Languages, 10/26

[game-of-you.livejournal.com]

To his Classics students, Dream delivers a lecture on Koine Greek. After he is done, he puts forward a question for discussion: What were the benefits of Koine as an international language? Are international languages still valuable?

For his Languages of Asia students, he passes out calligraphy paper, pens, and a primer on Chinese writing. Work on understanding why Chinese is written as it is written, and on copying the characters showin in the handout. Next week, you will move into writing with understanding.

Again, there are no classes on Friday. I will see you all on Monday.

Comments

Re: Classics, 10/26

[janet_fraiser]

Janet sighs, turns regretfully to Jack, and starts discussing Koine Greek and international languages.

Re: Classics, 10/26

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

Jack, knowing nothing of Greek much less Koine Greek nods his head a lot and pretends he understands anything Doc is saying.

Re: Classics, 10/26

[janet_fraiser]

Janet is completely not fooled, but throws Jack a few hints on things he might be able to talk about while pointing to the appropriate spots on the handout.

Actually listening to Daniel when he's talking helps remarkably with understanding this class.

Re: Classics, 10/26

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

Jack silently thanks Doc for the help.

"Greek would be a lot easier if it were in English."

Re: Classics, 10/26

[janet_fraiser]

Janet smiles much more nicely at him, then snickers.

"And yet the class isn't about English, is it, sir?"

Re: Classics, 10/26

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

"Suprisingly no. I'm sure I woulda aced it if it were though. English is my thing y'know."

Re: Classics, 10/26

[janet_fraiser]

"Liz just signed up for Western Lit," says Janet, after making another decent point on international languages and studying the sheet for more information on Koine Greek to talk about. "You could too."

Re: Classics, 10/26

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

"But isn't Western Lit the one with all those big boring books and stuff? Like Two Cities and all that crap?"

Re: Classics, 10/26

[janet_fraiser]

Janet hopes Professor Dream isn't staring at them and starts pointing at the sheet again, scribbling out the Greek alphabet at the top of the sheet for practice.

Re: Classics, 10/26

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

Jack attempts to dechiper the language at the top and wonders why the hell he even chose this class to begin with.

Re: Classics, 10/26

[janet_fraiser]

The Greek letters Janet is writing might, in fact, spell out "Where are you two going?"

Re: Classics, 10/26

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

If Jack could understand her handwriting he might answer that he doesn't know yet. But since he only recognizes "Where" and "two" he's somewhat lost.

Re: Classics, 10/26

[janet_fraiser]

Janet notices Jack's frustration and sighs a little, then scribbles, "Where are you two going?" in really tiny letters above it. She also makes another comment about the use of Koine Greek in its native setting.

Re: Classics, 10/26

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

Jack reads the mini-note and get's it. In equally tiny letters next to it he writes: "? Food."

Re: Classics, 10/26

[janet_fraiser]

Janet pulls out her pad of paper and starts practicing the Greek alphabet. Underneath, she writes English translations.

"Food where?"

Re: Classics, 10/26

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

Jack writes back in English and garbled Greek. "Dunno. Somewhere that sells it?"

Re: Classics, 10/26

[janet_fraiser]

Janet corrects Jack's Greek and makes him write it out properly. The smile on her face as she does this might be termed sadistic.

Then she writes out in Greek:

"Name a place."

Then she waits a few minutes while Jack puzzles before writing it out in English.

Re: Classics, 10/26

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

Jack writes his response in a pigeon of English ad Greek once again.

"Like what? Bob?"

Re: Classics, 10/26

[janet_fraiser]

Janet grits her teeth and glares at Jack.

"You know, you make her ask you and you can't think of a place?" she whispers. She shakes her head and points to the paper.

Re: Classics, 10/26

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

Jack glares right back in is actually serious for a moment.

"I don't want to fuck this up. What if I take her somewhere and it's got nothing but food she hates?" Jack whispered back while writing a random Greek letters on the paper.

Re: Classics, 10/26

[janet_fraiser]

Janet doesn't look away, but does look sympathetic after he starts talking. She rearranges the Greek letters into a slightly nonsensical sentence and gives the translation to Jack, pointing at something on the sheet and making another point about it.

She really listened to Daniel way too much.

"So find out what she likes," whispers Janet. "I mean, what MREs did she like best?" She pauses. "Never mind. We'll think of something else."`

Re: Classics, 10/26

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

Jack completely ignores the paper when he hears what Janet asks.

"Did you really just ask what MREs she liked?"

Re: Classics, 10/26

[janet_fraiser]

Janet shrugs and tries not to look sheepish as she whispers back. "I wasn't thinking. Look, pick some place in town--some place not too fancy. And no greasy spoons." She studies the paper intently and, in a normal voice, makes a comment on the evolution of language that sounds half like she picked it up from Daniel. "What are you going to do after dinner?" she whispers.

She looks at Jack expectantly and points to the paper. Her looks says "if we really work too, maybe we won't get in trouble again."

Re: Classics, 10/26

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

"I was thinking maybe Deb's, they have good food, right?" He whispered back. Greek was hard to begin with but when he tried to talk and work at the same time it made his head hurt. "I haven't thought that far ahead yet."