Archives For October 2013

Perfunctory

October 30, 2013 — Leave a comment

Word: Perfunctory [ Per-fungk-tory]

Part of Speech: Adjective

Definition: Done routinely with little interest or care; Acting with indifference; showing little interest or care.

Origin: Late 16th Century from Latin perfungi- to get through with

Example Sentence: The violinist delivered a perfunctory performance that displayed none of the passion and warmth he was once known for.

Derivatives: Perfunctorily (adverb), Perfunctoriness (noun)

Deferential: 저는 피아노를 잘 칩니다.

Polite: 저는 (or 전) 피아노를 잘 쳐요.

Intimate: 나는 (or 난) 피아노 잘 쳐.

Translation: I play the piano well.

저 = formal “I”

나 = informal “I”

는 = topic marking particle

피아노 = piano

을/를 = object marking particle

잘 = well

치디 = to hit, to play by hitting (such as sports)

ㅂ니다  = deferential verb ending

요 = polite verb ending

Deferential: 저는 여권을 갱신해야 합니다.

Polite: 저는 여권을 갱신해야해요.

Intimate: 난 여권 갱신해야해. 

Translation: I need to renew my passport.

저 = formal “I”

는 = topic marking particle

여권 = passport

을 = object marking particle

갱신하다 = act of renewing (갱신 – renewal + 하다 – to do)

야하다 = have to or must do something

니다 = deferential verb ending

재산은 인생의 곤경에서 사람의 마음을 안심시켜 주기 위해 있는 것이지만, 인생은 재산을 모으기 위한 목적으로 있는 것이 아니다. (Riches are intended for the comfort of life, and not life for the purpose of hoarding riches.)

한국 속담, Korean Proverb

God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than He is of any other slacker.

C.S. Lewis

Alive without breath,
As cold as death;
Never thirsty, ever drinking,
All in mail never clinking.

J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

It appears one of the worst things people decided to do was bring the concepts taught in anthropology to the masses. Unfortunately people took the science and bastardized it into some ridiculous guilt tripping scheme to control peoples thoughts- much in the same way most sciences are abused. It is incredibly humorous to read through the racism, cultural appropriation, feminism, etc. tags and read all the bigoted and stupid thoughts that pop into peoples heads. It’s fascinating how people are now on the complete opposite spectrum in regards to assimilation and cultural appreciation. Why is everyone paranoid if someone appreciates another culture? Why are you not able to fully appreciate another cultural experience without facing potential annoyance from overzealous internet anthropology nerds? I find it fascinating that when I go to other places on my travels, the native people want you to experience what their culture has to offer. But here in western culture we are told essentially hands off. This seems very hypocritical from the championed liberal multi-cultural and global rhetoric preached in schools and work settings currently. Are we really going to throw a hissy fit every time someone not Irish wants a Guinness, someone black wants a mohawk haircut, someone Japanese wants a cheeseburger, someone not Chinese getting a character tattoo, etc. etc. etc. 

People need to stop taking it upon themselves to defend trivial and perpetually changing abstractions that make up culture.

The success of any trap lies in its fundamental simplicity. The reverse trap by the nature of its single complication must be swift and simpler still.

Robert Ludlum, The Bourne Identity