CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter September,September , 202
20 2 1Mennyi az annyi?
....Huh?
Voulez-vous du café ou du thé ?
….Huh?
Która jest godzina?
....Huh?
I t may feel like an
instinctive reaction
similar to a grunt or an emotional cry, but
it’s a word. You say it when you’reconfused, when you don’t hear clearly what
is being said, when you vaguely start torealize something.....
“Huh” doesn’t exist in the animal
kingdom where emotional cries do. It is aword and it follows all of the general rulesthat apply to languages. Just like the otherwords you use on a daily basis, at somepoint in your life you learnt its distinct
meaning and how and when to use it.
What is most intriguing, however, isthat “huh” can not only be found in use
throughout the world, but it has virtuallyElla
the same meaning in all languages - a word
spoken universally with the same
connotationin all.... Huh?!
JanisThat’s right, “huh” is understood
wherever you go in the world regardless ofthenativelanguage
orculture.
Researchers have found it being used in
the same way on five continents, incountries such as Spain, China, Iceland, as
well as in indigenous languages fromEcuador, Ghana and many others. And in
all of these languages, the meaning is thesame. The researchers concluded that,“The similarities in form and function ofthis interjection (“huh”) across languages
are much greater than expected bychance.”

Let’s imagine you are in a foreign country,
say, Greece, and you are doing somebrowsing in a boutique. The sales clerk
walks over to you and says, “Μπορώ νασας βοηθήσω;”. If you respond with “Huh”,
along with the appropriate facialexpression, it’s certain the clerk will
understand you immediately
and will cheerfully switch to“Can I help you?”, in English.
The “huh” made everything
perfectly comprehensible.
The next day, after your successful
shopping spree, you get on your rented
moped and venture into the beautiful
Greek countryside for a change of scenery.
As you are blissfully wandering in a green
field, a farmer runs up to you and says,Έχετε δει πουθενά εδώ γύρω µια µικρήασπρόµαυρη κατσίκα; Το έσκασε σήµερα τοπρωί και δεν µπορώ να το βρω πουθενά....
....“Huh?”
With such a recognizable response fromyou, your new Greek friend will probably
smile, nod his head knowingly andwill politely say something like,“Ελπίζω να απολαύσετετη διαµονή σας στη χώραµας”......
....“Huh?!”....
Then run off looking
for his lost goat....
Oh, how simple life
is when there is auniversal language toshare with everyone!

NET LESSONS: Too busy to come to CROSSROADS?
…. Try our lessons on the net!
Get more on “huh” here:
https://www.americanscientist.org/article/huh-is-that-auniversal-wordJoshua Says: “Try to remember the kind of September, when life was slow
and oh-so mellow...” Are you familiar with this old song? It’s interesting tocontemplate the inspiration composers have for the songs they write.
“Mellow?” Does September’s weather put you in a “mellow” mood? Does life
slow down for you in September? With the recent spat of typhoons, I think ofSeptember as more a month of change....
Junko Says: We would like to do a self-evaluation survey on your English
development (also French/Spanish/Korean, etc). And, at the same time, we’dlike to hear any requests you may have for your lessons. For this, we are now
handing out a questionnaire for you to fill in. Your answers will be used tofurther improve our teaching programs and your learning experience. Please
support us with clear opinions and requests.
Marek Says: Boeing, the aviation industry giant, is estimating that the tourism
industry will likely recover by 2024. It will take yet another two years for global
economy to bounce back from the slump, but we are already seeing manycountries slowly getting back on their feet as they adopt stricter preventive
measures for coronavirus epidemic. The aviation is vital and closely linked to
global economy and therefore is a good indicator for how the recovery progresses.
Mandcy dit: Ce mois-ci, j'ai été très etonnée de voir M.Suga abandonner les élections présidentielles.
C'est donc le moment parfait pour parler de courage et d'abandon. Voici quelques expressions.
1- s'accrocher : vous gardez courage et continuez, continuez
2-Jeter l'éponge : vous frottez, frottez, frottez et puis vous abandonnez et vous jetez l'éponge.
2- Baisser les bras, vous vous accrochez, mais c'est trop difficile alors vous abandonnez.
Mais, de mon point de vue, je pense qu'il faut beaucoup de courage dans la vie, mais qu'il fautsimplement choisir son combat.
1ACROSS
4 proceeding with no fixed course
5 capable of being understood
6 an up and down movement of the head
8 interesting, curious
11 easily recognizable
14 a brief, short-term indulgence
15 completely happy and contented
16 nuance or implication
18 just looking, not necessarily buying
19 a sudden emotional cry
20 proceed in spite of possible danger

23456789101112

13

1415

DOWN
1 not in a clear way
2 identifiable, familiar
3 unable to think clearly
7 an animal-like noise
9 particularly suitable to something
10 to reply to, to react to
12 acting intuitively without thought
13 existing in its original state
17 low-powered motorbike with pedals

1617

18

1920

(print version here)

Here is an excerpt from a “Breaking News” article. See if you
understand it well enough to place the missing words (scrambledup in the list below) in their correct places.
There are many ________ English around the world. Some well-known________ in Asia include Chinglish in China, Singlish in Singapore andJapanese English. A group of language ________ in Japan is ________ by
how the government uses English. In ________, it says the government
uses computer or ________ translation too much. Researchers say manytranslations ________ strange and ________ words and expressions fornative speakers of English. The researchers worry this could have a________ impact
on Japan's tourist
industry. They evensay the ________
amount of________ words
is ________ a"nationalembarrassment" inJapan.
A. unsuitable
B. confusing
C. troubled
D. negative

E. experts
F. varieties
G. create
H. onlineI
S I G N I F I C A N T
FALPDP R I M A R Y
UA
M
RPP
DM
E S S E N T I A LE
H O S T
ATU
A
REUT
HI
BT
M U L T I P L E
INTL
ITEO
IECIP R O L O N G E DCULFSIL
S T I M U L I
TAZC O N S T A N T L Y
A D O R E R SIIWLNAR E G U L A T EY
R E G A R D L E S S

I. particular
J. becoming
K. types of
L. increasing

Last Month’s Puzzle Solution
DOWN
ACROSS
2 important in effect, meaning or size 1 body tissue’s response to injury
3 capable of changing to a new
5 most importantsituation
8 absolutely necessary
4 in search of9 a vast number of
6 especially distinct from others
11 having more than one part
7 understood as a conviction or
13 lengthened in time
point of view
14 something that arouses action
8 relating to a separate race or cultural
15 without change
group
16 people who greatly admire
10 not serious or significant
someone/thing
12 use for a particular purpose
18 adjust, make conform
17 obligation to pay or repay
19 in spite ofDon’t forget… Our SPECIAL 1+1 Campaign offer! Up to 50% off!!
See our notice board, or ask Junko in our office, for the details.