The English language is a great thief. Like an out-of-control kleptomaniac, our Mother Tongue has raided the supermarket of world languages, helping itself to delectable verbal goodies.

Linguists estimate that as many as 80% of English words originated in other languages. We call these terms "borrowed words" or "loan words," but I have some bad news for these other languages: We ain't giving 'em back!

Words for food are especially ripe for stealing. Most of us know that "tortilla," "pizza" and "sushi" were lifted from Spanish, Italian and Japanese, respectively, but did you know that "salmon," "lemon" and "ketchup" come from French, Arabic and Malay, respectively? (Why am I getting hungry?)

And where would we be without coffee (Turkish), reindeer (Norwegian), schlep (Yiddish), chess (Persian), behemoth (Hebrew), fetish (Portuguese), trek (Afrikaans), kiwi (Maori), jumbo (African languages), poodle (German) and sauna (Finnish)?

Can you tell which of these eight languages provided the CAPITALIZED words in each sentence: Czech, Spanish, Icelandic, Hindi/Urdu, Chinese, Dutch, Gaelic or Welsh? Look for a clue hidden in a lowercase word or phrase in each sentence. In the first sentence, for instance, the clue is "wouldn't choose."

No. 1: I wouldn't choose to CRUISE by a BLUFF where a BOSS, a SNOOP and a BULLY LOITERED.

No. 2: Here's my SAGA: I got the MUMPS near a GEYSER on the rocks.

No. 3: Near a CAIRN made of fake stones were CRAGS and BOGS GALORE.

No. 4: Check your HOWITZERS, PISTOLS and ROBOTS at the door.

No. 5: Amidst the FLUMMERY about cetaceans were stories of CORGIS, BUGS and PENGUINS dressed in FLANNEL.

No. 6: In the BUNGALOW next to the new deli, PUNDITS and GURUS in DUNGAREES and PAJAMAS make a lot of LOOT selling SHAMPOO.

No. 7: On a rainy plain, near a RANCH with a BARRICADE and a SILO, a VIGILANTE tossed a GUITAR into a CANYON and started a STAMPEDE.

No. 8: The great Wall Street TYCOON, refusing to KOWTOW to GUNG-HO guys, put KAOLIN in her TEA.

Answers:

No. 1: Dutch (wouldn't choose — wooden shoes) No. 2: Icelandic (on the rocks — ice) No. 3: Gaelic (fake stones — shamrocks) No. 4: Czech (Check — Czech) No. 5: Welsh: (cetaceans — whales, Wales) No. 6: Hindi/Urdu (new deli — New Delhi) No. 7: Spanish (rainy plain — "The Rain in Spain" from the musical "My Fair Lady") No. 8: Chinese (great Wall — Great Wall)

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. His new book, "Mark My Words," is available for $9.99 on Amazon.com. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to WordGuy@aol.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

Photo credit: Mike_68 at Pixabay