CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter
N ewsletter August,August , 201
20 1 9
Could it by possible that there may be akernel of truth to this legend?
Geneticists tell us that every single personon the face of the earth today can trace
The story of theancestry back to a single tribe of homoTower of Babel is asapiens who migrated out of Africa somemythical account60,000 to 70,000 years ago. One can assumeof humanity’s loss
that these original people had some kind ofofunanimitycommon language; how else could they havebrought about bycooperated and agree to make those firstthe collapse of thetentative steps away from their home-land?
common language
Over a period of 10’s of thousands of years ofthat was in use throughout the known world
separation, adjustment and adaptation toat that time.
You see according to this legend, the different environments, one would expect
people of Babylon were originally a united, people to make changes physically, socially.
loving and caring people, and very smart too. Each fragmented group’s language would haveAnd, they all spoke the same language. Their developed differently also. Is this a pointer toking, for some reason, decided that Earth some truth in the “Tower of Babel” story?
was not enough. He wanted his people toenjoy the pleasures of Heaven as well, so hecommissioned a very tall tower to be built all
the way up to Heaven. Their God at the time
was not pleased with this idea and decided to“throw a spanner in the works.” Heseparated the people by taking theirEllalanguage away from them. As a result,everyonestartedspeaking
multiplelanguages which, of course, sounded like a
As long as the people of Babylon could
Janiswhole
lot of “babel” to anyone trying tocommunicate freely with each other, there
understand what was being said. This had aseemed no limit to what they could achieve.
very confusing effect on the workers on theTheir God didn’t like that prospect very
Tower who were now unable to understandmuch and acted in accordance with His
each other. Needless to say, the Tower wasconscience. Today there are anywhere
never finished. Instead, the people split up
between 4,000 and 7,000 different languages
into separate groups and wandered aimlesslyin the world. But what would happen if all 7
throughout the world not being able tobillion of us spoke the same language?
contact or communicate with others outsideof their immediate group.
in Rugby– in English
To this day,- Set
theplay
word“babel”
A scrum
A line-out
means a confusion of words or sounds, and NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
we refer to the way babies talk, and to some …. Try our lessons on the net!
adults when they are not making sense, as Here’s the original T of B story: www.biblestudytools.com/
bible-stories/the-tower-of-babel.html“babbling.”Joshua Says: I read recently that humanity can help alleviate the worse effects ofglobal warming by planting 1 trillion new trees world-wide. That’s a lot of trees! Yet
already in countries like India, some very large tree-planning projects have beenachieved with great success. Modern architecture, notably in parts of China, is also
creating buildings that are designed to incorporate space for growing trees, even multistory constructions. So, how many plants are you growing on your balcony?
Junko Says: Recently I heard about a “cooling towel” from America. At first these
towels were used exclusively by sportsmen but now they are used by anyone trying
to cope with this hot summer weather. First you wet the towel then wring it before
wearing it. It brings your body temperature down. The cooling effect is a result of
the unique fabric construction of the towel. Once it is wet, the temperature goes
down just by waving it. This hot summer makes me feel like trying it out.
Kevin Says: Before I arrived in Japan I did, of course, know a thing or two
about it as a country. Thanks mainly to my students I have learnt a wholelot more. It’s a very rich culture, yours. We are quite different in many ways,
vive le difference they say (it makes life interesting!). Patience, graciousness
and worldliness balanced with innocence are things to be proud of as asociety and these are some of the things I associate with Japanese life. And
as long as we can learn from each other, we have a chance.
Darrin Says: The 1995 Rugby World Cup was hosted by South Africa, and was the first time that all matches
would be played in just a single country. It was the first time that South Africa participated in the tournament
following the end of their international sports boycott due to the apartheid regime. South Africa won thetournament, defeating New Zealand 15–12 in the final. What happened after the match has become an iconic
moment in the history of the sport. Nelson Mandela, wearing a Springbok rugby jersey and baseball cap, presentedthe Webb Ellis Cup to South African captain François Pienaar to the delight of the capacity crowd. The moment isthought by some to be one of the most famous finals of any sport. The World Cup would also be the last major eventof rugby union's amateur era; two months after the tournament, the IRFB opened the sport to professionalism.

Mandcy dit: Au mois d'août, 18 000 personnes au Japon ont attrapé uncoup de chaleur. En effet, c'est la canicule, il fait plus de 35 degrés etc'est difficile de faire les choses quotidiennes. Quand il fait troo chaud,les français ont l'habitude de boire une boisson avec beaucoup de glaçons(ou un grand verre de pastis) et s'assoir sur une terrasse ombragée. Quoide mieux ? J'attends vos propositions !!
ACROSS33 break up into separate units or pieces
5 separate into parts
8 as reported or stated
12 unsettled, unsure
13 given official approval to act
915 conform to new conditions
16 a story of extraordinary beings or events
DOWN
1 the most essential part of an idea
13
2 more than one part or component
4 disorder, unclear
6 without purpose of direction7 indicator
9 the whole extent, everywhere
10 full agreement between people
11 unnecessary
14 follow a line of development(print version here)

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101112141516

Some thoughts about the history of (some) words.
It is said that time never stands still and change is the only constant. History, everything weare, everything we do, all going through time and change. Not surprising, that includes theEnglish language. Here are a few words that have danced the dance of change over time:
In 1200 the word SILLY meant ‘pious’. Later, at about the end of the 13thcentury, it came to mean ‘to have pity.” In the 1570’s the meaning of ‘silly’
had transformed to mean ‘feeble of mind, lacking reason,’ more or less its
meaning today
Back in the 1790’s if you caught someone telling a lie you’d say they were
‘fudging.’ The word FUDGE comes from Captain Fudge a dishonest seaman ofthat time. A modern derivative meaning can be found in the game of marbles
that kids play. To ‘fudge’ is to cheat. Another modern meaning is to describe astory made up spontaneously, or at the last minute, to offer a temporary
solution for a particular problem. But since the 1890’s and up to the present,‘fudge’ most commonly refers to a very popular candy in America.
TRAGEDY comes from the Greek “tragodia” meaning the song of the malegoat. Lovelorn he may have been, but the ancient Greeks thought goats were
crazy and/or sad. During performances of Greek plays, the chorus’ would
dance around a live goat on stage and then at the end of the play, rituallysacrifice him to their gods! Certainly a tragedy for the goat!
If you were left-handed in ancient Rome, you may not have been well liked.
SINISTER is Latin for ‘of the left’ and because most people were right-handed,
lefties were considered “bad luck” or “untrustworthy.” Further on in time andthe word has come to mean something akin to “evil.”And finally, DAISY is Old English for the ‘day’s eye.’ It was noted that one
particular flower opened its “eye” during the day and shut it at night..., so thename.
S P R I N G B O K S
ON A R R O W L YLCTP R O V I D E
F I X T U R ESTRC H A R T I N G
C O M P L A I N TOEAWD U B B E DTCBIAFSAVA S S O C I A T E
F O R E R U N N E RERANMGEP U N I S HE
DN
DG

Last Month’s Puzzle Solution
ACROSS
1 a national rugby team
3 not by a wide margin
5 give what is needed
6 a sporting event on a specific date
8 keeping a record of something
9 an expression of dissatisfaction
10 given a nickname
14 make a connection with15 coming before
16 impose a penalty

DOWN
2 refused to do business or tosponsor
4 in place of
7 show something to best effect
11 forbidden
12 give shape or identity to13 planned, organized and carriedout

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