first syllable

English translation: cornerstone/millestone

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	first syllable
Selected answer:	cornerstone/millestone
Entered by:	Ioanna Daskalopoulou

15:49 Sep 21, 2008

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Social Sciences - Education / Pedagogy / acceleration

English term or phrase: first syllable

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?

Edward LIU KudoZ activity Questions: 324 (6 open) (2 closed without grading) Answers: 2327 Canada
Local time: 05:55

cornerstone/millestone

Explanation:
I don't think the aforesaid expression is used metaphorically here. I would use cornerstone or even millestone.

Selected response from:

Ioanna Daskalopoulou
Greece
Local time: 12:55

Grading comment

Thanks to everyone who has helped me on this question.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +2

'yes' reflects a positive attitude ...

Jennifer Levey

4 +1

cornerstone/millestone

Ioanna Daskalopoulou

instills a can do attitude

Gary D

starting point

Liliana Galiano

step

Patricia Townshend (X)

Answers

24 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

cornerstone/millestone

Explanation:
I don't think the aforesaid expression is used metaphorically here. I would use cornerstone or even millestone.

Ioanna Daskalopoulou
Greece
Local time: 12:55
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Greek,

English
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

Thanks to everyone who has helped me on this question.

53 mins confidence:

starting point

Explanation:
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.

Liliana Galiano
Argentina
Local time: 06:55
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Spanish

26 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

'yes' reflects a positive attitude ...

Explanation:
... 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.

Jennifer Levey
Chile
Local time: 05:55
Native speaker of:

English

30 mins confidence:

step

Explanation:
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!

Patricia Townshend (X)
South Africa
Local time: 11:55
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks, what is meant by 'the very first syllable of a long history'?

5 hrs confidence:

instills a can do attitude

Explanation:
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.

Gary D
Local time: 19:55
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

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English translation: cornerstone/millestone

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