Here are some of the top language-related stories from the last month:
1. The recently elected president of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, sports an animal last name. Could the warm and fuzzy appeal of her name have helped her to get elected?
2. As part of the state’s new comprehensive immigration reform, Arizona now requires that any teacher instructing students in the English language speak without a heavy accent.
3. Renowned scientist Stephen Hawking ponders what sort of language humans would require to communicate effectively with extraterrestrials should they one day make contact with our planet.
4. Bad translations are the order of the day. A recent diplomatic visit to Washington D.C. by Mexican President Felipe Calderón was marred due to lackluster interpretation of his comments by a substitute interpreter.
5. The Eurovision Song Contest is perennially plagued with bad English translations, and this year was no exception.
6. Icelandic-English translators can barely keep pace with the flood of financial documents resulting from Iceland’s economic collapse.
For more information, visit this article at The World.
