Lesson 108 — Superstitions

Examining Superstitions for Believability

In this lesson you read about superstitions from different cultures. You learn reporting patterns (It is said that…), key vocabulary, and how to talk about beliefs.

• superstition = a belief not based on reason
• believability = how easy something is to believe
• It is said / believed / thought that…

• It is said / believed / thought that… → report a belief
• dreaming about → خواب دیدن
• symbolise wealth → نماد ثروت بودن
• held / origin / associated → belief, source, connection
• groom / spouse / doomed → wedding superstitions
• -ability → believability, availability

• Reporting: It is said / believed / thought that…
• Korea: pig dream → wealth → good luck
• Shoes on table → origin in 18th century → bad luck
• Wedding: groom drops ring → doomed

Use this passive pattern to report beliefs without saying who believes them. Formula: It is + said / believed / thought / assumed + that + clause

• It is said that a frog brings good luck.
• In Korea, it's believed that dreaming about a pig brings good luck.
• In some cultures, it's thought that dropping the ring dooms the marriage.
• It is assumed that superstitions vary by culture.

dreaming about = seeing something in a dream symbolise = represent / be a symbol of wealth = money, riches, prosperity

• In Korea, dreaming about a pig brings good luck.
• Pigs symbolise wealth in Korean culture.
• I dreamed about you last night.

held (past of hold) = believed / considered true over time origin = where something started / its source associated with = connected to / linked with

• Ever since, it's been held that putting shoes on a table is bad luck.
• There are theories about the origin of this superstition.
• These theories are all associated with bad luck and death.
• What's the origin of this belief?

groom = the man getting married spouse = husband or wife doomed = destined for failure or misfortune; cursed

• If the groom drops the wedding ring, the marriage is doomed.
• The spouse who goes to sleep first will die first.
• The ceremony was doomed.
• I was doomed to failure.

The suffix -ability means 'the quality of being able to be…' believe → believable → believability available → availability

• Examining superstitions for believability.
• Is this story believable?
• The availability of clean water is important.
• To believe in something.

In some countries it's said that a frog brings good luck into the house it enters. In others, however, it's said that this brings bad luck. In Korea, it's believed that dreaming about a pig will bring good luck because pigs symbolise wealth.

In some cultures in the 18th century when a worker died on the job, his shoes were brought to his house and placed on the table. Ever since, it's been held that putting shoes on a table is bad luck. There are other theories about the origin of this superstition but they are all associated with bad luck and death.

In some cultures, it's thought that if the groom drops the wedding ring during the ceremony the marriage is doomed. And in others it's said that after the wedding the spouse who goes to sleep first will be the first to die.