Fighting for...well...money

Howdy, folks. Sorry this update is a bit late, but I was busy writing two other articles and completely forgot.

Don't forget! We are here to find different ways to practice our English online. If you are interested in a topic, and you'd like me to research it for you, please let me know by sending an email to surfin.english@gmail.com. It's always better to read about something you are interested in, because it is easier to remember new vocabulary. (That's why I know how to talk about Space Engineering in Japanese.)

Anyway, this month we looked at a couple of websites that are good for you folks interested in Martial Arts. If you click on the main link you will go to the online version of the article. I have a couple of extra ones here for you to take a look at.

Let's start with an art we all know, Kendo. If you grew up in Japan, or went to school here, you will find the wikipedia article pretty easy to understand. It talks about the history, how it is practiced, and gives you links on different Kendo federations around the world. I thought it was interesting, but I'm a history buff (see definition #4).

Here's a site at York University in Toronto, Canada that has a brief history section, and a bunch of videos on Kendo kata. This isn't great English practice, but the videos are cool.

Tai Chi is the next martial art I'd like to learn. It's good for any age group, any fitness level, and it looks really cool when you speed it up. Again, it's good to start at the Wikipedia article, and then go from there.

This site talks about the philosophy of Tai Chi, and is really interesting if you'd like to learn more about Taoism. There is a lot of info here, so take it slowly.

That's it. This is a really quick entry because I'm planning on updating the blog every week from now on, instead of every month, so let me know what you think of the sites.

What's the difference between "almost" and "most"?

I received an email last night asking, "what's the difference between almost and most?"

There is one difference between "almost" and "most". If you can remember it, you will never make an "almost" mistake again.

Almost is an adverb and most is an adjective. Adverbs can modify pretty much anything you like. They can modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Adjectives can only modify nouns. Adverbs can also modify nouns, but only in special ways, like time or place and a few others.

Almost is a special kind of adverb. It's called an adverb of degree.

That means that "almost" modifies "how close" you are. Almost must be used with words that imply a change in the present situation.

For example, "almost" before an adjective:

I was almost late for work. = I arrived to work on time, but it was very close. (Work starts at 9:00AM, and I arrived at 8:59AM.)

I am almost finished. = I will be finished soon.

If you use "almost" before a verb:

My son is almost walking. = My son is a baby, and he can't walk yet. But he is trying hard and he will be walking soon.

If you use "almost" before a time/age (noun):

I am almost 31 years old. = I am 30 years old. I will have my 31st birthday soon.

If you use "almost" before a place (noun):

I am almost at the bar. = I will arrive at the bar soon.
I am almost home. = I will arrive home soon.
I am almost there. = I will be there soon. (at the place where the person with whom I'm speaking is)

If you use "almost" before a time (noun);

It is almost 3 o'clock. = It will be 3 o'clock soon.

If you use "almost" before some nouns like man, woman:

She is almost a woman. = She is a teenager. She will have to have responsibility soon. She will soon be a woman.

Most is an adjective and that means it can only be used in front of nouns.

Most decribes "how many" are there. Most means = "a large percentage".

For example,

Most students passed the test. (80-99% of the students passed the test.)
Most people like tea. (80-99% of people like tea.)
Most cats have tails. (80-99% of cats have tails.)
Most fish have scales. (80-99% of fish have scales.)
Most cars have four wheels. (80-99% of cars have four wheels.)

The confusing thing is that "almost" can also modify adjectives like "all".

All means everyone or everything.

"Almost all" = "a very large percentage (99%)"

"Almost all" is like "most" but it usually means a bigger number.

Almost all birds can fly. = All birds, except a few, can fly. (About 40 types of birds can't fly).
This sentence shows that you are emphasizing that almost all birds can fly.

Most birds can fly. = All birds, except a few, can fly.
This tells us how many birds can fly, but has no emphasis.

Does everyone get it?

XXX-Almost students passed the test. XXX
OOO-Most students passed the test.OOO
XXX-I am most finished.XXX
OOO- I am mostly finished.OOO
OOO-I am almost finished.OOO

You should be careful when you use almost in front of nouns, because it implies a change from what is true now. "Almost a student" means "not a student now".

If you have any questions, please click on the comment button below and ask.

Makiko!

Sorry, I got your email, but when I tried to answer your server said your email was incorrect. (I don't understand why either). If you want, I can just answer your email on this site, or you can ask any questions you have by commenting here. Click on "comments" just below this, and you will be able to post. I have to confirm the post, so it won't show up right away.
James

GAIJIN SMASH

This image comes from GaijinSmash.net, so don't steal it, it ain't mine.

One of the most difficult things to learn in a new language is humour. This doesn't mean that humour itself is different - Manzai would be popular everywhere because it's so silly, and people love Jackie Chan in every language he has been translated into (if not, they should). Physical humour is the same everywhere, and people like to see someone fall down with a funny face.

Written and spoken humour is different between languages because it depends so much on culture and the words that are used. Saying something in one language can be funny, whereas the direct translation in a different language would not be.

For example, to a friend, in English it is perfectly acceptable to say, "I'm going to kill you" when they are being annoying. In Japanese, saying "殺すぞ" to anyone at any time is horrible. (I learned this rule the hard way. I never want to see the inside of another Japanese prison. )

I have found a great site to help you learn the difference in humour. It talks about Japanese culture, in English, and from a foreigners point of view. Gaijin Smash.

Gaijin Smash chronicles the adventures of Azrael, an American ex-JET teacher, when he was working as an ALT in three middle schools in Japan.

One difference between Azrael and most other bloggers is that Azrael is genuinely funny. I don't know how many times I laughed out loud as I was reading his entries on things his students did, things other teachers said, or just plain funny stories about what happens when he leaves his house. Everyone can relate to it, Japanese-speakers and English-speakers.

His humour is one thing, but you can find humour anywhere. Azrael doesn't have any bitterness about Japanese culture, unlike many people who have moved to Japan. Basically, according to him, Japan has a lot of bad things, but also a lot good things. Japan is basically just like everywhere else in the world - a nice place to live once you get used to it. He is balanced in the things he mocks. He makes fun of the silly things in Japanese culture at the same time as he makes fun of the silly foreigners in Japan. He makes fun of himself as much as he makes fun of everyone around him. Maybe because he seems to see Japan from a very neutral viewpoint, he can see the differences clearly, and he embraces them instead of pushing them away.

He seems to love Japan, and he really loved his students, and the gentleness you see in his writing can be inspiring. (Check out Moeko's Owl and Natsumi and Yuki for proof of this.)

His sense of timing is perfect. (Check out Dirty Dancing.)

And the silliness that he alone has witnessed would be enough for 50 people, no matter what nationality. (Please read Japanese People Say the Darndest Things.)

Still, you might want to be careful about which ones you read. There is some x-rated language you can't use in public, and some of the topics can be a bit...dirty. Just stick to the topics that don't involve "sex" in the title and you will be fine.

Remember, every language is different in which words are acceptable. Some of the things he writes would be insulting in Japanese, but in English they are perfectly fine. Don't take offense at what he has written unless you're sure you understand. He is talking about Japan as he sees it, and trust me, he sees it in good light.