B2 – Upper Intermediate
A doppelgänger, derived from the German words “doppel” (meaning double) and “gänger” (meaning goer), refers to a mysterious and often unsettling phenomenon of encountering one’s exact look-alike or identical double. This concept has deep roots in folklore and mythology, with various cultures interpreting it differently.
In literature and popular culture, encountering a doppelgänger is often associated with foreboding omens or supernatural occurrences. The doppelgänger motif has been explored in numerous stories and films, highlighting the psychological and sometimes eerie implications of coming face-to-face with one’s identical counterpart. The phenomenon adds a layer of mystery and intrigue, provoking questions about identity, fate, and the blurred boundaries between reality and the supernatural.
Read the article below, listen to the short audio, and be ready to answer the questions that follow.
https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/do-you-have-a-doppelg%C3%A4nger-/7467075.html
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “dead ringer” mean in the sentence, “My best friend in college is a dead ringer for George Clooney? When we’re out in public, he gets asked for his autograph all the time.” Use it in your sentence.
- What does the word “mirror image” mean in the sentence, “Well, if you weren’t there, then I ran into your doppelgänger. She was a mirror image of you!? Give two synonyms or similar expressions and use “mirror image” in your own words.
- What does the expression “to trade places with someone” mean in the sentence, “I wish I could trade places with my doppelgänger!“? Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- How do cultural beliefs and folklore influence the perception of doppelgängers, and do such beliefs exist in your culture?
- English often borrows words from other languages. Can you think of other words in English that have been borrowed and adapted from different languages? What impact does this linguistic borrowing have on language evolution?
- Have you ever personally encountered someone who looks remarkably similar to you or someone you know? Share your experience and reactions.
- How would you react if someone told you they met your doppelgänger? Do you find the idea intriguing or unsettling?
- Doppelgängers often carry symbolic meanings. What do you think the concept of a doppelgänger represents in a broader sense, beyond physical resemblance?
6 replies on “Having a Doppelganger”
1. In some cultures people think that doppelgängers are spirits similar to living persons, they are even called the negative of a human. In my culture that belief doesn’t exist, but some people think that after dead, everybody has a spirit that exists forever, and even can visit his family from time to time. I think this is superstition, not true at all.
2. The word “cafetería” is borrowed from Spanish, also “avocado”. In my opinión this linguistic borrowing doesn’t have a big impact in language evolution, because that happens with few words in relation with the total amount of words of a language. And think it enriches the language that borrows the word and it´s not bad at all.
3. I’ve never met someone who looks like me, but some years ago some people used to tell me that I look like a famous singer that was in fashion at that time. I didn´t agree but it was funny.
4. I don’t like the idea of having a doppelgänger, I think it would be disturbing if I would met her. All of us think that we are unique, and I prefer to keep thinking that.
5. I’m not sure but, beyond physical resemblance, it could represent your “alter ego”, someone who you feel identify, who has the same ideas you have, and someone you trust because your are very confident on him.
You were able to express yourself through writing very well. Keep it up!
Here is a sentence that can still be improved a bit:
Try brushing up on Conditionals.
Get going with this exercise.
1. Before answering this question, I have done some research about this subject, and I have learnt that dopplegangers belief comes from Egyptian culture which considered bad luck that a person could find their own image in another person. I think that this belief has changed over time and fortunately, our generation does not already see negative connotations in this. On the contrary, they are curious and try to look for their other person alike to oneself on the media.
2. Some words borrowed and used not only in English but even in other languages are karaoke which comes from Japanese, siesta comes from Spanish, croissant comes from France or tofu which come from Chinese. I suppose that the use of the original word is that there is a need, and no equivalent exists previously in the language, and they prefer to take it from the original language rather than invent a new one.
3. I met two identical people at work. Both wore very similar with the same type of beard. It was very difficult to distinguish them between them and sometimes I addressed to the wrong person. Fortunately, one of them left the company so that it is easier to know who I am talking to, now.
4. I think that it would be intriguing to know that there is another person identical to me in the world, in the sense that I would like to know what this person is like, how she behaves. It would be frustrating to know that your doppelganger is a criminal or live out of the law.
5. As I have answered in the previous question, the problem to find doppelganger is not the physical resemblance but the behavior of the other person, since if this person has bad reputation, anyone can think wrongly that it is me who is doing the bad acts. I have seen on TV that people who look like to wanted people have been retained in international customs until their real identity have been proven.
Interesting thoughts about doppelganger. Good work writing your answers.
Here is another way to express “distinguish” in this sentence. Instead, you can say “to tell sb/sth apart”.
Until your next entry!
• How do cultural beliefs and folklore influence the perception of doppelgängers, and do such beliefs exist in your culture?
I think a lot, because it’s an eerie / disturbing phenomena, but exists, for example there are doubles of actors, of president of countries and so for… so probably we have one or more dead-ringer people in the world, it is only a matter of time and money to search for them.
• English often borrows words from other languages. Can you think of other words in English that have been borrowed and adapted from different languages? What impact does this linguistic borrowing have on language evolution?
There are too many, for example: menu, macho, perfume, alter-ego, guerrilla, plaza, cousin, and so forth…
I think is ok sometimes, but if you have a similar word in your language, I think it would be better to use your native word, because sometimes sounds very pretentious y you don’t do it.
• Have you ever personally encountered someone who looks remarkably similar to you or someone you know? Share your experience and reactions.
Yes, sometimes, not with the same age, but we are very similar… and it is a very disturbing feeling.
One example it is my girlfriend she has a cousin with the same name only 3 years younger that is an identical-twin of her. A lot of people confuse them… and nowadays there are more confused because in the social media it is almost impossible to differentiate them because of the name and surname are the same.
• How would you react if someone told you they met your doppelgänger? Do you find the idea intriguing or unsettling?
Interesting, I would like that something like that could happen. I would like to ask him/her about my double 🙂
• Doppelgängers often carry symbolic meanings. What do you think the concept of a doppelgänger represents in a broader sense, beyond physical resemblance?
It’s a very interesting idea, to have a dead-ringer means that probably you have similar genes that give you the same resemblance, so why not also to have similar personality? And also, is the environmental factor because your look the people will likely treat both in the same or similar way. It’s an intriguing matter.
Job well done writing your answers to your lesson’s discussion questions about doppelgangers.
Here is a better way to express this sentence:
Enjoy your writing practice.