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Chapter 11
"And it is a pleasant land. No word describes it so felicitously as that one. They say there is no word for "home" in the French language. Well, considering that they have the article itself in such an attractive aspect, they ought to manage to get along without the word. Let us not waste too much pity on "homeless" France. I have observed that Frenchmen abroad seldom wholly give up the idea of going back to France some time or other. I am not surprised at it now."
I wonder if that is accurate. The idiomatic expression is "chez moi". Gotta see French dictionary.
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I found "la logis" given as definition of "home".
I also found "le domicile" with same general meaning.
Of course "home" is of Germanic origin. And some of the things we associate with "home" would be hard to put into French, I suspect. How about the many idioms such as "to home in"..."a thrust going home" (meaning hitting the vital part).
A lot of wonderful warm things we associate with the word "home".
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
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both are casa in Italian. hard to understand the difference
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Carpal Tunnel
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re:both are casa in Italian. hard to understand the difference
a house is a building.. built for residence. you can see any number of house's, it is a generic word.
home is the place were i live, (notice, i didn't say a home- since home is specific. it my house, but more than that, it is where i am most comfortable or secure.
-a daughter is a girl child (of any one) my daughter is a specific person, some one i love..
a house is generic building, my home is the place where i live. my home is not just any house, it is the specific house that hold my things, that figures in my memories.
a good hostest makes her guest feel 'at home'- as comfortable at her house as they would feel in their own home.
i understand the two words are rare... (most languages just use one) but i suspect the emotions are universal.
the expression "a man's home is his castle" starts to capture some of the emotion. a small shack, or single room, that is yours, that is part of your memories, is more important to you, than some one else's grand mansion.
(mind you, human's are fickle, and should i recieve several million dollars, i would have no trouble learning to love a grand house and to make it my home!)
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Carpal Tunnel
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As helen pointed out, house is just a building, a thing. Home is a state of mind. The word brings up images of coziness, the warmth of a family's love, hot cereal on a cold morning, being read to in bed.
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old hand
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old hand
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I find myself using "chez nous" sometimes in English, though, because "my house" or "home" don't fit in all situations. However I can't think of an example right now.
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Carpal Tunnel
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"
both are casa in Italian. hard to understand the difference
"
"It takes a heap of living to make a house a home."
Home
by Edgar Guest
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home,
A heap o' sun an' shadder, an' ye sometimes have t' roam
Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef' behind,
An' hunger fer 'em somehow, with 'em allus on yer mind.
It don't make any differunce how rich ye get t' be,
How much yer chairs an' tables cost, how great yer luxury;
I ain't home t' ye, though it be the palace of a king,
Until somehow yer soul is sort o' wrapped round everything.
Home ain't a place that gold can buy or get up in a minute;
Afore it's home there's got t' be a heap o' livin' in it;
Within the walls there's got t' be some babies born, and then
Right there ye've got t' bring 'em up t' women good, an' men;
And gradjerly, as time goes on, ye find ye wouldn't part
With anything they ever used -- they've grown into yer heart:
The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the little shoes they wore
Ye hoard; an' if ye could ye'd keep the thumb marks on the door.
Ye've got t' weep t' make it home, ye've got t' sit an' sigh
An' watch beside a loved one's bed, an' know that Death is nigh;
An' in the stillness o' the night t' see Death's angel come,
An' close the eyes o' her that smiled,
an' leave her sweet voice dumb.
Fer these are scenes that grip the heart,
an' when yer tears are dried,
Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an' sanctified;
An' tuggin' at ye always are the pleasant memories
O' her that was an' is no more -- ye can't escape from these.
Ye've got t' sing an' dance fer years, ye've got t' romp an' play,
An' learn t' love the things ye have by usin' 'em each day;
Even the roses 'round the porch must blossom year by year
Afore they 'come a part o' ye, suggestin' someone dear
Who used t' love 'em long ago, an' trained 'em jes' t' run
The way they do, so's they would get the early mornin' sun;
Ye've got t' love each brick an' stone from cellar up t' dome:
It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home.
From the book "A Heap o' Livin'" ©1916
Thanks to Mary Repass-Friend for this poem
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you buy a house to live in; after a while, if things go well, it starts to feel like home.
or, home is where the heart is.
- joe (mantles R us) friday
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