Without makeup / arlamont@msn.com / October 19, 2023

ORANGE

Like the chicken and the egg, what came first, the fruit or the name “orange”?

A. I share that the name “orange” for the color preceded the use of the term to refer to the fruit. Initially, the word “orange” was used to describe the color, and was later adopted to refer to the fruit that shares that color. The orange fruit has its origin in Asia and was brought to Europe in ancient times. The term “orange” in English and many other languages ​​comes from the Sanskrit term “naranga.”

This process of first naming the color and then applying that name to the fruit is an example of how language evolves over time to describe and categorize the world around us.

OH, THERE, THERE, (AND THE DIFFERENCE WITH) THERE

Don Alfredo, could you clarify for me how the words there, ay and hay are used, and also the difference between there and there?

A. I am happy to share the following with you, courtesy of the RAE:

There. It is a demonstrative adverb that means “in that place.”

There is. It is the impersonal form of the verb haber.

Oh. It is an interjection that expresses various movements of the spirit, affliction or pain and a sigh or moan.

Perhaps at some point they explained the difference between these three words with this phrase: “There is a man who says oh”, but we like this poem by Nicanor Parra, which can also serve as a reminder in some ways:

Let's see/ you who are such a devil, come here/ is there or isn't there freedom of expression in this country?/ —There is/ oh!/ áaaaaaay!

The adverb “there” mentions a place far from the speaker and the listener. When referring to a place that is close, use “there”, when pointing to one that is a little far away use “there”: “I leave the keys to the house there; Go to the pharmacy on the corner, you will always find your medicine there.”

HOLY WATER/ENRIQUE MANDUJANO

Does “holy water” contain anything special or is it just water for blessed use?

R. Don Enrique, holy water does not contain anything special and is only, as you indicate, “blessed water for use.”

I share with you that in the Catholic tradition, priests and bishops are the only ministers who have the authority to bless and consecrate holy water. The laity cannot bless it. Priests perform the blessing during special rites invoking God and sanctifying common water. Holy water is used in sacramental events in preparation for receiving divine grace. The blessing of holy water usually takes place during a special rite at the Easter Vigil or on the feast of the Epiphany. The priest blesses the common water by invoking God and making the sign of the cross over it.

UNIVERSITIES

Mr. La Mont, I recently read that UNAM was considered among the best universities in the world, among the top 10. Can you confirm this information for me, as well as the source?

R. Don Ramón, I share with you that this information seems to be wrong. A reliable source, Statista.com tells us the following according to analysis adjusted for this year:

UNAM is located between the 801st and 1000th places in the world

The Tec de Monterrey is between 601 and 800.

The Sinaloa UAS between 1,201 and 1,500

The UAM between 1,202 and 1,500

The five best in the world are: Oxford, Stanford, MIT, Harvard and Cambridge.