@mms

German as the language of mathematics.

It allows for long composite words, which still have some concrete, tangible meaning. Its sentences can be complex yet they remain intuitive. And the mature writer can throw in concrete everyday notions, slang, to give added meaning to an abstract concept.

van der Waerden is a master of all of these.

(I live, work and write in English, and I love English and its writers with all my heart. Interestingly, my favourite English novelist is Joseph Conrad, whose native language was Polish.

#language #SecondLanguage #mathematics #VanDerWaerden #JosephConrad #German

Dog-sittting today, for friends.

They have a huge 17th century house with a large garden, in the centre of town. I sit in the garden, enjoying the sun and the friendly breeze and the whole space. Everything here is generous and graceful. I grew up thinking of myself as part of the educated upper middle class, destined to be safe and comfortable. Now I can barely pay my bills, and we can't afford summer holidays. #DownwardlyMobile, your name is Roamer. Part of being an academic in the UK, I accept it.

Today I sit in this beautiful vast garden, harvesting memories of past self-images. I have books with me; van der Waerden's Algebra I, the German edition, since you ask. Mathematics is best expressed in German, and best by writers to whom it is a second language. His German is up there with Thomas Mann or Goethe.

A day off. Quiet reflection. A supremely elegant Saluki by my side. A supremely elegant book in my hands.

#summer #class #mathematics #VanDerWaerden #Salukis #grace