Language – with all its quirks and charms – is at the very foundation of what it means to be human. It helps us connect with others, offers insights into individual cultures and traditions, and shapes how we think about the world. Some expressions are so firmly embedded that we use them seamlessly without wondering about their origin. But if we think about it, why shouldn’t we look a gift horse in the mouth? What will happen if we count our chickens before they’re hatched?
Now, thanks to a new book by Michela Tartaglia, a linguist and the chef-owner of Pasta Casalinga in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, we not only have the backstories of 25 commonly used and culturally specific expressions in English, but their counterparts in Italian, Spanish, and French. The result is a playful and fascinating look at the vagaries of language and the similarities – or differences – across cultures.
