Hey #MastoBrain.

[suneauken@mastodon.world]

Hey #MastoBrain.

Why is a university graduation ceremony sometimes called a commencement? What commences?

#University #Graduation #Commencement #SecondLanguageSpeakerBrainache

[mrinappropriate@mastodonapp.uk]

@SuneAuken Real life.

[suneauken@mastodon.world]

@MrInappropriate

Nope. Real life takes place at the university too.

[xankarn@mastodon.online]

@SuneAuken

Student loan payments.

[oscarfalcon@mastodon.social]

@SuneAuken

Your life as a professional in your chosen field.

[suneauken@mastodon.world]

@xankarn

This is true. I am not sure it's cause for celebration, though.

[suneauken@mastodon.world]

@oscarfalcon

Yeah, that was my best bid too, but to a second language speaker it remains guesswork.

[retrosponge@kind.social]

@SuneAuken Disillusionment?

[suneauken@mastodon.world]

@retrosponge

Witty, but hardly an answer.

[retrosponge@kind.social]

@SuneAuken I was just basing it on everyone I know who went to university. Most of them got English degrees and none of them wound up working in a field that remotely used it.

In all seriousness, I think it is like commencing the main part of your life. That's what I've always assumed it means.

[suneauken@mastodon.world]

@retrosponge

I don't know what it is about the English degree that has people always say that. I teach the corresponding field in Denmark, Danish, and as far as I can tell, my students end up using what I've taught them for the rest of their professional careers.

Thank you for the serious answer. Quite useful.

[leonoverweel@mastodon.social]

@SuneAuken according to this [1], historically it meant that you were allowed to start teaching others: https://jimnicar.com/2024/05/06/why-its-called-commencement/ (towards the bottom)

[suneauken@mastodon.world]

@leonoverweel

Very helpful. Thank you.