Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
first syllable
English answer:
cornerstone/millestone
Added to glossary by
Ioanna Daskalopoulou
Sep 21, 2008 15:49
15 yrs ago
English term
Canada
Conference interpreter, MBA, ATIO, ATA
Native in: Chinese 
Works in: Chinese to English, English to Chinese, Russian to Chinese, and 8 more.
first syllable
English
Social Sciences
Education / Pedagogy
acceleration
What yes means is a little different at the preschool, elementary school, high school, and college levels. But in almost every case, it is a great word. It’s the first syllable in the long story of American achievement.
Is this a metaphor? Does it mean cornerstone here? Or does it refer to the first step?
Is this a metaphor? Does it mean cornerstone here? Or does it refer to the first step?
Responses
| 4 +1 | cornerstone/millestone |
Ioanna Daskalopoulou
|
| 4 +2 | 'yes' reflects a positive attitude ... |
Jennifer Levey
|
| 5 | instills a can do attitude |
Gary D
|
| 4 | starting point |
Liliana Galiano
|
| 3 | step |
Patricia Townshend (X)
|
Change log
Sep 26, 2008 12:48: Ioanna Daskalopoulou Created KOG entry
Responses
+1
24 mins
Ioanna Daskalopoulou
Greece
Greece
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Greece
Your limit up in translation!
Native in: Greek (Variant: Modern) , English (Variants: UK, US)
Works in: English, Greek to English, English to Greek, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
cornerstone/millestone
I don't think the aforesaid expression is used metaphorically here. I would use cornerstone or even millestone.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks to everyone who has helped me on this question."
53 mins
Liliana Galiano
Argentina
Argentina
Specializes in field
Argentina
Education and Economics specialist.
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, German to Spanish, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
starting point
I think it is a metaphor, where the speaker speaks of the word yes as if the first syllable of a long word that is represented by American History.
So american history, the long word, started with this word 'yes'; which at the same time means that 'yes' might be the beginning of a series of syllables represented by words having a 'good or positive' connotation like 'courage', 'hard-work', etc.
'Yes' also means acceptance, optimism and people who are 'willing to do things.
So american history, the long word, started with this word 'yes'; which at the same time means that 'yes' might be the beginning of a series of syllables represented by words having a 'good or positive' connotation like 'courage', 'hard-work', etc.
'Yes' also means acceptance, optimism and people who are 'willing to do things.
+2
26 mins
Jennifer Levey
Chile
Chile
Native in English
&
English
Chile
Human-scale Globalization
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
'yes' reflects a positive attitude ...
... that (in the author's opinion at least) has been a driving force for American achievements.
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-09-21 17:01:09 GMT)
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And 'yes' is (literally) the first syllable in positive statements such as:
'Yes, I can do it!
Yes, I will help you!
Yes, I can get rich quick!
Yes, I can help America be a better place!
etc. etc.
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-09-21 17:01:09 GMT)
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And 'yes' is (literally) the first syllable in positive statements such as:
'Yes, I can do it!
Yes, I will help you!
Yes, I can get rich quick!
Yes, I can help America be a better place!
etc. etc.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Sheila Wilson
: It's interesting to note that the French have started to use this in the last few years - but not as a replacement for 'oui', but specifically for the purposes you quote above
1 hr
|
| agree |
Gary D
5 hrs
|
30 mins
step
The metaphor indicates that it is the very first syllable of a long history. Not really a milestone as that indicates that the journey has already begun whereas this indicates the very beginning of the story of America's history.
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-09-21 17:21:55 GMT)
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A history is a long story made up of words. In this case the story is the history of American achievement. The very first word is "yes" which is one syllable and the rest of the story flows from that. I'm not sure what the yes implies but would guess it is a positive attitude taken by the new nation right from the word go, but that is just a guess!
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-09-21 17:21:55 GMT)
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A history is a long story made up of words. In this case the story is the history of American achievement. The very first word is "yes" which is one syllable and the rest of the story flows from that. I'm not sure what the yes implies but would guess it is a positive attitude taken by the new nation right from the word go, but that is just a guess!
Note from asker:
| Thanks, what is meant by 'the very first syllable of a long history'? |
5 hrs
instills a can do attitude
If you say to some one "YES" like in Yes you can do that painting, yes you can climb that tree, yes you can play, yes you can do...
Later on in life when a child goes to try to achieve goals, the YES word is at the forefront of their mind, so that child has this "can do attitude" and is more likely to succeed in life..
We all see the child who throws a tantrum, and they are very vocal with the use of the NO word, So using the "Yes" word in Per-schools is a counter-act to the natural urge to say "No", putting a positive spin on life.
Later on in life when a child goes to try to achieve goals, the YES word is at the forefront of their mind, so that child has this "can do attitude" and is more likely to succeed in life..
We all see the child who throws a tantrum, and they are very vocal with the use of the NO word, So using the "Yes" word in Per-schools is a counter-act to the natural urge to say "No", putting a positive spin on life.
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