Every time I analyze language, I am awestruck by the magnificent depth and breadth to be found on display.
On the one hand, language has a fascinating history. Old cultures affect new ones, shaping their words and passing on countless expressions.
As a mutt language, English is proof of how ancient cultures can influence how we communicate with each other today.
If you didn’t know, the English we speak is a combination of Old English, Danish, Norse, and French. And, this is not to mention the effects of languages like Latin, Greek, Chinese, Dutch, and Spanish.
On the other hand, the breadth of language can be seen in how many facets of our lives are affected by one another.
For instance, a certain subculture will affect another subculture, injecting new words and expressions into the mainstream.
This is how the online community gave us words like “LOL” and the gaming community gave us “ Pepega” and “Poggers.”
Even the story behind a simple word like “Pepega” is mind-blowing.
However, if you want to see both the depth and breadth of language simultaneously, then you need not look further than the expression “dog days.”
What does “dog days” mean?
“Dog days,” also known as “dog days of summer,” refers to some of the hottest days during the entire year in the northern hemisphere. It represents the period between early July to early September. For most of history, this period was usually associated with bad luck as it was filled with droughts and unexpected thunderstorms. Moreover, the heat tended to make people lazy and to turn dogs mad, so nobody got anything done during this period. This is why another definition of “dog days” is a period of stagnation or inactivity.
This expression comes to us from the ancient Greeks, and as we shall soon see, it literally has astronomical origins.
Despite its ancient heritage, the expression is widespread in pop culture.
For example, any fan of Florence and the Machine is familiar with their hit song “Dog days are over.”
I can even hear its catchy tune as I’m writing this article.
How to use the expression “dog days”?
There are a few ways to use the term “dog days.”
You could actually refer to those sweltering summer days when you’d be willing to pay good money just to stay indoors surrounded by cool air-conditioned air.
You could also use the other definition, the one that refers to a period of stagnation and inactivity.
Another metaphorical usage can refer to hard or uncomfortable days.
What is the origin of the term “dog days”? (The depth)
Your first instinct is probably that it has something to do with how the excess heat agitates dogs, gets them panting like crazy, and almost drives them mad. At least, that was my initial guess.
But, the origin of this expression has nothing to do with our K-9 friends.
Instead, it has to do with the stars. Specifically, I’m talking about the dog star known as Sirius.
You see, the ancient Greeks noticed that Sirius would rise before the sun around late July, which was the same time when the weather would get boiling hot. And, this is where the association came from.
For instance, in Homer’s The Iliad, Sirius is referred to as Orion’s rising dog and is considered to be a harbinger of war and disaster.
But, this isn’t just Homer. There are multiple other references throughout Greek and Roman culture where Sirius is tied to bad weather and catastrophic events.
Interestingly, it was only 500 years ago when the expression was translated into English from its original Latin.
”Dog days” in pop culture
The term “Dog Days” appears in numerous cultural works, dating back from the ancient Greeks all the way to modern day.
Aside from Homer, Hesiod also talked about Sirius and the star’s ability to augment the power of our sun, making the summer hotter.
You also have Alcaeus who told his listeners to drown themselves in wine before the arrival of the star because the dog days cause “women to be at their foulest but men weak since they are parched in head and knees.”
In the Phenomena, Aratus expressed that Sirius would scorch the bark of trees with the heat it emanated.
Fast forward a few centuries, and you’ll find John Webster mention the “dog days” in his 1613 play called “The Duchess of Malfi.”
In “A Christmas Carol,” the beloved 1843 novella by Charles Dickens, “dog days” gets another mention. Other more contemporary works of art that invoke the “dog days” include “The Bar Sinister” by R.H. Davis, “Queens” by J.M. Synge, and “Watership Down” by Richard Adams.
If we look at works of art created during the past 50 years alone, we will find the classic movie “Dog Day Afternoon.” There is also a Japanese anime entitled “Dog Days.”
And, we have Florence and the Machine’s hit “Dog Days Are Over.”
Actually, since this is one of my favorite songs, let’s take a minute to see what Florence Welch exactly meant when she said that the “Dog Days Are Over.”
A closer look at an epic song
There doesn’t seem to be any consensus on what is meant here.
Some argue that the song is about falling in love without realizing it. As a result, the singer is surprised when the feeling finally hits her like a speeding train, causing her to feel afraid as she does not know how to handle this new feeling.
However, try as she might to escape from the feeling, happiness is coming after, so her “dog days” are over.
A completely opposite interpretation sees traces of domestic violence in the song. Basically, some believe that the “dog days” refers to a relationship with an abusive partner, and when Florence says that the “dog days” are over, she’s saying that her bad relationship is over and she’s managed to get out of it.
A third interpretation has nothing to do with relationships and is more concerned with alcohol and drugs. According to this view, Florence was talking about sobering up and getting over an addiction.
So, the “dog days” were referring to those no-good days that were filled with alcohol, drugs, and nothing positive to speak of.
I wonder what Welch and Isabella Summers had in mind when they wrote the song.
Perhaps, they were thinking of something else entirely, something we’ll never know.
Hey fellow Linguaholics! It’s me, Marcel. I am the proud owner of linguaholic.com. Languages have always been my passion and I have studied Linguistics, Computational Linguistics and Sinology at the University of Zurich. It is my utmost pleasure to share with all of you guys what I know about languages and linguistics in general.