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igenlodeI had an entertaining episode yesterday when I was helping a lady with her Spanish homework (Level A2) despite never having learnt a word of Spanish; apparently a knowledge of French, English, a smattering of Italian, and an acquaintance with Hornblower and the Peninsular War are enough to get you a long way :-D
What I don't have, of course, is any knowledge of the grammatical structures, but since I know grammar *in theory* it was easy enough to identify what the questions in the course book were designed to test (e.g. masculine/feminine/plural endings)...
Interestingly, the Spanish word for 'oil' looks as if it ought to mean 'vinegar': aceite
What I don't have, of course, is any knowledge of the grammatical structures, but since I know grammar *in theory* it was easy enough to identify what the questions in the course book were designed to test (e.g. masculine/feminine/plural endings)...
Interestingly, the Spanish word for 'oil' looks as if it ought to mean 'vinegar': aceite
no subject
Date: 2026-03-19 02:24 pm (UTC)"Well 'milites' sounds like what English word?"
"militia"
"Yep, so does it probably mean in this sentence?"
"Soldier!"
I love reading in the Peninsular War period. We have accurate enough records of life at the time, that a good writer can really make you feel you're there.
Plus I love the sheer complexity of ships.