After Inception

Wise Words: inception 

My daughter wanted to know why I was walking so fast. We were in Barcelona on our way back to the hotel from the cinema. We were on a high from watching Inception, the multi-layered film about conmen, dreams and the subconscious starring Leonardo DiCaprio, and were discussing the puzzling ending — but that wasn’t the reason I was rushing.

On the way to the cinema, when it was still light, the street had seemed fine, but at one o’clock in the morning the area had taken on a whole new look and feel. We were walking through the red-light district.

“I’m walking fast because I don’t like the area,” I told her.

“Why — what’s the hurry?”

“Haven’t you noticed the prostitutes?” I whispered.

“Of course I have. So what?”

“So, so… I don’t want to be mistaken for one!” I answered.

“Mum, no one could mistake you for a prostitute,” my 17-year-old daughter reassured me with a smile.

I wasn’t sure whether I should be offended or pleased.

Two young male tourists were walking towards us. They were talking in broken English to two very young Asian girls. They all ignored me, but I noticed them. None of them could speak perfect English, but they were communicating their needs — and their services — perfectly.

Sometimes, it’s not necessary to be fluent in a language to get what you want. However, if you don’t communicate clearly enough, you might end up with something you hadn’t asked for. We speculated on the kind of souvenir those two men might take home with them.

The scene reminded me of a couple of lines in The Hangover. “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Except for herpes. That shit will come back with you.”

But I digress. The Wise Word for this week is "inception". Why? By now, most of you will have learned the word, as the German version of Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster kept the English title. I understand why films with titles such as Contact and Leaving Las Vegas can keep the same titles, but I found it strange that the word "inception" was considered easy enough. In Spanish, it was translated as Origen. "Inception" is not exactly a word that Germans use in German or that they would come across regularly in English. It’s simply a more formal word for “start” or “beginning”. If you Google the noun, most results will have a connection of some kind with the film. However, if you drill down and filter the film results out, you’ll find out how the word is used.

• He has been involved in the program since its inception.
  
• Since its inception, Skype has been used by many businesses wanting to reduce communications costs.
  
• Since its inception in 2004, our company has grown to become one of the world's top international firms.
• A list of nominees for the Peace Prize from its inception in 1901 through 1956 is now available online.
  
• Putin has backed the project from its inception.

What do these sentences have in common? They are used with “since” or “from” + “its inception”. You could use this phrase if you want to impress someone — for example at a job interview or in a CV. Think about a project that you have been involved in from the start, only use "from its inception" instead.

If the personnel manager is a fan of DiCaprio, using "inception" might trigger positive thoughts in his or her subconscious and help you to get your foot in the door. Good luck.