False Dichotomies

5 Comments so far

1. LB April 1st, 2009 7:13 pm

   @10. “In Brazil… a “full-back” is a ‘lateral’. The term gives a notion of width, but not of depth: …a wide player… [not] defensive.”

   I know that Israel is well behind in sports, particularly team sports on the national level, but I’m interested more in the linguistics here. The very same position in Hebrew is know simple as a “magen” – a defender (magen yemani, smali), which seems to be the very opposite of the connotation in Brazil – of very definitely a strictly defensive player.

   On the other hand – a midfielder, at least in English, seems to have only a linguistic meaning with regards to physical position on the pitch – not necessarily with regards to responsibility in the match. However, here Hebrew actually does show some more flexibility – the term is “kashar” – connector, loosely translated.

   I’m not really sufficiently knowledgeable to draw any real conclusions from this – but can anyone comment on the relationship between these terms and the different manner in which the game is played in South America/Israel/Europe/UK, etc? Is there a relationship, or am I reading way too deeply into this?

2. Alex Stein April 1st, 2009 7:17 pm

   It’s a nice idea, but I think it’s just because modern Hebrew hasn’t evolved enough to take in all the subtleties that have emerged with the game’s development…

3. LB April 1st, 2009 11:10 pm

   Probably right. But as someone who, I’m assuming, has a better grasp of various tactics – does Israel not use the fullback appropriately? Rather, not try to…

4. Alex Stein April 1st, 2009 11:39 pm

   If you had seen their pathetic display tonight, you’d know the answer to that question!

5. Gert April 3rd, 2009 7:17 pm

   2. No boycott there then.

   Ehud Barak as office manager. An inept, opportunistic slime ball should do it. A willingness to sell your gran to cling to power. And he’s short too…

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