Subj : Word Play
To   : alexander koryagin
From : Ardith Hinton
Date : Sat Dec 02 2017 21:56:11

Hi, Alexander!  Recently you wrote in a message to Ardith Hinton:

 AH>  Amelia's employers often leave written instructions
 AH>  which she misunderstands, apparently because she
 AH>  doesn't realize certain words may have more than one
 AH>  meaning. IIRC she makes a sketch of the bathtub, e.g.,
 AH>  when told to "draw a bath".

 ak>  Another theory -- "drawing" it is when you draw your
 ak>  brush along the wall or paper.


          Using the word to define the word was considered bad form when I was 
in school... thus I said Amelia *made a sketch*.  The dictionary definition of 
"draw" (v.)... "to move or pull toward oneself"... is not particularly helpful 
without adding specific examples, though, as you did.

          FWIW, the average desk dictionary lists 25-30 shades of meaning with 
examples in this case.  My heart goes out to those who are not native speakers 
of English as I recall my adventures with translation years ago... [wry grin].



 ak>  Then "brush" had been shortcut, and now you have the
 ak>  verb "to draw" that means picturing something.


          There are simpler tools one can use to make pictures.  If the artist 
uses a brush to apply "wet ingredients", we describe the activity as painting. 
If the artist uses (e.g.) a pencil or a lump of charcoal or a few wax crayons, 
we describe the activity as drawing.  I think in order to follow the logic one 
must investigate the history of both terms.  The word "paint" comes to us from 
Old French... the word "draw" comes from Old English.  Who in medieval England 
could afford to buy or paint pictures?  I imagine the same socioeconomic class 
as the Russians who spoke French until they became disenchanted with Napoleon.

          Not to worry... it took me awhile to get to the bottom of this.  :-)



 ak>  So, when a room have many pictures (or drawings)
                      |has

 aK>  on its walls it is called "drawing room". ;-)
                                |a "drawing room"


          Or an art gallery!  If Og the Caveman draws pictures on the walls of 
his home, though, we still call it a cave... and if a young child scribbles on 
the walls of the living room whereas his parents display other works of art in 
the same room we still call it a living room.  IMHO a (with)drawing room would 
be called by that name whether or not the host invited his male guests to join 
the ladies after they'd all finished smoking their cigars & whether or not the 
room was used as a backdrop for family photos on special occasions.  Virtually 
any room may be a multi-purpose room if the inhabitants feel so inclined.  :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)

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