Polyglottery

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An extension to the classic structural ambiguity sentence, “time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.” (adapted from)

[time] [flies like¹] [an arrow] [fruit flies] [like² a banana] [amelia earhart] [flies [like³] a plane]

¹ – in the manner of ² – enjoy ³ – y’know {discourse filler}

A simile describing the speed at which we perceive time to pass

A description of the habits and preferred environment of drosophila

A colloquial description of a famed pilot’s mode of transport

Unfortunately, English native speakers have a hard time making the "ão" sound correctly since the sound doesn't exist in English, so instead of saying "pão de açúcar" (literally, bread of sugar), she said "pau de açúcar." Now, "pau" technically just means "wood," but it's also, unfortunately for her, slang for "penis."

So to the driver what he heard was "Look at the sugar dick! it's so big!" and he almost crashed the car from laughing so hard.

Language is a living record of history. In Great Britain, South Asia and East Africa you can see how conquest, trade, and culture layered words over native grammar—creating a unique blend where everyday, formal, and modern vocabulary tell the story of human interaction. 🌍✨

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🌍 How Languages Are Shaped by Historical Invasions and Cultural Contact

Languages aren’t just communication tools — they’re living records of history. Every word, phrase, and grammar rule can reveal which peoples conquered, traded with, or influenced a region over centuries. In some cases, the layers are strikingly visible, showing how native structures survive while foreign vocabulary is added.

Here are three fascinating examples from around the world 👇

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1️⃣ Britain (English)

🏰 The Anglo-Saxons laid the Germanic foundations — everyday words and grammar. Then the Vikings (9th–11th century) simplified the grammar and added words like sky, they, and take. The Norman Conquest of 1066 poured in French vocabulary for law, power, and culture. Latin later shaped science and religion.

🧩 The layers:

▪️ Core grammar → Germanic

▪️ Layer 1 → French

▪️ Layer 2 → Latin

💬 Feel the difference:

• Everyday: “I want to eat.”

• Formal: “I wish to commence my meal.”

Same meaning. Different world. 😄

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2️⃣ Urdu (South Asia)

🕌 Built on a Hindi/Sanskrit base, Urdu absorbed Persian from medieval courts and poets, Arabic through Islam and scholarship, and English through colonisation and modernity.

🧩 The layers:

▪️ Core grammar → Hindi/Sanskrit

▪️ Layer 1 → Persian

▪️ Layer 2 → Arabic

▪️ Layer 3 → English

💬 Feel the difference:

• Everyday: “Tumne khana khaya?” (Did you eat?)

• Formal/literary: “Aapne apna khana khatm kiya?” (Did you finish your meal)

• Modern: “Kya aapne ticket reserve kiya?” (Did you reserve your ticket)

Three registers. One language. 🤲

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3️⃣ Swahili (East Africa)

⚓ Rooted in Bantu languages of the East African coast, Swahili absorbed Arabic through centuries of trade, a touch of Portuguese from early European contact, and English through colonisation and the modern era.

🧩 The layers:

▪️ Core grammar → Bantu

▪️ Layer 1 → Arabic

▪️ Layer 2 → Portuguese

▪️ Layer 3 → English

💬 Feel the difference:

• Everyday: “Ninakula chakula.” (I am eating food.)

• Arabic influence: “Ninakunywa kahawa.” (I am drinking coffee ☕)

• Modern: “Ninatumia kompyuta.” (I am using a computer 💻)

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🔑 The big takeaway:

In each case, the grammar — the skeleton of the language — belongs to the original people. The vocabulary is where history writes itself. Conquerors and traders leave their words behind, but the native tongue keeps its structure alive.

Next, "die" does mean "day," though nominative singular is "dies," i.e. "dies irae." It could be conjugated "die" if it was in ablative or locative case, but "die ad die" would mean something more like "day to day." "Ad" is in a "to" direction and "ab" is from, i.e. "ab urbis," and ablative case is used to indicate the movement of a thing. In short, "by" is not really a way to translate "ad"; we might want "per" here? (Through, by means of, etc.)

We don't say "once in a blue moon".