Sasha
Professional Teacher
Hi everyone! What does the word "galvanized" mean in the context below? Is it ok to use it here? What other examples of this type of usage you could give? Thank you so much! "The West is united and galvanized." (Biden) https://youtu.be/71rkcjEUc7U?t=342
Feb 16, 2022 10:12 AM
Answers · 9
1
P.S. You say that in Russian and Ukrainian it can mean "To make futile efforts to revive, to resurrect something dead." It doesn't mean that in English, but from my notes on the background, you can see how it could mean that in another language. The frogs' legs were dead, but when Galvani applied electricity, they moved--it seemed to be bringing the frogs' legs to life, but, of course, it was not.
August 23, 2023
1
It means mobilized and ready for action/ prepared to act. You can also have galvanized metal': this is a technique of coating iron with (I think...) zinc or aluminium to prevent the iron from rusting, especially when the material is used outside, e.g. for roofing...
February 16, 2022
1
It means "energized," "spurred into action," or, almost literally, "electrified." It suggests something sudden and shocking that leads someone to take action. The background is interesting. The Italian scientist Galvani made a discovery in 1780. He found that electric sparks could make the legs of a dead frog move. At the time, this seemed almost like bringing something dead back to life. So one of the meanings of the word "galvanize" is "to stimulate or shock with an electric current." But there is a related meaning, "to spur into action." (There is also a third meaning: to protect steel from rust by coating it with zinc.)
August 23, 2023
1
Hi Sasha, In this context -> Galvanize: to cause (people) to become so excited or concerned about an issue, idea, etc., that they want to do something about it. - an issue that galvanized the public (to take action).
February 16, 2022
I checked the news and the way this sentence ("The West is united and galvanized." (Biden) has been translated into Russian: - "The West is united and ENERGETIC (vigorous, violent)." - "The West is united and INSPIRED." - "The West is united and VERY DETERMINED." - "The West is united and CONSOLIDATED." - "The West is united and READY FOR ACTION." Which of those really meets the implied meaning of 'galvanized"?
February 16, 2022
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