Lunfardo: The Slang of Buenos Aires
Argentine Spanish is peppered with words and phrases from Lunfardo, a colorful and ever-evolving slang born on the streets of Buenos Aires in the second half of the 19th century. What began as a secret code among criminals, gamblers, and other shady characters, has grown into one of the most distinctive linguistic hallmarks of Argentine […]
Inclusive Spanish: more than just changing a letter
What is inclusive Spanish, and why does it go beyond just one letter? Inclusive language has gained visibility in Spanish-speaking institutions, schools, and social spaces. Yet, in Spanish, the debate is often reduced to a single letter: the “e.” This way of speaking or writing, which seeks to avoid the exclusive use of the grammatical […]
The Importance of Editing Machine Translations
Why Machine Translation Should Be Edited In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are revolutionizing industries, machine translation (MT) has become an essential tool for businesses, researchers, and individuals who need quick and cost-effective translations. However, despite its advancements, MT still falls short in producing accurate, natural, and contextually appropriate translations. This […]
Can the Spanish Language Make You Healthier?
Among the most fascinating topics in linguistics is how the language we speak influences our personalities. This is known as linguistic relativity or the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. It weaves into our actions in subtle ways, from how we may envision an imagined object to look, our outlook on life, and how we handle stress. One potential […]
The impact of the Spanish Language as a factor in COVID-19 among US Hispanics
The COVID-19 pandemic has shocked the world, leading to some half a million deaths worldwide (at the time of writing) and many more lives that are forever changed. In the course of its spread throughout the world, the virus has consistently shown to hit the most vulnerable hardest, whether that is due to the pandemic’s […]
Celebrate Spanish Language Day!
Lovers of Spanish, did you know there’s a special day set aside to honor your favorite language? Observed throughout the Spanish-speaking world, Spanish Language Day (El Día del Idioma Español) – celebrated on April 23 – aims to highlight the richness and vitality of the Spanish language. The date chosen for Spanish Language Day commemorates […]
Marketing to Latinos through Social Media – Transpanish
In the early days of social media marketing, marketing strategists rarely used to target Latinos using social media or other forms of digital marketing. However, this has since changed and according to a recent article in Forbes, companies now need to be aware that on average, in the US at least, young Latinos are more […]
The Rise of Spanish as a Second Language
With 21 countries listing Spanish as an official language, and with it being a de facto language on nearly every continent, there’s a good reason to learn it. With 577 million speakers around the world, Spanish is the second most spoken language on earth, after Mandarin, and this figure is only set to increase. Not […]
How Should Translators Approach Content Too Complex for Its Intended Audience?
Language can be hard at the best of times, but paradoxically at the times when communication is the most important, all meaning can be lost in jargon for the average reader. This is a common phenomenon in fields like the civil service, finance and health care, all of which affect every person on the planet. […]
Future of the Spanish Language Debated in Córdoba: Rival Congresses on the Spanish Language
From the 27th to the 30th of March 2019, the Argentinian city of Córdoba will see academics, writers and language enthusiasts flock to it for the 8th International Congress of the Spanish Language (VIII Congreso Internacional de la Lengua Española, CILE). Some 250 writers, academics, experts and professionals from all over the world are coming […]
