Language and twitter: a form growing from itself
Twitter, an exclusively written forum of language with fixed parameters and functions, is propelling a linguistic phenomenon. The phenomenon involves lexis, grammar and voice (i.e./e.g. hashtags): how information is made and communicated, among other things. “Speaking” of the hashtag: it is one of Twitter’s key functions—a term which has been almost universally adopted. And regarding […]
Monolingual vs. bilingual education: its implementation and effects
In Spain, a debate has been raging that extends beyond the subject to the language/s being used to propel it. The subject is the language/s of education in Catalonia, the autonomous region of Spain whose official languages include both Catalan and Spanish. The factions are not as distinct as the languages, and the genesis of […]
Non-verbal communication and its possible threat to foreign language
One of the most common reasons to learn a language is travel, for knowing the native language of a new place can undoubtedly deepen one’s experience while there, whether it’s reading about the place’s history or contemporary culture, conversing with the locals, or hearing passing voices in the street. For many, in fact, the relationship […]
The translation of restaurant menus (or lack thereof) and its implications
As any person who’s traveled outside of his or her native country (or often dines in foreign-food restaurants) knows, the translation of food items names can vary widely, producing a diverse range of responses—excitement, confusion, humor and fear, among others. Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net For foreign restaurants, it seems there are above all three […]
The meaning of ‘junar’
Argentine Spanish is strewn with words and colorful phrases from Lunfardo, a rich vocabulary born on the streets of Buenos Aires in the second half of the 19th century. Now considered a fixture of the Spanish language in Argentina (especially in and around Buenos Aires) and Uruguay, linguists cite the use of Lunfardo as a […]
The Language of the future: Chinese, English or Spanish?
Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net For most former, current or potential foreign language learners, one of the most important motivations for doing so involves the language’s future relevance—both as the language is being learned and afterward; in other words, the question of What will learning this language do for me?. Of course, this varies from […]
How much should be spent on immigration translation?
Immigration translation is no doubt an important effort for any country with immigrants, as many arrive with little to no knowledge of the national language. By translating to a variety of languages, countries ease the already difficult process of immigration, lesson the sense of isolation and confusion. As a result, immigrants are likely to feel […]
Dubbing vs. subtitles: a translation rupture
If translation is an effort in faithful recreation, a translator must consider as thoroughly as possible the medium of the source, its essence, and work toward achieving it as the foundation of the translation. For a written text, this can seem (deceptively) simple, for written language has a static quality once on the page, supposedly, […]
The origin of “troll”
For most English speakers, the word troll, out of context, most commonly registers as a noun, perhaps due to the striking imagery it elicits. Cue short, hideous monster-men hiding under a bridge, waiting to capture unknowing passersby. The horror of this imagery is no doubt why the word most strikes us in this manner—as a […]
Singing is the best way to learn a new language
Free image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net If you want to learn a language, music is the answer. According to a study, carried out a few years ago by French investigator Daniel Schön and his team, singing and listening to songs helps people to learn new languages. The study went a long way to proving that foreign […]
