Different kinds of beauty
Aug. 11th, 2004 09:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wiseheartI watched Animal Planet today. More specifically, the programme "Charging back", showing how the number of rhinos is increasing in Africa again.
I was amazed to see how gracefully such a huge beast can move. A rhinoceros is the second-largest animal after the African elephant, but it runs like it had no weight at all. It's an incredible sight. Many other mammals could be seen in this documentary, but few had such a lovely moving pattern.
Another thing. On one of the boards I visit sometimes an argument rose about German being an ugly language. Well, not for me. Honestly, I think English is a lot uglier and much harder to learn. Okay, I'm prejudiced, as German was the mother tongue of my Grandpa, I admit it freely. But when I write fairy tales - original fiction - I always use German. There are so incredible riches in that language.
Just to pick one example (and leaving pronounciation completely out of consideration): in German, there is an unbelievably poetic expression for "wet soil". It's called "feuchtes Erdreich". The expression isn't just poetic, it also has a very... sensual quality. And a mythological one, to that. Granted, it's only used in literature, but the simple fact that it exists contradicts the statement German would be ugly.
I rest my case, Your Honour. No offence intended towards native English speakers. :)
I was amazed to see how gracefully such a huge beast can move. A rhinoceros is the second-largest animal after the African elephant, but it runs like it had no weight at all. It's an incredible sight. Many other mammals could be seen in this documentary, but few had such a lovely moving pattern.
Another thing. On one of the boards I visit sometimes an argument rose about German being an ugly language. Well, not for me. Honestly, I think English is a lot uglier and much harder to learn. Okay, I'm prejudiced, as German was the mother tongue of my Grandpa, I admit it freely. But when I write fairy tales - original fiction - I always use German. There are so incredible riches in that language.
Just to pick one example (and leaving pronounciation completely out of consideration): in German, there is an unbelievably poetic expression for "wet soil". It's called "feuchtes Erdreich". The expression isn't just poetic, it also has a very... sensual quality. And a mythological one, to that. Granted, it's only used in literature, but the simple fact that it exists contradicts the statement German would be ugly.
I rest my case, Your Honour. No offence intended towards native English speakers. :)
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blathering reply
Date: 2004-08-11 01:46 pm (UTC)Interesting idea though -- we were watching NOVA which was about the Zulu and British fighting in Africa and the Zulu Medicine Man (what he called himself!) had *the* most interesting accent I've yet heard. They kind of...make popping noises that are parts of their words!
But geez, to say that one language is THE ugliest... Nope. I can't even think of one. New York accents grate on my ears as do Bostonian accents (no offense to anyone!), but I've been told in California we've almost no accent at all. *shrug* Suppose it's what you're familiar and used to. I grew up hearing all kinds of accents, primarily Italian and British, but living in California you always hear Latino accents as well.
I wonder, Soledad, how much of people saying that has to do with all the movies they've watched? You know there are still idiots who think all Germans are Nazis, all Russians are Communists, all ....etc, etc. Ridiculous, but true.
As for Rhinos, they are interesting creatures! Scary though. Very temperamental...and while they might move lovely, I'd not want one moving at me! ;)
Me again
Date: 2004-08-11 01:50 pm (UTC)Ah well... I love your "feuchtes Erdreich" example. *g* My mind has no problems in going to lovely directions with that.
...sorry for the ramble take II
Re: Me again
Date: 2004-08-13 02:12 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-13 02:53 am (UTC)Rhinos are graceful, lovely beasts. I hope to go to Werribee Open Plains Zoo where you may feed one soon.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-13 03:08 am (UTC)And I do envy you for feeding the rhinos...
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-13 04:11 am (UTC)I will be. Soon, I hope. You have to pay specially, but you get to feed a rhino who is behind a fence. I want to go with the zoo staff and give them their hay, but they won't allow that. *sulks* I have as much or more experience with animals as the staff. I have tamed 5 wild horses to date! I PROMISE photos when I get to feed Rhinos.
My mother who is nearly seventy, wants to go to Canberra Zoo and go IN the encosure with the Cheetahs and pat them. My hubby is sssooo jealous; he wants a Cheetah as a pet!
(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-13 10:43 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-08-13 04:26 pm (UTC)And all these Germanic religions go back to the Scandiavian countries, and some of the old English customs and so on too. Tolkien drew heavily on Norse mythology when he created Middle-earth.