Nov 12, 2019 14:36
4 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term

closet

English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters self-soothing strategies
Dear colleagues, I was wondering about the meaning of “closet” in the following passages taken from an American parenting book.
Probably because I tend to feel a little bit claustrophobic, I find it difficult to imagine a little child in a small space... What can “closet” mean in this case? Maybe a large walk–in wardrobe? Or a storeroom? Considering the second occurrence of “closet”, maybe it’s more in the sense of “storeroom”…
Thank you very much for your help!
********************
1)
Sometimes we just need to get away, to remove ourselves from a high-stress situation. Our kids are no different. Having a place to retreat and recover when they feel strong emotions beginning to take over can be a great tool for returning to the green zone. So at a moment when your child feels calm and collected, take a few minutes to set up a “calm cave” she can go to the next time she becomes upset.
A small pup tent in the living room can serve this purpose, as can ** a corner of a closet **, or a sheet over a desk or table. You and your child can fill the cave with favorite stuffed animals, a soft pillow and blanket, books, a pair of headphones, Play-Doh, or anything else that gives your child comfort. Empower your child by letting her participate in the creation of the calming place.

2)
(…)
Notice, too, that as with most of our principles and strategies, everything here applies to adults as well. (So maybe you want to go clear out some room *** in the back of your own closet *** with a stash of chocolate?)

Discussion

Alexandra Hirsch (X) Nov 12, 2019:
Know that scene in Alf? (And loads of TV sit-coms.) Where the daughter of the house disappears in the closet to use the phone (pre-smartphone).
Alexandra Hirsch (X) Nov 12, 2019:
Okay, well my American authors use closet short for and alternating with 'linen' and 'walk-in' closet.
haribert (asker) Nov 12, 2019:
Dear colleagues, thank you very much for your proposals! Yet, I think that maybe Phil's suggestion seems to fit also the second occurrence of "closet" in the text...
I think that the aim is to provide a place that provides feelings of security as Laura, Roberta and Najme said, but I also think that it refers to a specific room or space already existing in the house, that you can arrange so as to provide those feelings of protection...
haribert (asker) Nov 12, 2019:
Hi, Es ist ein amerikanischer Text...
Alexandra Hirsch (X) Nov 12, 2019:
Hängt wohl ein bisschen davon ab ob es US oder UK ist, aber Abstellraum oder Wand-/Kleider-/Wäscheschrank würde beides passen.

Responses

+13
26 mins
Selected

[dictionary definition]

"A cabinet or recess for especially china, household utensils, or clothing"
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/closet

I don't agree with the three previous answers - a closet is a space used specifically for storage. It could be a freestanding piece of furniture, or a little alcove with a door, or a small room in its own right. I have all three in my house, and my American wife calls them all closets.
Note from asker:
Thank you so much, Phil, for sharing not only dictionary definition, but also your own personal experience! Actually, your proposal would fit with both instances of "closet" in the text...
Peer comment(s):

agree Sheri P : Agree it's the basic literal dictionary definition of American 'closet', but definitely not a freestanding piece of furniture.//I mean, in this specific instance it's not referring to a freestanding piece of furniture.
8 mins
Thanks. It could be, but I agree it's more likely to be an alcove or small room here.
agree Sheila Wilson
18 mins
agree Tina Vonhof (X) : I agree with your description and also with Sheri: it is usually built in, has a door, and is primarily meant to hang clothes. Hiding between the clothes can indeed feel very secure and soothing, and lots of children like to do it.
34 mins
I do it when I miss deadlines :-)
agree AJ Ablooglu
34 mins
agree Elias Marios Kounas
1 hr
agree Tony M
1 hr
agree Katalin Horváth McClure
5 hrs
agree Katya Kesten
6 hrs
agree AllegroTrans
7 hrs
agree B D Finch : Me and my brother used to hide in cupboards when we were small - sometimes even on upper shelves.
1 day 3 hrs
agree jccantrell : In the USA, this would rarely be a piece of furniture. Most houses have a small room adjacent to every bedroom for storing clothing. I never saw this in Europe, but they are everywhere in the USA. Realtors speak of 'how much closet space' a house has.
1 day 12 hrs
agree Roberto Govia
4 days
agree JaneTranslates : Excellent answer. I agree with jccantrell--in the US, a closet for clothes is a little room within a bedroom, and a linen closet is a built-in cabinet in a wall. I would never refer to a piece of furniture as a closet though I know a few Americans who do.
27 days
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you so much, Phil, for your help! Many many thanks also to the other participants who shared their own experiences and knowledge!"
8 mins

A small space which make you feel secure and confortable when you want to be alone

.
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8 mins

any space enclosed enough to provide feeling of security and protection

My personal interpretation of "closet" here is any enclosed space that makes the child/person feel protected from distressing outside input. It doesn't have to literally be a small closet, just any space that feels protective and "cocoon-like".
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10 mins

walk in wardrobe

I agree with your interpretation.
Peer comment(s):

neutral Sheri P : Not necessarily 'walk-in'. I have small recessed areas in my home that we call 'closets'. They're big enough for a child to sit in a corner, but they're not the same as what Americans call 'walk-in closets'.
28 mins
neutral AllegroTrans : This is not necessarily a wardrobe it can simply be a recess without doors or partition
3 days 3 hrs
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31 mins

a small, secret and confortable place/ area where we can get stressful situations away from us.

that's my idea:

a small, secret and confortable place where we can get stressful situations away from us

Peer comment(s):

neutral AllegroTrans : Much too vague in the context
3 days 3 hrs
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10 hrs

Armário

You have to take into account one very important aspect in this: How does the source/target audience relate to closets. Perhaps in a different culture (mine, for example, being Brazilian) a closet would mean a wooden piece of furniture, which wouldn't always have room for one to comfortably sit in. However, in the US a closet is most likely a hole in teh wall of the room with a foldable door or maybe even just curtains. It is a very common-place thing to see kids, especially when they are hiding, sitting inside those, as if they were forts, or something similar. A parent is likely to have the same kind of closet in their bedroom, only slightly bigger, perhaps just big enough taht you can take one step into it before you hit the shelves. I believe it is one such space where a mom would have a stash of sweet goods for her own comfrot, away from the child, especially if u consider that in any of those circumstances, if it were any other kind of closet around the house, it would always be a location of public access, which grants you no safety from outside intruders, who could take you or your candy.
Example sentence:

She was hiding in the bedroom closet from the killer.

Note from asker:
Hi, Pedro! Thank you for your useful explanation!
Peer comment(s):

neutral AllegroTrans : Explanation OK but English to English question
2 days 17 hrs
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