All ‘single-language’ sections deal with items pertinent to that particular language - most of the points are covered in the Dutch-English and English-Dutch sections. More items will be added as and when they are picked up in conversation or brought to the web-editor’s attention by e-mail or otherwise. Biannual and biennial : the one is twice a year, the other every other year Billion has fewer noughts in some languages than others - 9 (am.,fl.,fr.) vs 12 (du.,en.) Charge of the light brigade - refers to the Crimean War, 1854. Gun positions on the ridge and in the valley had to be taken. The light brigade were to ride in and take, the heavy brigade would follow to consolidate and hold. Aim was to take the ridge guns first, then the valley nests. Orders were dispatched to ride the valley. The light brigade captured their objective, but was not backed up by the heavy brigade, and had to retreat. Two in five men died. Item based on BBC and other reports of historical research into contemporary participants’ reports, 25 July 2004. Family relations: nephew and niece = son or daughter of brother or sister or of brother- or sister-in-law, cousin = child of an uncle or aunt, third cousin twice removed = three generations up or down, and two generations back for the join. Honours: to the mostly very egalitarian Dutch, any combination of letters after a person’s name seems like unwarranted ‘showing off’ - yet Queen’s Honours are a distinction to mark an accomplishment of which many are justly proud. Here’s a small list. Bt = Baronet. GBE, DBE / KBE, CBE, OBE, MBE refer to “The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire”. GBE = Knight or Dame Grand Cross, DBE = Dame Commander, KBE = Knight Commander, CBE = Commander, OBE = Officer, MBE = Member. For an extended listing, please refer to www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/uk_medals.htm. Jacobean = during the reign of James I (early 16C.), vs. Jacobite = supporter of James II (late 16C.). Standing expressions: charm of finches, clowder of cats, flock of sheep, gaggle of geese, herd of swans, kindle of kittens, pack of dogs (roedel), pod of whales, pride of lions, Bird names and pictures: rspb.org.uk/birds/guide and birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide give an opportunity to see a picture and read the particulars, thus confirming your initial hunch regarding a bird’s name in English. (and if all else fails, just copy the bird’s latin name from one language site and search or zoek ... ) Tongue twisters - http://www.uebersetzung.at/twister/en.htm | 
