The virtues of sluggishness

Language Log 2026-01-14

Summary:

"Arnold the Grove Snail"  (1:11) Everyone who knows me is aware that the snail is my totem, my logo.  When my students are too tense or anxious, I will enjoin them:  "wō/guāniú jīngshén, mànman lái 蝸牛精神,慢慢來" ("[have / adopt a] snail spirit, take your time").  I even had a pet snail, Arnold, for five and a […]

Link:

https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=72608&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-virtues-of-sluggishness

From feeds:

Gudgeon and gist » Language Log

Tags:

and

Authors:

Victor Mair

Date tagged:

01/14/2026, 16:17

Date published:

01/14/2026, 10:28