Know Your English

HOW DO you pronounce r..e..n..d..e..z..v..o..u..s?''The `e' in the first syllable is like the `o' in `hot', `lot', and `pot'. The `e' in the second syllable, on the other hand, sounds like the `i' in `hit', `pit', and `kit'. Some people, however, pronounce it like the `ay' in `day', `bay', and `hay'. The final `ous' is pronounced like the `oo' in `cool', `pool', and `fool'.''

``The `s' is silent, is it?''

``That's right.''

``What about the stress? Is it on the first syllable?''

``Right again. By the way, the `z' in the second syllable remains silent as well.''

``Then why have it all?''

``Don't ask me. Do you know what the word `rendezvous' means?''

``Well, I can probably guess the meaning from the context. This newspaper article that I am reading right now says that the gym was the rendezvous for the well-known film star and his bookmaker.''

``So, what do you think the word means?''

``A rendezvous is probably a place where you meet someone secretly.''

``Excellent. When you have a rendezvous with someone, you decide where you are going to meet the person and when.''

``In other words, the meeting is prearranged.''

``That's right. If you bump into someone quite accidentally, you cannot call it a rendezvous.''

``I see. Give me some examples.''

``O.K. Ramesh promised to meet Sujatha in the Rose Garden at 4:00 o'clock. But as usual, he was late for the rendezvous.''

``Can I say the two Ministers had an early morning rendezvous in Chennai.''?

``Sounds good to me. The word is also used to mean a popular meeting place. For example, the gym is a rendezvous for health nuts.''

``Meaning it's a place where people often meet.''

``That's right.''

``Prof. Shyamraj's house is a rendezvous for budding writers.''

``That's an excellent example. Anyway, what is it that you are reading?''

``Oh some article about how Bollywood is slowly being taken over by the mafia. Tell me, do you believe in everything you read?''

``I don't believe everything I read.''

``But many people believe in everything they read.''

``Believe everything they read. Not `believe in'.''

``Really? What's the difference between `believe' and `believe in'?''

``When you `believe in' something, you take it for granted that it really exists. There are no two questions about it. For example, many people believe in ghosts.''

``I don't believe in angels. Can I say that?''

``How can you not believe in angels? You are looking at your guardian angel right now!''

``Ha! Ha! Very funny.''

``Anyway, here's another example. Many children believe in Santa Claus.''

``I believe in God.''

``In all the examples that we have talked about so far, one is quite sure that the thing being discussed exists.''

``You are confident that God and ghosts exist.''

``That's right. But that's not the only meaning of `believe in'. Take for example a sentence like, `I believe in democracy'. In this sentence, what you mean to say is that, in your opinion democracy is good. You are in favour of it because you think it's good or right.''

``I see. I don't believe in staying up late the night before an exam.''

``Good for you. There are many people in this world who believe in capital punishment.''

``Now tell me, what does `believe' mean? I mean....''

``...when you believe something, you accept everything that someone says as being true or real. That's one of the meanings. For example, like an idiot I believed everything he said.''

*``We believed everything the doctor told us.''

*``Never believe anything that Venkat tells you.''

*``I never believe anything that anybody tells me.''

``How is your friend Prof. Shyamraj?''

``Very busy. He tells me that he is absorbed by his work.''

``He is absorbed in his work.''

``What?''

``You are usually absorbed in something. You see....''

``....when you are `absorbed in' something, does it mean that you are deeply focussed on something?''

``Well, I guess you could say that. The children were absorbed in the story when the phone rang.''

``Many of my friends think that I am absorbed in my work, but I am not. I hate the project I am working on.''

``We were so absorbed in the movie that we didn't realise it was 6:00 already.''

``Good grief! Look at the time. I have a rendezvous with Sachi at 4:00. Do you think I'll make it.''

``I believe you will.''

Experience is the worst teacher; it gives the test before presenting the lesson.- Vernon's Law

Happy New Year, everyone!

S. UPENDRAN

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