Miriam
French is "la langue de Molière" (Molière's language) - What's your language?
I came across this synonym for French: "la langue de Molière". Wiktionary says, that other similar expressions are langue de Hugo, langue de la République and langue de Voltaire. Now I'd like to know if there are similar expressions in other languages. One could say that German is Goethe's language (maybe even Luther's). Is Spanish maybe Cervantes' language? And Chinese Confucius' language? The respective language institutes of German, Spanish and Chinese are called after those writers and philosopher. Portuguese must be Pessoa's language and Italian Dante's language I guess.
Is English Shakespeare's language? But is that also true for the Americans?
And what about other languages? Who is the most influential writer/philosopher of your language?
Jul 9, 2020 7:02 PM
Comments · 16
5
I don't know whether we have such an expression in Romanian, but, undoubtedly, it will be (or maybe it already is and I'm not aware) "Româna e limba lui Eminescu" (Romanian is Eminescu's language). Mihai Eminescu was a late Romantic poet, and he's considered the greatest Romanian poet of all times. His contributions to the Romanian language are priceless.
"Somnoroase păsărele" (Sleepy little birds) is a poem we learn at 8:
Sleepy little birds to drowse
Toward their nests guide their flight,
Hide themselves amidst the boughs-
So, good night!
But the springs sigh o'er their doom
While their noise the black woods cease:
Sleep wins e'en the garden's bloom,-
Sleep in peace!
The swans cleave the waves and ply
Toward the reeds and retreat-
Let angels be with thee, nigh,
Thy rest, sweet!
Over the night's faëry
The bright moon rides on the height;
All's but dream and harmony,
So, good night!
(translated by Dimitrie Cuclin)
July 9, 2020
3
The British colonized America hundreds of years after Shakespeare, so of course all the language in his plays was in use and came to America at that time. Also, if you want to know what his actors sounded like, search “Shakespeare original pronunciation” on Youtube. It’s much closer to General American than it is to RP (or most other British accents, for that matter). This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as American English is generally very conservative linguistically. But don’t take my word for it — judge for yourself.
July 9, 2020
3
I have heard a few people use the term Shakespeare's language, but I do not think and am not sure if it is used by academics etc to refer to English. It would only be referring to "Modern English" approximately.
"I am" is often shortened to am and is valid English.
July 9, 2020
3
Yes Miriam, Italian e la lingua del Dante in reference to Dante Alighieri.
Y el Castellano es la lengua de Cervantes in reference to Miguel de Cervantes.
July 9, 2020
3
We often say that "Russian is the language of Pushkin".
Sometimes we continue: "…and Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Turgenev…". There are many great Russian poets and writers, but Pushkin undoubtedly is the most famous among all of them.
July 9, 2020
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Miriam
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), Finnish, French, German
Learning Language
Chinese (Mandarin), Finnish
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