Living Room
El dato curioso (acompañado de un súper creepy link) del día de hoy nos da luz en cuanto a una pregunta que nos ha atormentado desde 2° de Primaria, cuando nos dijeron que ‘sala’ en inglés se dice ‘living room’. ¿Por qué se llama ‘living room’ y no ‘staying room’, ‘relaxing room’, ‘hanging room’ o ‘couch room’. La respuesta, a continuación. El texto se refiere a una de esas mórbidas fotos victorianas de personas muertas (à la The Others)
This portrait appears to have been taken in the formal parlor of a family home. The parlor, or “death room,” was an important part of funerary rituals for most of the 19th century, the place where deceased family members were laid out for final respects. This image dates to c. 1890-1905, a time when many funerals were still taking place at home. Soon, however, death would begin to leave the home and by end of World War I most Americans will receive their health care in doctor’s offices and hospitals and most funerals will take place in funeral homes. As the funeral “parlor” came into vogue, the home parlor was rechristened a “living room.” A 1910 issue of Ladies Home Journal declared the “death room” to be a term of the past.
Ahora sólo me hace falta que me expliquen la verdadera diferencia en el uso del prefijo ‘ex’ y la palabra ‘former’ (i.e. ex-president, former CEO) y creo que estamos del otro lado.
