Mailbox
This week in Mailbox: Response to Czech Books, Radio Prague's Big Band, Radio Prague's annual listeners' contest. Listeners quoted: David Eldridge, Peter Morpuss, Stephen Hrebenach.
Hello and welcome to Mailbox, Radio Prague’s listeners’ letters programme. In response to the latest Czech Books programme in which David Vaughan interviewed a Czech linguist exploring the relation between a person’s mother tongue and the way they perceive reality, we received two quite different e-mails. David Eldridge from England writes:
“Last week’s Czech Books on psycholinguistic research being carried out by Barbara Schmiedtová was particularly interesting. I am wondering if her findings may be an answer to a phenomenon I believe I have experienced in Germany. I find that walking around in busy pedestrian areas in Germany I more frequently collide with people than I do in busy London pedestrian areas. In England I have been told that it is because I don’t know the local rules in Germany whereas some German friends light-heartedly suggested that I should carry out some university research on the subject. Now I am wondering if that research has not already been done. Is it the difference between the English and German languages with the English focus being on the trajectory (the ‘ing’ progression) and the German focus on the end-point? It seems to me that might be the answer to my experience!”
Meanwhile Peter Morpuss has quite a different view of this type of academic research:
“The recent article by David Vaughan is interesting concerning the way we learn languages but my question is, isn't this really just another academic study that will achieve very little and for what purposes? I often read about academic studies and wonder what is the end purpose, is it because these academics have been given a grant by the EU or another institute and therefore feel obliged to spend it otherwise they will lose out. To me these studies are a complete waste of time and does it really matter in the real world how a person picks up their second or third language. You should have told her, David, to spend her time studying something more useful to the rest of us.”
Stephen Hrebenach from Ohio responded to a recent story on the 50th anniversary of Czech Radio’s Big Band:
“As a jazz fan, I have to admit that I was surprised and bit ashamed that I had not heard of the ‘legendary’ Big Band of Czech Radio before your story. Fifty years is quite an accomplishment. I was wondering whether there is a web site for the band where I can listen to or purchase recordings?”
The official website of Czech Radio's Big Band is www.rozhlas.cz/bigband2/portal/. There you can listen to some of their music. Some of the recordings can also be purchased in Czech Radio’s e-shop at www.radioservis-as.cz
Now, if you are fond of Czech literature and enjoy writing yourself, here’s your chance to combine the two and maybe even win a trip to the Czech Republic. Radio Prague is running its annual competition again, now in its tenth year.
This year’s competition question is:
Which Czech writer or literary work do you like best and why?
The person who sends the best answer, which will be chosen by a specially appointed jury, will win a weeklong stay for two in Prague. There will also be prizes and souvenir items for runners-up.
The best answers will be featured in our programme and published on our website www.radio.cz on the last weekend of June.
Your entries should reach us no later than June 15, 2010 at the following address:
Radio Prague
Vinohradská 12 12099 Prague 2
Czech Republic
or via email at: [email protected]
The main prize is being sponsored by PARKHOTEL Praha. Parkhotel Praha offers visitors a blend of comfort and history, quality and modern design, within easy reach of the city centre.
Of course, you can also take part in our little monthly quiz.
This month we are looking for the name of the world-renowned tenor, born in 1873 in the North Moravian town of Šumperk, who sang on some of the world’s most famous stages, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Vienna State Opera or New York’s Metropolitan Opera.
You have until Friday to send us your answers to [email protected] or Radio Prague, 12099 Prague. Next week, we will disclose the identity of the mystery man and announce the name of the lucky winner who will get a Radio Prague goodie bag. Please keep those e-mails coming and I’ll be back next week. Good-bye.
