Watch Your Language Blog

Introducing Fortune Cookies to China

Are fortune cookies Chinese? Clearly not. They are arguably more American (by way of Japan), judging by the way that people in China react to fortune cookies — with a mixture of confusion and amusement.
From Introducing Fortune Cookies to China, by New York Times writer Jennifer 8.Lee. (via BoingBoing)

Tags: Chinese, culture shock
August 28, 2008

 

South Ossetia from a Linguistic Perspective

A look at the recent events in South Ossetia from a linguistic perspective, from The New York Times.

A war between the two groups in the early 1990s divided them almost surgically. Young Georgians stopped learning Russian, the lingua franca for the entire region in Soviet days; young Ossetians did not learn Georgian. Older people, who spoke both, pretended not to. Magdalena Frichova, who monitored the conflict in South Ossetia for 10 years for the crisis group, recalled watching local officials wait, poker-faced, for a translator even when it was obvious that they understood. Over time, people began to struggle with languages they once spoke fluently.
(SUZANNE)

Tags: Georgia, linguistics, South Ossetia
August 26, 2008

 

Guess the Accent

A bit of fun to start your week: Can you guess where my accent is from? (Via.) I’m convinced a few of the Americans have lived abroad for some time, but I could be wrong. And humbled for not recognizing the accents of my own countrymen. (SUZANNE)

Tags: accents
August 25, 2008

 

Making the right language choice

I had always wanted to learn Polish, since it’s the language of my grandparents, but never had the opportunity. So in college, I studied Russian, as it was the language closest to Polish. While I was a senior in college, I took a polka band tour of Poland with my elderly aunt and uncle. I was one of five people under 65 years of age (two others being the polka band guy and his drummer).... More

Tags: newsletter, Poland, Polish, Russian, story, travel
August 22, 2008

 

Finding language resources in your own neighborhood

You may think that opportunities to practice your foreign language of choice are limited to spending hundreds of dollars, or more, on a plane ticket, or maybe renting an obscure foreign film at your local film rental place. However, depending on where you live, there could be plenty of free, or at least very inexpensive, practice opportunities in your own neighborhood.... More

Tags: conversation exchange, foreign language practice, newsletter, tips
August 22, 2008

 

The secret language of Japanese emoticons …

It seems that not a day goes by lately when you don’t receive some sort of communication - be it e-mail or text - where someone tries to convey their pleasure or displeasure with an emoticon. You know, :) for the good, :( for the bad.... More

Tags: emoji, Japanese emoticons, kaomoji, newsletter
August 22, 2008

 

Preserving the French Language at the Olympic Games

…Standing up for the little guy?! The Financial Times has an interesting article (registry required) on France’s struggle to preserve the status of the French language as one of the major international languages. According to the article, this uphill battle costs the French state, and French taxpayers, some 50 million euros a year (around 75 million dollars); it is exemplified by the considerable effort the French put into keeping their language in use at the Olympics, in addition to Chinese, the host’s language, and English, the current international lingua franca. The rather symbolic results of this financing and diplomatic effort is the use of French in formal announcements and signposts at the Olympics.... More


August 21, 2008

 

How many languages at once?

I recently got an interesting e-mail inquiry from a customer who’s learning Japanese with our Ultimate Japanese course, as well as Spanish, with our Ultimate Spanish course. He’s now set his sights on Hindi, and wanted some information on our Hindi course. I loved this question for two reasons. First, because I love people who choose Living Language over and over again! But also because this guy is my kind of guy - a linguaphile who just wants to keep on learning languages.... More

Tags: bilingual, Language learning, language tips, multiple languages
August 20, 2008

 

Pop vs. Soda

Sorry to be stuck on English, but this is perhaps one of my favorite debates: Pop vs. Soda. I grew up in the Midwest saying “pop,” and it wasn’t until I moved out East and was ridiculed to death for my terminology in college that I felt forced to change my wicked ways. I’ve found compromise by saying “soda pop,” and modulating my voice to emphasize a different word depending on the person I’m talking to. Strange Maps takes a look at my geographical vocabulary constraints with this Pop vs. Soda map. And just for the record? I don’t drink soda pop at all. Maybe a root beer every few months. And when I want that, I just say “root beer.” Or should that be “sarsaparilla?” (SUZANNE)

Tags: English, English language, regional accents, vocabulary
August 18, 2008

 

Grammar: The Transgression vs. The Correction

Some light reading for the weekend: Web comic Wondermark picks on Larry the Language Nerd. (via Language Log)

Tags: English, English language, grammar
August 15, 2008

 

Olympic Opening Ceremony Uses Chinese Movable Type

How is it possible that we have yet to mention the Olympics? I was in Ireland for the opening ceremonies, but caught the spectacle on RTE. Of course, as language fans tend to do, I got all excited when the performers started to form Chinese characters from inside their accordion boxes. The plucky Irish announcers were quick to help with the translation, letting us know we were seeing the Chinese character for “Peace” or “Harmony” repeated several times. It was pretty impressive, and when I got back I went searching for more information on the various elements of Chinese used in the ceremony, and found this detailed explanation. I must not have been listening to the Irish commentary closely enough, because I missed that the accordion boxes had their own characters on top, representing Chinese movable type. Another interesting fact: it apparently took these performers 10 months to perfect the movable type routine. More pictures from the ceremony can be seen on the Boston Globe’s Big Picture Blog. (SUZANNE)

Tags: Chinese, movable type, Olympic Games, Olympics
August 13, 2008