Know your English

WHAT IS the meaning and origin of "red letter day"?

(J. Suresh, Chennai)

When you refer to something as being a "red letter day", it implies that it's a very important or a very special day. As far as you are concerned, it's a day on which something memorable happened or will happen. Here are a few examples.

* The day the school won the championship was a red letter day for us.

* Even after twenty-five years, Vasu considers his wedding day a red-letter day.

* The days I spent with Raja Rao were red-letter days.

The expression comes from the practice that was followed in religious calendars. In the old days, saints' birthdays, festivals and other holy days were marked in red. The other days of the month, which were not special, were marked in black. So, the original "red letter day" had a religious significance. It was only during the 18th century that the expression began to take on a general meaning - namely any memorable or important day in an individual's life. You can now refer to the day of graduation as a red-letter day. The day you meet Amitabh Bachchan or Sachin Tendulkar could also be called a red letter day! By the way, this practice of marking special days in red continues even today. For the modern man, Sundays and second Saturdays have become red-letter days as well!

What is the meaning of "misogynist"? How do you pronounce the word? (Anto Maria Santosh, Chennai)

The word "misogynist" is usually used to refer to a man who hates women. Here are a few examples.

* Some scholars believe that Jack the Ripper was a misogynist.

* When his wife ran away with another man, Rahul became a misogynist.

* As expected, the misogynist didn't invite a single woman to the party.

A word about the pronunciation. The `i' in the first syllable is like the `i' in `hit', `bit', and `sit'. The following `o' sounds like the `o' in `hot', `pot', and `lot'. The "y" in the third syllable is pronounced like the "a" in "China", and "about". The "g", by the way, is like the "j" in "jam", "Jew", and "jelly". The final "i" is like the "i" in "kit" and "pit". The main stress is on the second syllable.

This word is another example of how male chauvinistic the English language is. "Misogynist" is a fairly common word; most dictionaries include it. But not all dictionaries include the word, which refers to a woman who hates men! Why? I guess women are supposed to like men. Perhaps there are more women-hating men than men-hating women! Who knows! By the way, do you know what a woman who hates men is called? "Misandrist".

Is it OK to say, "Which class are you studying?" (K. Raghavan, Thiruvananthapuram)

This seems to be a common way of asking the question in our country. Most people accept it the way it is - at least in speech. If you wish to be grammatically correct the word "in" is required. You could either say, "In which class are you studying?" or "Which class are you studying in?" It is also possible to ask a person, "Which class are you in?" Here are a few more examples.

* In which room did the murder take place?

* Which room did the murder take place in?

What is the difference between "martyr" and "victim"? (F.S. Riazuddin, Port Blair)

A martyr is someone who is killed or punished because of his religious or political beliefs. The individual is willing to undergo any amount of suffering for the cause he believes in. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were assassinated because of their political beliefs. Whatever be the reason - political, or religious - the individual in this case is usually punished or killed intentionally.

A "victim", on the other hand, may or may not have any strong political or religious beliefs. He may be killed or punished intentionally or accidentally. A person who is murdered is referred to as a "victim" and so is an individual who dies in a road accident. The word "martyr" carries with it the sense that the individual gave up his life voluntarily for the cause he believed in; that he fought hard for his beliefs. A "victim" may been killed for no apparent reason. He could have merely been an individual who was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

What do the initials FAQ stand? (C.R. Lokanath, Madanapalli)You find this in many web sites. The letters stand for "frequently asked questions".

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"If you want your spouse to listen and pay strict attention to every word you say, talk in your sleep."

- Anonymous

S. UPENDRAN

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