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Tag: animals

History of English in 10 (ish) Minutes

Posted in Animalogy Podcast.

A Very Brief History of a Very Old Language

Throughout the episodes of Animalogy, I’ll be talking about the Proto-Indo-European reconstructed language, the related Indo-European languages, Old English (or Anglo-Saxon), the Norman invasion, Latin, Greek, and different types of sound changes that have occurred in English.

In order to provide some context for what might be unfamiliar bits of history or linguistics, I’m offering this brief overview of this remarkable language called English.

FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR ANIMALOGY: 

1.Subscribe to Animalogy on iTunes and Stitcher and download the episodes.

2. Leave a 5-star rating on iTunes. 

3. Leave a review on iTunes. High ratings, reviews, and downloads in the first month increase the chances of high placement on iTunes.

4. Become a monthly supporter of the podcast. For just .33 cents a day, you receive transcripts to each episode; for $1.00 a day, you get bonus episodes. Your support helps us reach the goal of making it a weekly, ad-free show.

5. Share the podcast with everyone you know! Use the share buttons below and above!

Thank you! For the animals,

Visiting My Animal Hero in Rwanda!

Posted in Blog.

My first animal-protection hero was Dian Fossey after I read Gorillas in the Mist in the early 90’s. I was in awe of her boldness and bravery, dedication and commitment, attention to detail and desire to use whatever tools were at her disposal to protect the beautiful mountain gorillas. I don’t think I could ever be as brave as she was, sometimes I fear I won’t have the time on this earth to be as effective as people like her, and I can only hope to leave a legacy that changes the way we think about, talk about, and treat other animals. She wasn’t perfect — none of us are — and not everyone agreed with all of the decisions she made, but that doesn’t in any way minimize the amazing work she did.

Sitting at her actual desk and reading from her actual notes (they were copied to preserve the originals, but still).

At the time she was killed, I believe there were about 150 mountain gorillas alive, and she predicted their complete annihilation by now. She would be proud of the work done in her name and because of what she started — resulting in 850 mountain gorillas accounted for, to date. They are still in danger of extinction, but there is hope. There is always hope. My life’s goal is to be that hope, share that hope, and continue to contribute in such a way that something of this hope endures when I’m gone — that the world will be better for animals by the time I leave it.

It’s been such an honor to have visited Rwanda four times now and to be this close to where she lived and worked, to witness her legacy first-hand, to support the vital work being done in her name, and to meet gorilla families who are here today because of her.

May we all be heroes for the animals and leave a legacy of compassion, peace, and selflessness.

The old Dian Fossey headquarters in Rwanda
Hiking up to Karisoke Research Center, where Dian Fossey lived, worked, and is buried

Coccyx: Please Don’t Sit on the Cuckoo

Posted in Animalogy Podcast.

Coccyx is a small triangle-shaped bone at the base of the spinal column in humans and other apes, such as gibbons, orangutans, gorillas, and chimpanzees.

Representing a vestigial tail and most commonly called the tailbone, coccyx was the name given to this part of our anatomy by ancient Greek physician Galen because of its resemblance to an animal, making the word an “animalogy.”

Can you guess the etymology? All is revealed in this episode of Animalogy, a podcast about language and the animal-related words and expressions we use every day.

There's an animal hiding in your tailbone! Listen to Animalogy podcast find out more. Click To Tweet

FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR ANIMALOGY: 

1.Subscribe to Animalogy on iTunes and Stitcher and download the episodes.

2. Leave a 5-star rating on iTunes. 

3. Leave a review on iTunes. High ratings, reviews, and downloads in the first month increase the chances of high placement on iTunes.

4. Become a monthly supporter of the podcast. For just .33 cents a day, you receive transcripts to each episode; for $1.00 a day, you get bonus episodes. Your support helps us reach the goal of making it a weekly, ad-free show.

5. Share the podcast with everyone you know! Use the share buttons below and above!

Giving the Bird to this Inauguration

Posted in Blog.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GIVING THE BIRD TO THIS INAUGURATION
As January 20th approaches, not everyone is talking about the inauguration of the 45th president; some are talking about the animals hidden within the word itself.

Just in time for Inauguration Day, bestselling author and award-winning podcaster, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, is launching Animalogy, a podcast about the animal-related words and expressions we use every day. The first episode, the inaugural episode, Inauguration: On a Wing and a Prayer, transports listeners back to the politics of ancient Rome to reveal the birds behind the word.

During the Roman Republic, religion was organized under a strict system of priestly offices, the most powerful of which was made up of the nine augurs, whose main role was to interpret the will of the gods by studying and interpreting the omens, a practice referred to as “taking the auspices.” Augurs were literally “diviners of birds” and were consulted prior to any major political decision to predict whether the undertaking in question was auspicious or inauspicious. From the Latin noun augur was derived the verb inaugurare, “to foretell the future from the flight of birds,” which was borrowed into English in the 16th century as inauguration to refer to a formal induction to an office.

The words augur, inauguration, inaugural, auspices, auspicious, and inauspicious all share the same Latin root avis, meaning “bird,” from which we also derive the words avian, aviation, aviator, and aviary.

“Animalogy holds up a mirror,” says its creator, “reflecting back the idioms, euphemisms, metaphors, semantics, doublespeak, and other elements of our everyday language, and looks at how they affect and reflect our relationship with animals.” Inauguration is just the beginning. Following the official launch just weeks before the inauguration on January 20th, 2017, other episodes will follow, including Coccyx: Please Don’t Sit on the Cuckoo; Muscle: Flex Your Mouse; Eating Crows and Humble Pie; Zodiac: A Circle of Little Animals; and Don’t Get My Goat — I’m not Kidding.

ABOUT COLLEEN PATRICK-GOUDREAU: Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is forever changing how we talk about, think about, and treat other animals. She is a bestselling author of seven books, acclaimed speaker, and creator and host of the award-winning podcast, “Food for Thought.” Colleen is a regular contributor to National Public Radio (KQED) and has appeared on national and regional TV programs, including the Food Network, CBS, PBS, and FOX. Interviews with her have been featured on NPR, Huffington Post, U.S. News and World Report, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Times, Pacifica Radio, Rodale News, and in countless publications, blogs, and podcasts. She is a monthly guest on Good Day Sacramento.

The preview episode, “What Is Animalogy?” and the first (inaugural!) episode, “Inauguration: On a Wing and a Prayer” are available on AnimalogyPodcast.com, iTunes, Stitcher, and wherever podcasts are heard. Contact email for interviews. 

Download the PDF of the press release: AnimalogyPressRelease. 

What is Animalogy?

Posted in Animalogy Podcast.

What the heck is an Animalogy?

The podcast Animalogy officially launched in January 2017, and this first episode, “What Is Animalogy?” gives you an idea of what you can expect from the podcast and includes an excerpt from the inaugural episode, Inauguration: On a Wing and a Prayer.

Drawing upon etymology, history, linguistics, literature, anthropology, sociology, and psychology, Animalogy unpacks the idioms, euphemisms, metaphors, semantics, doublespeak, and other elements of our everyday language to reveal the meanings and implications of our animal-related words and expressions. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO to spread the word about Animalogy:

*Subscribe to Animalogy on iTunes and Stitcher and download the episodes.

*Leave a 5-star review after listening. The more reviews and downloads in the first month increase the chances of high placement on iTunes.

*Become a monthly supporter of the podcast. For just .33 cents a day, you receive transcripts to each episode; for $1.00 a day, you get bonus episodes. Plus, you help us reach the goal of making it a weekly, ad-free show.

*Share the podcast with everyone you know. Share buttons below and above!

Thank you! For the animals,

Animalogy Podcast COMING IN JANUARY!

Posted in Blog.

As January 20th approaches, not everyone is talking about the inauguration of the 45th president but about the animals hidden within the word itself. Just in time for Inauguration Day, I’m launching Animalogy, a podcast about the animal-related words and expressions we use every day and how they affect and reflect our relationship with other animals. The inaugural episode, Inauguration: On a Wing and a Prayer, takes us back to the politics of ancient Rome to reveal the birds behind the word.

To make sure you don’t miss the first episodes, be sure to subscribe to these blog posts (in the sidebar to your right!), as well as to the main mailing list below. You can also support the podcast and receive the written transcripts + more by becoming a Patron!

[Tweet “Animalogy is a new podcast that is changing the way we talk — and think (and thus treat) animals!”]

Enjoy the excerpt from Animalogy below, and listen to the Food for Thought episode in which I provide all the details about what you can expect from this very exciting project I’m so proud you’re a part of.

Animalogy: Our Animal-Related Words and Phrases

Posted in Food For Thought Podcast.

Today’s Food for Thought episode is all about Animalogy, whose timing could not be more perfect not only because of the urgency of the need to transform our negative perception and ill treatment of nonhuman animals but also because we are living in a time when we are all called upon to be linguistically sensitive to vulnerable and disenfranchised groups. And perhaps no group is left out of our consideration more than the nonhuman animals of the world. We are all encouraged to be aware of and mindful about our language when it comes to those who don’t look, emote, or sound like we do. Animalogy shows what it would look like to accord that same respect to nonhuman animals — not because it changes them but because it changes us. Take a listen.

Babe was stolen as a young elephant from her family in Africa, suffered two broken legs being chained up and thrown about during transport, and was finally brought to Black Beauty Ranch where she lived out the last few years of her life. Babe was stolen as a young elephant from her family in Africa, suffered two broken legs being chained up and thrown about during transport, and was finally brought to Black Beauty Ranch where she lived out the last few years of her life. Babe was stolen as a young elephant from her family in Africa, suffered two broken legs being chained up and thrown about during transport, and was finally brought to Black Beauty Ranch where she lived out the last few years of her life.

Democratic Actions for Animals

Posted in Blog.

I love this country. I love that we have inalienable rights. I love that we can vote. I love that we can take part in the democratic process. It’s not perfect; there is a lot of work to be done, but I love being part of that work. I love being a citizen — in the broadest sense of the word.

There’s a lot of skepticism in our country right now; we spend a lot of time being critical — as we should — but personally, I feel best when I’m being critical and active. And one of the best ways we can do this is by getting involved in local causes.

I remember a time when I was embarrassed that I couldn’t tell you which neighborhood district I lived in or who my district council member was, but I aspired to become more involved. Today, my civic participation pales compared to many people who are more involved than I am, but I try to make my voice heard, especially when it comes to how my city relates to non-human animals.

Two of the things I’m most proud being involved in is stopping slaughter hobbyists from killing animals in the backyards of Oakland (see news story below about our efforts) and speaking on behalf of elephants when the Oakland City Council took up the issue of banning the bullhook, especially by companies who bring the circus to town.

 

Why Should Anyone Beat a Horse — Dead or Otherwise?

Posted in Blog.

In less descriptive terms, the expression “there’s no use beating / flogging a dead horse” essentially means to “bring up an issue that has already been concluded is futile.” A necessary point to convey, but the imagery of this well-known idiom is enough to make my tummy turn. English politician and orator John Bright seems to have been very fond of the phrase and may even have originated it. In 1872, The Globe newspaper quotes a speech Bright gave to Parliament in which he said that rousing the government from its apathy on a particular issue (The Reform Act of 1867, if you want to know) would be “like trying to flog a dead horse to make it pull a load.” There is evidence, however, that he said it even earlier than that, as it is attributed to him as early as 1859.  

Either way, I think 150 years is long enough for this violent expression to have had its time in the sun. But that’s the amazing thing about language: it’s fluid, it’s unpredictable, and it’s fickle. But it’s also stubborn; steadfast, and obstinate. If you tell it to change, it will dig its heels in and resist even more. However, language’s only power lies in usage. Like the annoying tease who stops teasing when you ignore him, so, too, can offensive or distasteful expressions wither and die from underuse. We are the carriers of such expressions, and with conscious neglect, we can strip them of their power. 

And so, I give you an alternative: “There’s no use watering a dead flower.” Visual. Evocative. To the point. Try it on. Say it aloud. Practice it at home and in public. Share it with loved ones. Write it into a speech — to Parliament or otherwise. With constant use, it can grow and flourish and leave the violent version in the dust.