Talking about death. On the death of the English language

Die, my Doctor? That’s the last thing I am going to do!
Die, my doctor? Yes, it’s the last thing I’m going to do!

In Slavic culture, not to talk about death. Most often, the most negative emotions we associate with this notion. Of course, the bad is not worth talking about. But the next 20 minutes, I would like to ask you to forget the emotional component of death. Just try to pragmatically approach to this article: «I need to know how to talk about the death of the English, because, unfortunately, this is what happens in our imperfect world every day.»

Die, death, dead

1. The first verb that we meet on the subject, a verb die (die). Past tense died (died). The most common mistake in writing the verb occurs in time Continuous, when to say «die now.» We remember that -ie remove and add y = dying.
   

   If I die, remember me in your prayers. — If you die, Remember me in your prayers.

   She was proud to tell him that his son died a hero. — She proudly told him that his son died as a hero.

   She is dying of cancer. — She’s dying of cancer.

   By the way, the verb die can be used not only for people but also to inanimate objects. Dying can:

   • Hope (dying hope).
   • Phone battery when the phone is discharged (my cell phone is about to die — my phone is now level).
   • Memories (her memory of you will never die — her memories of you will never die).
   • Industry, art, craft (farming is dying in this area — farming is dying out in this area).

   When we can not wait to do something, we can consume die in the sense of «Oh, how I want something!».

   I’m just dying to see your wedding ring! It must be very lovely! — I’m just eager to see your wedding ring! It must be very pretty!

2. Death — the noun «death», and that is how it is written at the end -th. It can be a noun Countable (countable), if we are talking about several deaths. Death is used as Uncountable (uncountable), when talking about the state of the dead in general.
   

   Nearly all deaths are preventable. — Almost all of the deaths are preventable.

   It was evident that Bob was very close to death. — It was obvious that Bob was close to death.

3. Dead — this adjective. We remember that the adjective describes a noun or pronoun.
   

   The police do not know if she is dead or not. — Police do not know she’s alive or not.

   In English, there is an interesting grammatical phenomenon, smart people call it «Substantivation adjectives.» On the fingers: it was the adjective criminal case (criminal case), the noun was the criminal (criminal). The same applies to our word dead, sometimes used as a noun. Know series «The Walking Dead» («The Walking Dead»)? Dead is needed as a name for these zombie creatures. And dead as a noun can be found in the expression in the dead of night / at the dead of night — in the middle of the night, in the most dark and terrible time.

   The prisoners managed to escape in the dead of the night. — The prisoners were able to escape in the middle of the night.

Summarizing the interim results:

1. His dog is dead. — His dog was dead.
2. Its death was not a surprise. — Her death was not something unexpected.
3. It died two weeks ago. — She died two weeks ago.
4. It was dying from an incurable disease for a month. — She was dying of an incurable disease during the month.

Synonyms for the verb die

You know, linguists — very observant people. They learn not only the functioning of language, but also the reasons that led to certain phenomena in language. So, these linguists have noticed that some words more synonyms than others. Why did we come up with a lot of synonyms for a word while others been deprived their attention? The reason is simple: the more interest to us is the phenomenon, the more you will encounter its synonyms in the language. Scientifically it is called The law of synonymic attraction (the law of attraction synonyms). For example, the phenomenon of money (money) — and he was very interested in people — has more than 60 live working synonyms in English! Death is an integral and very emotional part of people’s lives, too, has many synonyms in English.

Do you need to know all the synonyms of the word «die» in the dictionary by heart? Of course not. However, when reading a book or watching a movie in English is very important to understand what was meant by to kick the bucket (slang — die), and to join the silent majority (euphemism — to join the silent majority).

For convenience, I decided to split into three groups of synonyms: neutral, slang, euphemistic. With neutral slang and everything is clear: the first — the most frequently used and without emotional coloring, the second — speaking frazochki, which need to be careful not to hurt the feelings of others, still a touchy topic. A third group — euphemisms. This term is easily explained: when I do not want to call the direct text object or phenomenon, I’m starting to pick him some lofty synonym. Example:

She is pregnant. — She’s pregnant. (neutral)
=
She is in delicate condition. — It is in a special position. (euphemistic)

Neutral words

Phrase	Possible translation	Comment
To die	To die
To pass away	To die	More polite terms, than to die
To pass on	To die	Not to be confused with the pass out — to lose consciousness
To depart this life	Leave this life
Done for / About to die	That’s about to die
To lose one’s life	Losing life
On one’s deathbed	On his deathbed
To perish	Perish

Slang words

Phrase	Possible translation	Comment
To bite the dust	Verbatim. chew dust	One of the phrases that came from westerns where defeated opponents fell to the ground with bullet wounds
To blow someone’s brains out	Knock out the brains of anyone	After shooting a pistol at his head
To come to a sticky end	To come to a sad end	Die or suffer greatly, especially if the person deserves
To count worms / to be food for worms	Read worms / become food for worms	The phrase has derogatory
To go home in a box	Returns home in a box
To kick the bucket	Die (literally. Kick the bucket)	Strong contempt. Origins: when hanged people, his feet tripped bucket, which then kick beat
One’s number is up	Someone ran out of days
To pop one’s clogs	Glue slippers	Clogs — shoes worn by working people in Britain. To pop — derived from the pawn (lay). The man laid the shoes when she told him was no longer needed
To push up daisies	Died (literally. Pushing daisies)	This refers to the other side of the earth «push» daisy
To be six feet under	Lying at a depth of 6 feet underground
To take a dirt nap	Die (literally. Nap on the Dirty)	Under the «dirt» means land
To kick in	Kick in
To croak	Croak
To turn up one’s toes (heels)	Kick the bucket

Euphemisms

Phrase	Possible translation	Comment
To join the great (silent) majority	Join the most
To breathe one’s last	Breathe one’s last
To be at peace / at rest	Being in the world, alone
To make the ultimate sacrifice	Bring the ultimate sacrifice (his life)	Dying, often defending their rights and beliefs
To go to a better place	To go to a better world
To meet one’s maker	Meet his creator	Under «creator» means God.
To go to Davy Jones’s locker	Go on to Davy Jones locker	Marine: Davy Jones — an evil spirit who lives in the sea, and his locker — is an ocean, a place of rest of seafarers
To go the way of all flesh	Walk the paths of all living things
To go to one’s reward	Go for your reward	It is believed that after the death of a person will be rewarded for all acts
To be in Abraham’s bosom	Get into Abraham’s bosom	Bible: go to heaven
To send one to eternity or to the Promised Land	To go into eternity, or the Promised Land	Go to heaven
To take the last train to glory	Take the last train on the way to glory

Funeral procedure — Funeral

Burial (funeral) in English-speaking countries have their own customs. In many ways similar to a funeral memorial service (memorial service). Both events are required to honor the life of a deceased loved one (to honor the life of a deceased loved one). Funeral differ from the memorial services that honor at the funeral of the deceased and forgiven directly with his body (to memorialize a deceased person with their body present).

However, both services — an important part of bidding farewell to the deceased (an important part of the grieving process), t. To. They provide an opportunity to share their memories and emotions with other people (to share your memories associated with the deceased) and show support bereaved family (to show support to the bereaved family members).

The family of the deceased chooses undertaker (a funeral home), which will deal with all the preparations (for making all the arrangements). The service is conducted by the local priest (minister), Pasteur (pastor), the director of a funeral agency (funeral director) or buried priest (funeral celebrant). Further, we note several mandatory steps of the funeral abroad.

1. The gathering — gathering. He suggests making the coffin (a coffin) to the church (a church) and a chapel (a chapel). Once this part is called viewing or wake (wake). People come up to the coffin and say goodbye to the man himself. The priest at this time encouraging reading lines from the Bible (say reassuring words from the Bible). Further, he welcomed all those present (he welcomes the attendees), sings the national anthem (sings a hymn), prays for forgiveness (prays for forgiveness).

   The word casket — coffin is synonymous casket. The difference is that the new tomb, which has not yet bought, called the casket, and that, where there is a human body, — coffin.

2. Readings and sermon — reading and preaching. This phase includes reading the Bible (scriptural readings) psalms and hymns, followed by a sermon (a sermon is preached) and thanksgiving prayers (prayers of thanksgiving) for the deceased and the mourners at the funeral of (mourners). If one spouse dies, the woman becomes a widow (widow), and the man — a widower (widower). Widowhood — widowhood, orphans — orphans.
3. Committal and blessing — the blessing and burial. The body belongs to his resting place (the body is committed to its resting place).

In Western culture accepted the burial of bodies are 3 ways: burial (burial ground), entombment (burial in a tomb or mausoleum above the ground, from the English. Tomb — tomb tombstone) or cremation (cremation). Cemetery — the last resting place, has several synonyms: cemetery, graveyard, churchyard. Non-religious funeral can be held in parks, gardens, community centers, restaurants, and even on the beach. On the headstone (headstone, tombstone) can often be found the inscription RIP (rest in peace — RIP).

Words of comfort — comforting words

Most people do not know what to say at the funeral of (people are at a loss for words). In this case, it is best to just hug grieving (to give a hug), and to be with him (just be there for a person). I propose a short list of fixed expressions, by which bring condolences at the funeral (to express condolences at a funeral).

• I am sorry to hear this shocking news. — I’m sorry to hear this shocking news.
• I am sorry for your loss. — Sorry for your loss.
• I would like to give my condolences. — My condolences.
• I wish I had all the right words, just want to let you know I am always there for you. — How would you like that I have now found the right words, just want to tell you that I am always there.
• The deceased will be sorely missed by friends and colleagues. — Friends and colleagues will be very long for the deceased.
• I do not know how you feel, but I am here to help you in any way I can. — I do not know how you feel, but I’m willing to help any way I can.
• We all need help at times you can always count on me. — Sometimes we all need help, you can always count on me.
• You and your loved one will be in my thoughts and prayers. — You and your loved one will be in my thoughts and prayers.
• My favorite memory of your loved one is … — What is your favorite memory of the deceased …

Also I would like to invite you to watch video from native speaking teachers with engvid.com. Do not be shocked by the manner of storytelling teacher James. Make allowances for the fact that in Western culture is somewhat different attitude toward the subject.

I sincerely hope that the proposed lexicon is required to you for informational purposes only. And in the end I wanted to stay at a small test. Be healthy!

 

  6403

Proceedings