Language Archives | Page 7 of 9

Published On - August 4, 2009

Alison Kroulek Language BlogTags: Dictionary, German, Language

5,000 New German Words

According to the BBC around 5,000 new words have been added to the German language in the latest edition of the well respected German dictionary, Duden. Most of the new words have come from the English speaking world. New terms have been added such as ‘After show party’, ‘No-go area’, ‘It ...

Published On - July 24, 2009

Alison Kroulek Language BlogTags: Language, Law, Politics

Slovakia and Hungary in Language Law Row

On the last day of June, Slovakia passed a law governing language use in their country. According to this article, posted on Euractiv.com, the law makes it illegal to use “incorrect” Slovak in Slovakia. The punishment is harsh with fines as high as 5,000 euros (£4,315). Basically, the law makes...

Published On - June 26, 2009

Alison Kroulek Language BlogTags: Language

Earliest Example of Cherokee Alphabet Found in Cave

According to the New York Times, carvings found in a cave in Kentucky are the earliest known examples of the Cherokee alphabet. The Cherokee alphabet is a syllabary devised by Sequoyah, a well-known Cherokee silversmith and soldier. Sequoyah observed how European settlers used writing to communicate...

Published On - June 12, 2009

Alison Kroulek Language BlogTags: Dictionary, English, Language, Twitter

To Tweet or Not To Tweet-That Is the Question

Well, its official. “Twitter” has officially joined the English language as a verb, at least according to the Associated Press....

Published On - June 5, 2009

Alison Kroulek Language BlogTags: Language

If It’s All Greek to Us, What’s It To Them?

Almost everyone is familiar with the saying “it’s all Greek to me”. We use it to mean that something is utterly incomprehensible, whether it is a foreign language film without subtitles, the incoherent speech of a lunatic, or calculus. According to World Wide Words, the phrase probably com...

Published On - May 11, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: India, Language, Learning Languages

Indian Beggars Become Multilingual

Are you more likely to give money to someone who asks you for it in your native language? According to this article from The Sun, beggars and street performers in New Delhi are becoming multilingual, hoping to increase their haul from foreign tourists during the Commonwealth Games next year. Althoug...

Published On - May 7, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: Language, Politics

Linguistic Divide in Belgium

Belgium’s European parliament election, which is due to take place on 7th June, has been riddled with feuds over the rights of Dutch and French speakers. The BBC reports that francophone political parties have been denied billboard space for their election posters in two mainly Dutch speaking muni...

Published On - April 24, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: Language, Translation

The Evolution of Language

As this article on Forbes.com demonstrated, language is never static. It is constantly changing and evolving. But why? Why the English we speak is today different in so many ways from the English our grandparents spoke? Or the English Shakespeare spoke and wrote in? Language evolves for a number of ...

Published On - April 3, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: Language, Translation

Ebay Offer Translation Services to Japanese Vendors

Ebay have announced that they will be offering a translation service to Japanese sellers who want to list products on its English-language service which they hope will encourage cross border trade. The service will cause a slight delay in adding an item to the site but is relatively simple. Sellers ...

Published On - April 3, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: Language, Law

Postmaster Loses Job after Foreign Language Ban

Bloglingua previously reported the news about the Postmaster from Nottingham who refused to serve some customers as they were unable to communicate in English. Mr Kumarasiri was moved to new post office, on his request. He has now been told by the agency which employed him that his contract will not...