PHOBIAS

PHOBIAS

In the last post, I gave a list of words suffixed with - mania. In this post, I will take up
words suffixed with phobia. " phobia " in Greek means " fear" . A morbid fear is expressed
by suffixing a word with phobia. There are many words coined with this suffix . I will take up
just six common words with this suffix. But you can learn more words by referring to other
sources. " phobia " is a noun. " phobic " is used both as noun and as adjective . Cat phobic
refers to a person having morbid fear of cats.

1. Aquaphobia
Aqua means water.
In fact, Aquaphobia. means a morbid fear of drowning.
Aquaphobic is adjective . In a similar manner, adjectives are formed for other words
suffixed with " phobia "

2. Acrophobia -
This word means a morbid fear of heights.

3. Agoraphobia
Agora means open space.
Therefore , Agoraphobia means morbid fear of open spaces.

4. Claustrophobia
This is the opposite of the previous word.
The meaning is fear of closed spaces.

5. Homophobia
In 1971, George Wiener coined this word.
The word means a morbid fear of homosexuals.
6. Xenophobia -
This word means fear or antipathy towards strangers or foreigners.
That is all for this post. In future, when you come across any word with the suffix
phobia, it may not be difficult for you to guess its meaning. At least , you will be
curious to know it. If so, the purpose of this note will be served.

For pronunciation , please consult online pronunciation dictionaries.

Happy learning
Sayee Jayaraman
12/04/2015
Bangalore

MANIAS

Words describing " MANIAS"
In this post let us learn five words with suffix " MANIA" .What is a mania ? This word is associated with madness. The Greek and Latin word for madness is mania. Obsession with something is a sort of madness. The subject of obsession may be different in respect of people. There are many English words which describe such obsession by words suffixed with - mania. Let us learn five such common words.


1. BIBLIOMANIA
" Biblio " means books. Therefore an abnormal desire for acquiring and owning books goes
by the name " bibliomania". A person who has this abnormality is called " bibliomaniac". The
adjective form of this word is " bibliomaniacal " .
I know a person who spends most of his earnings in purchasing books. Once I found an
amazing collection of " Bhagavad Gita " , a holy book in his library. When I asked him if
he had read that book, he replied that he did not have time to read. He had time only to
acquire and satisfy his desire to own them. This person is just a bibliomaniac .


2. KLEPTOMANIA
The Greek root of this word. " kleptes" means theft. Therefore a person who suffers from
a compulsive and irresistible impulse to steal things from others is a " KLEPTOMANIAC"
Such a disorder which is an emotional disturbance is " KLEPTOMANIA". The adjective
form of the word is " KLEPTOMANIAICAL".
Remember that a Kleptomaniac does not steal from economic motive. It is mental /
emotional disturbance only. Sometimes you find even rich people suffering from this
disorder.
I have heard of rich ladies stealing spoons from the venue of marriage . We have heard of
shoplifting cases involving celebrities. Amanda Bynes, an actor and designer was reported
to have stolen a $200 hat from a shop. Winona Ryder, an actor was arrested for stealing
$5500 worth of clothes and accessories from a shop. There are several such cases.
Surely these celebrities did not suffer from poverty . They suffer from KLEPTOMANIA.


3. MEGALOMANIA
MEGALO again a Greek root means big / great / grandeur etc. MEGALOMANIA is a
disorder when one suffers from delusions of his own greatness . What he or she thinks
himself or herself to be is not a fact or in the realm of reality. It is a delusion. Someone
believes that he is Alexander the Great . Another thinks that she is Cleopatra .
These people suffer from MEGALOMANIA . They are MEGALOMANIACS. The adjective
form is MEGALOMANIACAL .


4. MYTHOMANIA
Generally we associate , " MYTHS " with stories hard to believe. Every culture has its
own mythology .if something has no basis in reality or not a fact, we say it is just a myth.
Therefore an excessive or abnormal propensity for lying and exaggerating is called
MYTHOMANIA . Such a person is a MYTHOMANIAC the adjective form is
MYTHOMANIACAL.
My friend would repeatedly tell that his great grandfather fought with a tiger singlehandedly
and killed it. I wonder if it were a case of MYTHOMANIA.


5. DIPSOMANIA
The Greek root , " dipsa" refers to thirst. Therefore " DIPSOMANIA " is an uncontrollable
craving for alcoholic liquors.
In my long years of service in the Customs Department, I have seen many a
DIPSOMANIAIC and that too unfortunately on their deathbed.
The adjective form is " DIPSOMANIACAL ".
Please try to learn other ENGLISH WORDS suffixed with - MANIA.
HAPPY LEARNING
Sayee Jayaraman
06/04/2015

AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Mr. T K Jayaraman , IRS ( Retd)  and presently French Trainer will be conducting a Basic French Course at the Indian Institute of World Culture BP Wadia Road Basavangudi Bangalore -04 from 18/04:2015 to 19/05/2015 on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 30 am to 11 30 am for a total duration of 20 hours covering everyday French and basic grammar. The course fee will be ₹ 1050 / - only. Interested persons may please contact the Honarary Secretary of IIWC in the following numbers.

080-26678581

9036788567

My tutor profile

http://tutorindia.net/Tutor_Profiles-MjQ5MjA-Mr_T_K_Jayaraman

The above is my tutor profile in Tutorindia site. I teach English ,French . Maths and Physics on line through Skype. Learners interested in special coaching in these subjects may contact me.

Skype id sayee49

tkjcustoms@gmail.com

00919538533363

MANGEMENT VOCABULARY 10 ÉCONOMIC FRAUD

Today let us discuss vocabulary relating to economic frauds .

" WHITE COLLAR CRIME " is a well known expression for economic frauds. The people who commit such frauds are sophisticated. Their appearances belie their motives. They are quite polished.  But then,they have criminal mind.

MISAPPROPRIATION

The verb is " to misappropriate " . It means taking away someone else's money.  People working in companies, when they are dishonest try to gain money by committing some fraud.

EMBEZZLEMENT

Embezzlement means stealing. This word is also frequently used for corporate crimes.  A person in some responsible position in a company misuses his position to gain pecuniary advantage for himself. That is embezzlement. The verb is " to embezzle".

DEFALCATION

This is another word for misappropriation.

BLACK MONEY

When an individual or a company keeps correct account of their income, then taxes have to be paid to the government. In order not to pay tax on the entire income, a part of income will not be shown in the accounts.  In other words,there will be some unaccounted income.  The unaccounted income is known as BLACK MONEY.

TAX HAVEN

When the taxes are high in one country,a company is registered in a country where taxes are low. The idea is avoidance of taxes in your country. So the other countries which help you to avoid taxes are known as TAX HAVENS.

TAX EVASION

Nobody likes to pay taxes. Even when one pays them,it is done very grudgingly. So there is always a tendency among people and companies to evade taxes. TAX EVASION is a very common economic offence.

MONEY LAUNDERING

This is an interesting expression.

When the money is illegally earned,it is black money.  In order to hide the illicit origin of money, people adopt various methods to show that the money originated from legitimate business. This is called laundering.  As though,by washing you make it appear legitimate.

We continue in the next post.

Sayee Jayaraman

4/03/2015

MANAGEMENT VOCABULARY 9 VAT

I am reminding you that my posts are meant for enriching your vocabulary in different fields of knowledge. The intention is not to make you an expert in a particular field. As an educated person, you should have a very broad idea of almost everything that has a bearing on your life.


When you read newspapers, they talk about VAT. In the context of taxation,we should understand this acronym for VALUE ADDED TAX.

VAT is formed by the first letters of the three words of VALUE ADDED TAX.

In all good dictionaries, you will find this term.

Value-added-tax

VAT is very popular in many countries. It is a tax paid by a seller to the government only on the value added by him to the product.

I am trying to make you understand the concept. Suppose a person purchases certain goods and uses them in producing a product. He incurs costs on the input which has a component of tax paid to the government. After producing the product,he sells the same to another person at some higher value. In other words,he adds value to the product. While paying tax to the government on this product, he takes credit of tax already paid on the product. His net liability is only on the value added by him. If the person who purchases this product, is the ultimate consumer,he suffers the burden of all taxes paid at every stage on the product. Therefore, the incidence of Value added tax is on the ultimate consumer. To him, it is nothing but a sales tax. So VAT is a tax on consumption.


Hope you understand clearly the concept of VAT.

REST IN MY NEXT POST.

Sayee Jayaraman
02/03/2015

MANAGEMENT VOCABULARY 8 TAXATION

Somebody said that the only certainty in life is tax and death. You can never escape from taxes of one type of other, however poor you may be. Where will the government go for getting money except by taxing you and me?

One of the objectives of taxation is getting REVENUE. But that is not the only objective. TAXATION is a very powerful instrument in the hands of a government to achieve several objectives.

For example,cigarette smoking is injurious for health. It is a statutory warning. Every year, the government imposes very high excise duty on cigarette and other tobacco products. Consequently,the cigarette price will be beyond the reach of people with meagre incomes. But then the persons addicted to cigarettes would rather reduce their other essential expenses than quit smoking. Such people contribute to the revenue of the government immensely. In any case,the government believes that a high duty on cigarettes would discourage their consumption. Duty on alcoholic liquor has similar objectives.


Suppose a country like China dumps its manufactured products in India at very cheap prices.Surely it would cause injury to domestic industry. So Indian government would initiate a procedure to levy ANTI-DUMPING duty on such products. After paying ANTI-DUMPING duty,it would not make sense to the traders to sell such goods in the Indian market. The price would be prohibitive.

When you import goods from other countries,you have to pay them in a strong currency like US DOLLARS. Rupees have to be converted to dollars. In good old days, INDIA had insufficient foreign exchange reserves to meet all essential needs. There was very strict control of foreign exchange. Many goods were not allowed to be imported. There was a ban. Even where the goods could be imported with a LICENCE, there would be savage rates of CUSTOMS DUTIES. Like 300% to 400%. What I want to emphasise here,is the enormous power of tax levy at the disposal of a government to achieve several of its objectives.

In respect of imported goods,apart from the normal customs duty,the government would impose a COUNTERVAILING DUTY which is equal to the excise duty reliable on like products in India. Is it getting too technical? But a management student should have an idea though he is not expected to be a tax expert.

How is the tax calculated?

In respect of tax on income,it is easy. The tax is calculated on the taxable income. How the TAXABLE INCOME is computed need not worry us. Suppose the rate of income tax is 10% on the TAXABLE income and if the TAXABLE income in a particular case is ₹300000,the tax would be ₹30000 only.

However in respect of CUSTOMS and excise duties, there are generally two ways of calculating the tax burden. Tax is always a burden! The tax department freely uses the word, " burden". After all,the tax inspector is also a tax payer.

AD VALOREM DUTY

AD VALOREM duty is based on the value of the goods. If you want to pay less duty,you would show less value. But it is difficult for you to outsmart the customs men. The AD VALOREM DUTY is a percentage of the value of the goods. Say, 10%,15%,20% and so on.

SPECIFIC DUTY would be based on the quantity imported or cleared. For example,1000 per tonne. Hope you understood. You may declare less quantity to reduce your liability. But then the customs or excise inspector is not to be taken for granted. He would smell a rat. He is trained for that.

Shall we continue in the next post?

Happy learning!

SAYEE Jayaraman
01/03/2015