I agree that another language opens many doors, not only into another culture, but sometimes also into the meaning of your own language. I have known since childhood that “desayuno” in Spanish was “breakfast” in English, but without giving it much thought. Then, many years later, while reading “The Lord of the Rings” to my granddaughter, I came upon a phrase, probably by Strider, that said: “Come, let us break our fast”. It immediately burst into my mind that both words not only meant the first meal of the day; they were saying the same thing, and “desayuno” was “des-“ (a prefix meaning negation), and “ayuno” (meaning fast) – to break or eliminate the fast.

Enrique García
Mexico City
engarcia@alum.mit.edu