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Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios
Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios
Can You Learn English By Watching TV?
Q&A

Can You Learn English By Watching TV?

Also, why do some people "open" and "close" the lights?

John McWhorter's avatar
John McWhorter
Dec 23, 2022
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Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios
Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios
Can You Learn English By Watching TV?
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May I open the lights?

Jake asks us:

What are the origins of “open/close” the light? It seems like a regionalism (maybe based on historical immigration), but also there seem to be other languages that use those verbs.

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