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Bless You

Bless You

Date: Jan 26 2007

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Most cultures have a customary response to sneezing. Many of the expressions people use are very old and sometimes reflect religious or spiritual beliefs.

In English, the most common expression that people say to someone after they sneeze is “Bless you.” “Bless you” is the shortened version of the expression “God bless you.” No one knows for certain the origin of this expression but it is believed to date back several centuries. Like expressions in many other countries, “Bless you” is meant to protect a person who sneezes from evil spirits.

Another expression commonly used in English-speaking countries is Gesundheit. It’s actually German and means “good health.” This expression is similar to sayings in France, Spain and other countries, simply wish the person good health rather than trying to protect them from possible evil.

Listen to Mason and Amanda talk about sneezing.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Mason

Amanda

Amanda

Mason:  (sneezes) Oh, God, I’m sorry.

Amanda:  I’ll be honest. If I sneeze and nobody acknowledges, no “Bless you,” no “Gesundheit,” or “Are you OK?” my feelings are hurt.

Mason:  Are they?

Amanda:  Because I know they’ve heard it and they’re choosing…

Mason:  To ignore you.

Amanda:  ... not to acknowledge it. Yeah.

Mason:  Can I, can I tell you a funny thing that I do?

Amanda:  OK.

Mason:  ‘Cause, I mean, like, rarely, rarely do people only sneeze once, right?

Amanda:  True.

Mason:  So I like to say it for every sneeze, but I use a different language every time.

Amanda:  Well, besides…

Mason:  I only know three. That’s the problem.

Amanda:  OK, what’s the third?

Mason:  I’ve got “Bless you,” “Gesundheit”...

Amanda:  Yes.

Mason:  “Salud.” Which is Spanish.

Amanda:  OK.

Mason:  Uh. which just means “health,” uh…

Amanda:  OK.

Mason:  So, you know, if people sneeze four times, I’m kinda out of luck...I, I…

Amanda:  You rotate back to “Bless you?”

Mason:  I could… I really, like, I used to know Japanese, but I forgot it.

Amanda:  Thanks for teaching me a third. I appreciate it.

Mason:  Yeah.

 

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Discussion

Amanda doesn’t like it when people ignore her sneezes.

Mason always acknowledges people’s sneezes. He does it in three different languages.

When someone sneezes in your country, what do people say?

 

Comments

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Nancyliang

Nancyliang

China

In my hometown, if someone who sneezing, they will say, ” Oh, someone missing you!

10:09 AM Jul 11 2013 |

1 person likes this

Amedmoh

Amedmoh

Mauritania

In arabic, we say YARHAMOUKE ALLAH=God bless you or HADAKE ALLAH WE ASLAHA BALEKE. In Islam, if somebody sneezes, he has to say:”ELHAMDOULILAH RABBI ELALEMIN=Praise to God”. And anybody who hears him, he has to tell him:”YARHAMOUKE ALLAH=God Bless you”.


In celestial religions:Islam, Judaism and Christianity, there are the approximate expressions if not the same. They praise the Almighty God despite their different Concept of Him. 

12:13 PM Jul 10 2013 |

manu_wj

manu_wj

Italy

In Italy the word is “salute” which means health. Nothing Religious

07:37 AM May 08 2013 |

1 person likes this

summerisme

summerisme

Taiwan

In fact, in Taiwan, we are not say anything when we saw a person sneeze, especially for a stranger. But the person who is our family or friends, sometimes we will say” are you ok” or “take care”. And there is a funny said in Taiwan, if you are sneeze, that means someone is missing you. :D 

06:37 AM May 08 2013 |

1 person likes this

khadija_M

khadija_M

Morocco

“god bless u in arabic is rahimaka lah and the story said that when god create adam and life strat in him he did sneez so he said alhamdoulilah which means thank god and allah god replied to him god bless u “

05:31 AM Sep 25 2007 |

Jane17

Jane17

Russian Federation

in Russia we say "Будь здоров!" it mean Be healthy!

08:58 PM Aug 30 2007 |

1 person likes this

cesarmolina

Peru

 

in Peru we say salud as when we clink glasses whenhaving a drink

07:33 PM Aug 12 2007 |

1 person likes this

Lidia_partner

Brazil

In my country people say “Saúde!” what means “health”... yeah its similar to spanish

05:33 PM Jul 27 2007 |

eternal_84

eternal_84

Turkey

ın turkish we say :çok yaşa:)

02:25 PM May 18 2007 |

black"n"blue

Saudi Arabia

in Mexico we say salud in Arabic we say yerhamk alah wich means god bless you ..thats all i know

12:01 PM May 18 2007 |

air34

air34

Spain

In Spain we do not said salud as it is said in the text, we say jesus. we use salud when we cheers up

10:39 AM May 18 2007 |

air34

air34

Spain

In Spain we do not say salud as it is said in the text, we say jesus. we use salud when we cheers up

10:38 AM May 18 2007 |

Marcin88nyc

Poland

“for health” In polish

05:22 PM Feb 13 2007 |

Lubov

Lubov

Russian Federation

In Russia in this case people say “Be healthy”

11:13 AM Jan 31 2007 |

shahriarheydari

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

In Iran after sneeze some one , people say: “AFIAT BASHE” :-)

08:33 AM Jan 27 2007 |

assia

assia

Algeria

in Algeria when someone sneeze he must say:alhamdou lillal,after that his friend say :yarhamouka Allah, finally the first one say:yahdina wa yarham balana

09:28 AM Jan 26 2007 |

eadanlin

eadanlin

United States

In taiwan,we say 保重(bao zhong).I am not sure cuz we usually dont say anything

08:05 AM Jan 26 2007 |

anit_kane

anit_kane

India

It’s good to learn about the small worlds yet powerful which makes others happy.

04:47 AM Jan 26 2007 |

oceangirl05

Viet Nam

When you sneezes means doctor is waiting for you not someone is missing you hahah. Anyway , In Vietnamese , you say” Lay Mu” when someone sneezes. You know one more new word Mason. The fourth one, huh?

01:32 AM Jan 26 2007 |

changawy

China

in china,sneeze means somebody is missing you

01:22 AM Jan 26 2007 |

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