10 Free Online Resources for Spanish Language Learners
Whether you’re just starting to dabble in the world of foreign language study or you’re an accomplished polyglot with five languages under your belt, the Spanish Language resources you’re looking for are merely a click away. From beginner language forums to college-level courses, the Internet offers a wealth of language resources that are available for […]
Scientists Find That Monkeys Make Meaning Too
The human ability to utilize language is one of the most remarkable features of our species; however, new research suggests that the communication gap between humans and our primate cousins is narrower than previously supposed. Earlier this month, scientists from the University of Rennes in France published findings that point to the use of basic […]
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. […]
New Inclusive Grammar Guidelines from the Real Academia Española
Spanish speakers around the world, take heart; you don’t speak incorrectly, just differently. The Real Academia Española (RAE), Spain’s language authority, is finally acknowledging the diversity of grammar and vocabulary among the Spanish language’s nearly 500 million speakers in some 20 countries. The language mavens at the RAE just released a two-volume set detailing the […]
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 […]
The Differences between Translators and Interpreters
At the most basic level, the difference between a translator and an interpreter is simple: one works with the written word while the other deals with spoken language; however, while each is well-versed in both a source and a target language, a good translator does not necessarily make for a good interpreter and vice versa. […]
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 […]
Babies cry in their mother tongue
An article published in Science Blogs reports: Telling the difference between a German and French speaker isn’t difficult. But you may be more surprised to know that you could have a good stab at distinguishing between German and French babies based on their cries. The bawls of French newborns tend to have a rising melody, […]
International SEO Tips to Expand Your Site’s Reach
With companies looking to reach out to customers around the world, it’s important to understand how to optimize a web site for the international market. One of the best-known methods for improving international page rank and driving traffic to your site is through search engine optimization (SEO). Webmasters employ SEO techniques, which factor in the […]
FBI’s lack of translators
An article in Reuters reports: The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has lost 3 percent of its linguists and failed to sift through millions of documents as the agency’s workload of terrorism cases grows, according to a report issued on Monday. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the FBI and U.S. intelligence agencies were widely […]
