is sometime after they get up on weekends or between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. during the week, depending on when and if they work or not. Many Americans eat breakfast out and not at home on weekends, especially on Sundays, and it can be what we call brunch, a word combining a late breakfast and early lunch. You also do not want to call a friend or anyone else while they are eating out, either.

Expatriates (Americans living outside of the USA) sometimes adopt the mealtimes of the host country.

Generally, you would not call your American friends in the early morning hours between 12 midnight to 9 a.m. If it is during the workweek, you should not call at all in the mornings, unless it is really important. You should not call after 9:30 p.m. Most American families would considered this too late in the evening. Even some singles would consider anytime after 9 p.m. too late to call. If you think you can call during the "unacceptable hours", you should have the verbal permission of your friends to do so.

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: Getting down to business

Getting down to business is an expression frequently used in the American vernacular. It means to get serious about something or to get down to work. In the first instance - to get serious - you can use this expression in any context where time may be limited and a project has a deadline; a discussion must take place; initiating the eating of a meal; or you are about to compete in a race, etc.

• Ok, everybody. We need to finish this project by tomorrow night. Let's cut the small talk and get down to business (to get serious).
• Thanks for coming on such short notice. The CEO from Britain is arriving at 2 pm, so we have just 3 hours before we need to get down to business.
• Hey, guys! The waiter is bringing our food, so now it's time to get down to business. I don't know about you, but I'm really hungry!

                                             
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Watermelon-eating race

In the second instance - to get down to work - you can use interchangeably with the other two expressions: to get serious; to get down to business.

• The race is about to start, so you better get serious.
• Let's get down to work before the food gets cold.

Now, we'll use to get down to business in the same sentences:

• The race is about to start, so you better get down to business. (Context meaning: to get serious, to concentrate, to prepare to start)
• Let's get down to business before the food gets cold. (Context meaning: to start eating and enjoy it)

...and so on.

To get down to work can also be used literally in the workplace. Suppose you are in the office and you have a lot to do today, so you say to your colleague: 

• We only have 6 hours left today, so we'd better get down to work if we want to finish up by five.

You are on your way to speaking impressive American English!

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: Excuse me

Excuse me is a phrase that is related to an American's personal space (see previous post). If you pass in front of an American within 30 cm to almost a meter's distance, you should say "Excuse me". For example, if you pass in front of an American in a supermarket who is looking at the shelves full of food stuffs, you should say excuse me, as you are passing between this individual and the shelves, blocking their view momentarily. 

If you don't say anything and just pass by, it is considered rude, because you have entered their personal space. If the American is within a meter of the shelf and viewing it, you should consider walking behind them to pass by. That is the best option.

If you are at the dinner table and you reach in front of an American to get the salad bowl rather than ask him or her to pass the salad to you, you have invaded his or her personal space (see post on personal space). If you insist on reaching in front of them for the salad bowl, you should say excuse me. In American culture, it is customary to ask the person near the plate of food to pass it to you, adding a "please" (see post on please). 

It is considered very bad manners to reach across someone's plate to get the salad, potatoes or whatever. They just might get the urge to bite your arm if you do this, indicating to you that your arm is in the wrong place! If you happen to bump into someone or step on a toe or when walking by them you brush shoulders, it is customary to say "excuse me" or "pardon me" or even "sorry", in this case.

If you are within earshot of anyone when you belch or accidently pass gas you should say "excuse me", unless you think that you cannot be identified by the crowd or group around you and you would like to remain anonymous.

So, as a rule of thumb, you cannot go wrong if you say excuse me in these cases or any situations where you invade their personal space, or might make them feel uncomfortable, uneasy or embarrassed. Americans will love you for it!

You are on your way to speaking impressive American English!

E-TIDBIT OF THE DAY: Personal space

Personal Space varies from one culture to another. American personal space is considerably wider when compared to Latin Americans. If you are any closer than 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) to an American you are in most cases too close. Unless the person happens to be a naturalized American citizen from a Latin or Arabic country, personal space defends a radius of at least 30-40 or more centimeters. 

One of the most annoying situations for an American is in a line when someone gets so close that they touch him or her. Another good example is at the checkout counter in a supermarket when the person next in line invades that 30-centimeter limit! For us Americans this invasion is very critical and uncomfortable. When this happens to me, like it does on occasion, I want to tell the person to back off! But, I control myself and ride it out.

If you are sitting in an airport (or airplane) next to an American, shoulder to shoulder, don't worry that the distance is less than the 30 cm.  But, it would be best not to lean toward the person on the chair's armrest. If you do that they will feel you are infringing on their personal space and might get up and sit somewhere else nearby. 

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When talking with someone face-to-face, a comfortable distance is about 30-40 centimeters or more. One should be careful touching an American. If you are a friend, then touching is normally acceptable and natural. If you are an acquaintance, it's better to avoid touching, with the exception of during an introduction (handshake or possibly a hug). If you are a total stranger, you just do not touch and you keep your distance outside of the 30-40 cm. 

And you might want to use a breath mint just to be on the safe side!