Accent Reduction Techniques
Though many learn to express themselves quite masterfully in a foreign language, most speakers of a language other than their mother tongue can still be easily identified by their accent. Most of the time, an accent poses no problems in terms of intelligibility; indeed, many people find foreign accents charming. However, if your accent interferes […]
Borges as Translator
As one of Argentina’s most famed writers, Jorge Luis Borges produced numerous original works of fiction, poetry, and essays; however, a lesser-known fact is that Borges also made significant contributions to literature through his work as a translator. Borges’ paternal grandmother was English, and he grew up in Buenos Aires speaking both Spanish and English […]
The Lost Works of Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Luis Borges, one of Argentina’s most celebrated writers, wrote not only in his native Spanish but in English as well. In collaboration with American translator Norman Thomas di Giovanni, Borges penned a number of short stories in English including “The Library of Babel” and “The Lottery in Babylon.” Unfortunately, after Borges’ death in 1986, […]
Rules for Capitalization in English
The rules for capitalization in English can be complicated. Use this list to help guide you when composing a text in English. Capitalize the first word of a sentence. Capitalize the first word of a direct quote. Capitalize the first word of each line in a piece of poetry or verse. Capitalize the pronoun “I” […]
“Unfriend” Selected as the 2009 Word of the Year
The New Oxford American Dictionary considered a slew of new words for the 2009 Word of the Year. The technology sector contributed heavily to the roster of candidates – particularly from the realm of social media – with new additions such as “hashtag” and “tweetup” growing out of the much talked about site Twitter. The […]
10 Free Online Resources for English Language Learners
Studying English can open all sorts of doors – it’s no wonder that there are an estimated one billion people currently learning the language! Fortunately, the English language resources you’re in search of are right at your fingertips. Explore the following 10 free online resources for English language learners: ESL Instructors and Students The OWL […]
Will Slang Be the Ruin of the English Language?
The answer, according to some detractors, is yes. But is slang really damaging the English language or is it just a natural part of its evolution? Though colloquialisms have long been a part of the richness of the language, experts say that slang-filled “multicultural English” is overtaking proper English as teens’ preferred method of communication. […]
Google Adds Dictionary to its offerings
Google adds another language tool to its arsenal with the introduction of Google Dictionary. Google’s new dictionary offers up results in close to 30 languages, including the major Western European languages, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, and Hindi. Notable exceptions from the line-up include Japanese and Persian (Farsi), though surely Google will work to support these languages […]
Globalization and Its Effect on the World’s Languages
“Globalization is a social process characterized by the existence of global economic, political, cultural, linguistic and environmental interconnections and flows that make many of the currently existing borders and boundaries irrelevant.” [1] As the process of globalization expands its reach in the 21st century and linguistic barriers begin to fall, what are the possible implications […]
Demystifying Internationalization and Localization
Internationalization and localization are two buzzwords that are often bandied about with respect to translations and global commerce. Internationalization and localization are actually two complementary phases of globalization, a critical process for companies with an international presence. While these terms can apply to a pure text translation, they are most often used in reference to […]
