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 […]
A Guide to Gender Neutrality and Inclusive Language in English
Language changes as people and ideas change, serving as a reflection of the identities, philosophies, and standards of an era. An intriguing development for linguists has been the promotion in many languages around the world of using more inclusive language and, by extension, gender-neutral terms in response to attempts to make society accessible to all. […]
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 […]
Coronavirus and Language Barriers: How to React in a Health Crisis
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text c_id=”.vc_1587006980002″] The global village in which we live has innumerable benefits, making the world smaller and more connected than ever. However, periods of crisis like the recent coronavirus outbreak highlight our vulnerabilities in this system and draw attention to linguistic misunderstandings that can lead to devastating results. The recent outbreak has shown how the […]
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 […]
Why Good Translation for Your Online Content Is So Important
In an age when more business is done online instead of face-to-face, writing correctly has never been so important for making a good impression. In today’s world, writing using the correct grammar and avoiding silly spelling mistakes is as key to coming across well online as having a firm handshake in the analog business world. […]
Top Ten Untranslatable Words for International Translation Day
Every year, on 30 September, people around the world honor the art of translation with International Translation Day. It marks the feast day of St. Jerome, the patron saint of translation, who dedicated over two decades of his life in the 4th century to translating the Bible into Latin. Of course, there are often difficulties […]
How Latin America’s Indigenous Languages Are Under Threat
Latin America is one of the most linguistically diverse places on the planet but like so many other places around the world, vast swathes of its indigenous languages are under threat of extinction by global languages like Spanish and Portuguese. Brazil alone risks losing a third of its nearly 200 languages by 2030. Meanwhile, in […]
Translating Genericized Trademarks
Language is constantly changing and adapting to suit its environment. One noticeable example of this is in brand names for new technologies or products becoming used as a generic name for any similar product whether they were produced by the brand or not. From trampoline to cellophane, words that were once specific brand names have […]
