Subconscious Language Learning

Recently, one of my Facebook friends sent me a message asking me what I thought of subliminal language learning.  I have always been interested in subliminal messages, NLP and affirmations and how they affect the brain and whether they work (I tend to believe they do) so my interest was piqued. 

There are a few different types of subliminal language learning. They are:

Audio subliminal language learning is accomplished by listening to tapes of foreign language vocabulary, conversations or positive messages about language learning that are heard just below the conscious hearing level.  An example would be listening to white noise or whale sounds while studying or resting while subliminal vocabulary words are placed just underneath these sounds, at the subconscious level.

Video subliminal language learning is accomplished by placing messages and information into the subconscious mind. The information is placed in the video’s audio track, just underneath where it will be consciously noticed by the learner. Also, words can be flashed on the screen to imprint on the learner’s mind. This could help with vocabulary recognition.

Language learning while sleeping is accomplished by making vocabulary recordings of the target language (the language you are studying) and the source language (your native language) using a CD or MP3 player. The audio should not be too loud so that you cannot sleep and should be set to repeat so that the vocabulary will be begin to enter your subconscious mind.

Basically, unlike the traditional form of language learning (where you study by reading and by memorization), subliminal language learning means that the information bypasses the conscious mind and embeds itself through repetition into the subconscious mind.

Subliminal learning can also be obtained using NLP, hypnosis and positive affirmations. NLP (or Neuro Linguistic Programming) is based on the principle that if you change your thoughts about something, you can also cause a change in action or results.  Created in the 1970s, by Grinder and Bandler, it was first used in a hotel lobby to quickly help people get over their “elevator phobia” within 30-45 minutes. When you have a thought that “I can’t do this”, NLP helps replace this thought with a more positive thought.

Hypnosis  differs from subliminal learning in that it sends you into a trance. However, the commonality between them is that they both access the subconscious mind.

Positive Affirmations are written or verbal positive statements that are repeated over and over again on a piece of paper or in your mind. For example, “I will be fluent in Russian in 6 months”.

Does subliminal language learning work? That is the question. On a small scale, I imagine it must.

Since I have been studying Mandarin for the past seven months and I have the entire textbook on CD, I have decided to give the “Language learning while sleeping” form of subconscious learning a try. While I haven’t tried hypnosis, I do practice NLP after taking a recent class on it earlier this year and I have used positive affirmations for many years in many phases of my life.  I plan to report back in two to three months on my findings.

Happy Black Day! (블랙데이)

Black Day has to be the coolest holiday ever.  As most Asians celebrate White Day on March 14 (which is the opposite of Valentine’s Day on February 14, where men give women chocolates), South Koreans also celebrate Black Day on April 14. It’s called Black Day in South Korea because it is the one day where single people “mourn” their single life.

Known as the holiday for “lonely people” or more encouragingly as a “celebration of singlehood", singles dress in dark clothes and eat noodles covered with black bean paste (Jjajangmyeon 자장면) to celebrate their “lack of a love life”. Single people who wish to celebrate (or commiserate) Black Day drink black coffee and consume other black colored foods.

Jjajangmyeon was first created in the city of Incheon, where early Chinese migrants to Korea began to settle in the late 19th century. The dish was first developed in a Chinese restaurant called Gonghwachun in Incheon around 1905. The city of Incheon sponsored the “100 year anniversary of the birth of jjajangmyeon” in 2005. With about 100 years of history, jjajangmyeon is called one of the “national foods” of South Korea. It is a popular dish among family members because of its cheap price and taste.

There are matchmaking agencies who arrange dates on this day and even a Korean pop band called “MBLAQ Day”.  Supposedly all the band members are single and celebrate this with their fans through their music.

Although it sounds like a depressing day, it’s actually a big social gathering with lots of drinking and making merry.  There is also a lot of speed dating events set up. And I am sure quite a few single people “hookup” on April 14!

Hanamatsuri, the Japanese commemoration of the birth of Buddha

The birthday of the Buddha is celebrated on a different day in each Asian country. For example, in Korea and Southeast Asia, his birthday is celebrated in May and in Tibet, it is celebrated either in May or June.

However, every April 8 in Japan, Hanamatsuri (literally “festival of flowers” 花祭り) is celebrated. This day commemorates the birth of Siddhartha Gautama in the Mayahana sect of Buddhism.  Fresh offerings of flowers are brought to Buddhist temples.

According to Japanese tradition, the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, was born in Nepal on April 8, 566 B.C. He was born the son of King Suddohana and Queen Maya. The descriptions of the scene at his birth include celestial birds singing, beautiful flowers, and a sweet gentle rain bathing the baby Buddha. On this day, the greatest of all sentient beings was born, who later became the Enlightened One, the Buddha.

The washing of the baby Buddha is an important part of this day.  According to legend, when the Buddha was born he stood straight, took seven steps, and declared "I alone am the World-Honored One." He then pointed up with one hand and down with the other, to indicate he would unite both heaven and earth. These seven steps represent seven directions -- north, south, east, west, up, down, and here. Mahayana Buddhists interpret "I alone am the World-Honored One" in a way that "I" represents all sentient beings throughout space and time -- everyone, in other words.

The ritual of "washing the baby Buddha" commemorates this moment. This is the single most common ritual, seen throughout Asia and in many different schools. A small standing figure of the baby Buddha, with the right hand pointing up and the left hand pointing down, is placed on an elevated stand within a basin on an altar. People approach the altar reverently, fill a ladle with water or tea, and pour it over the figure to "wash" the baby. Japanese people pour ama-cha (a “sweet tea”  beverage prepared from hydrangea flowers) on small Buddha statues decorated with flowers, as if bathing a newborn baby.

During Hanamatsuri, the Japanese reflect on the gratitude the teachings of Buddha and feel  joy that the enlightenment of the Buddha is with them at all times.

Qingming Festival (清明节)

This year, China’s Qingming festival (the most common English translations of Qingming are “Clear Bright Festival” and “Tomb Sweeping Day”) will be celebrated on April 4. Its name implies that it is time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenness of spring and to tend to the graves of departed ones.

Qingming has regularly been observed as a public holiday in Taiwan and in Hong Kong and Macau. Its observance was reinstated as a nationwide public holiday in mainland China in 2008. Although it has no holiday status there, it is also celebrated in Singapore and Malaysia.

Qingming is celebrated by honoring the ancestors (tomb sweeping) and by enjoying the return of spring (spring outing).

Tomb sweeping is regarded as the most important aspect of Qingming. During this time, the tombs of ancestors are visited. Visitors to the tombs pray, sweep and offer favorite food and drink to ancient ancestors. Some people carry willow branches or place them on gates or doors as it said to ward off the evil spirits that wander during Qingming.

The Spring Outing is celebrated by being outside, appreciating nature, looking at the blooming flowers and flying kites. After being flown for a while, the kites are set free as a sign of good luck and good fortune.

The origins of this festival are interesting. The Qingming Festival was originally held to commemorate a loyal man living in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 BC), named Jie Zitui. It has been said that Jie cut a piece of meat from his own leg in order to save his hungry leader who was forced to go into exile when the crown was in jeopardy. 

When the leader came back to his position nineteen years later, he had forgotten all about Jie Zitui. He soon remembered and wanted to reward him. However, Jie had blocked himself up in a mountain with his mother. In order to find Jie, the master ordered that the mountain be set on fire. Jie was soon found dead along with his mother. In order to commemorate Jie, the master ordered that the day Jie died was Hanshi (Cold Food) Festival (the day before Qingming) - the day that only cold food could be eaten.

The second year, when the master went to the mountain to sacrifice to Jie, he found willows were growing so he gave instructions that they day after Hanshi was to be called Qingming , so he gave instructions that the day after Hanshi Festival was to be Qingming Festival. 

Later, the two festivals were combined as one - Qingming Festival.

Ode to Forty-Six

-In December 2010, The Economist ran an article called “The Joy of Growing Old" (or why life begins at 46).

-46 is the natural number following 45 and preceding 47. 

-A typical human cell contains a total of 46 chromosomes.

-A large Disney Cars puzzle consists of 46 large pieces.

-Items that are 46 inches or larger require special shipping costs.

-US manufacturing still tops China's by nearly 46 percent.

-46% = 0.46

-46 is the largest even integer that can't be expressed as a sum of two abundant numbers.

-46 is the 13^th semiprime.

-46% of America's lakes are too polluted for fishing, swimming, or aquatic life

-46% of Facebookers are over 45.

-46% of Americans own a smartphone.

-Planters Cashew halves and pieces are usually shipped in 46 ounce tins.

-46 is the atomic number of Palladium.

-46 is the decimal value of the ASCII code for the period.

-The Adirondack mountain range has 46 peaks.

-The code for international direct calls to Sweden is 46.

-46 in Japanese can be pronounced as "yon roku", and "yoroshiku"（よろしく） means "my best regards" in Japanese, so people sometimes use 46 for greeting.

-46 is the number that unlocks the Destiny spaceship on the popular Sci-Fi TV show Stargate Universe.

46. Not so bad after all.

The Languages of Jersey

No, not that Jersey. The Balliwick of Jersey, a crown dependency of the English monarch and part of the Channel Islands that maintains a close proximity to the Norman region of French. The Jersey language is one of the many "patois romans" or “regional dialects” of France.

The two main languages spoken in Jersey are French and of course, English. However, there is a French variant called Jèrriais (also known as Jersey French or Jersey Norman French). Jèrriais is based on the ancient Norman language. Jèrriais is one of the langues d'oïl (languages of “yes”) and is related to Norman, Dgèrnésiais, Picard, Gallo and Walloon. Never heard of any of them? Neither have I.

There are now approximately 87,000 people living in Jersey, and 20% of them are of British descent. Most of the Norman-descended population now speaks English as well. English is spoken by 94.6% of the population.

Dgèrnésiais, similar to Jèrriais, is spoken in nearby Guernsey. The language spoken in Sark, called Sercquiais, is a descendant of the Jèrriais language brought by the Jersey colonists who settled Sark in the 16th century.

In Jersey today, the Section de la langue Jèrriaise works to promote study of the language and its literature. Jèrriais classes are very common in elementary schools.

Here is a sampling of the Jèrriais language (thanks to Omniglot). As anyone who speaks French can see, it is similar to Parisian French but the spelling is quite different.

 

English	Jèrriais
Welcome	Séyiz les beinv'nu(e)(s)!
Hello	Salut / Bouônjour
How are you? I'm fine, thanks. And you?	Coumme est qu'ous êtes? (frm/pl) Coumme est qu' tu'es? (inf) Comment va? (vinf)
	Jé sis d'charme, mèrcie, et té/vos?
What's your name? My name is ...	Tch'est qu'est vot' nom? (frm) Tch'est qu'est tan nom? (inf)
	Man nom est ... / Jé sis ... / Jé m'appelle ...
Good morning	Bouônjour (à matîn)
Good day Good afternoon	Bouônjour
Good evening	Bônsouair
Good night	Bouonne niet
Goodbye	À bétôt, À bi, À la préchaine, À tantôt
Good luck	Bouonne cache / dés crouaîsis (fingers crossed)
Cheers/Good health!	Bouonne santé!

 

 

 

In Asia, White is the new Red

On March 14 every year, “White Day” is celebrated in Japan (where it originated), Taiwan, Mainland China and South Korea.

As described in my Valentine’s Day blog, in Japan, women mostly give the chocolates to the men. On March 14, the opposite happens. Men who received honmei-choco (本命チョコ, "chocolate of love") or giri-choco (義理チョコ, "courtesy or obligation chocolate") on Valentine's Day are expected to return the favor by giving gifts back to the women. The term sanbai gaeshi (三倍返し, literally, "triple the return") is used to describe the generally recited rule that the return gift should be two to three times the cost of the Valentine's gift.

In 1978 in Japan, the National Confectionary Industry Association started a holiday as an “answer day” to Valentine’s Day. Before it was called "White Day", it was known as "Marshmallow" Day (マシュマロデ). The candy company called Ishimuramanseido marketed marshmallows for men to give as gifts on March 14.

Soon after, candy companies in Japan began marketing white chocolate. Men also give jewelry, white clothing (like lingerie) and other gifts to women who had given them chocolate on Valentine’s Day. However, if the man received the “obligation chocolate”, the man may give chocolate back but only out of obligation. Cookies are also another popular gift.

White Day “campaign” went into effect and became a holiday in 1981. That first year, White Day was very popular but the next four years went downhill. After one last ditch effort, in 1986, White Day became successful and has been celebrated ever since.

In South Korea, the celebration is a bit different. The men give the women candy instead of chocolate. Unmarried 20-somethings usually participate on this day in Korea. Unmarried 20-somethings who did receive a gift on February 14 usually celebrate together and eat black bean paste noodles at a Chinese restaurant in Korea. In Taiwan and Mainland China, the celebrations are similar.

It seems to me that men need to have a pretty good memory to remember who gave them what on February 14.

Next month, I will blog about "Black Day" in South Korea (April 14) and that is where things get really interesting…