Tricky Words in this week's OVI
Civic and civil. Both of these words can be translated into Slovak as „občianske", but in different contexts and word combinations. We can talk about "civil war", and about the "civil society", but
then there are projects set up by "civic associations", and concerts are held in the "Civic Hall". The latter might be named „Mestská hala" in Slovak, and should not be confused with City Hall,
which is „Mestský magistrát". I associate „civic" with town or city, and „civil" with people, because civil war is waged between people of the same country (not city), and the word civil can mean
"polite" (Try to keep a civil tongue in your head!), which is the basis for the more modern, extended meaning: having the typical qualities of a democratic society (but not a people’s democracy,
ironically).
Andy's Wordshop
A few points about the Košice Peace Marathon: 1. That is its official name in English; 2. This year saw the 90th anniversary (výročie) of the first Košice Marathon, which was run from Turňa nad
Bodvou back to Košice in 1924, but this was the 91st edition (ročník) of the KPM because there was no "zero edition"; 3. Two "wartime" editions, 1938 and 1940, were not actually run in Košice,
but they are now counted as if they were – the former was all prepared, but cancelled just a week before race day, and the latter was run in Budapest, in a kind of "guest appearance" there; 4. the
competitors’ electronic chips were attached to their number bibs, and were activated as they crossed the starting line, so the official results (for the full marathon) give the "gross time"
(from the starting signal) as well as the "net time" (start line to finish line).
