Category : Language

Spanish Escape Clause in English

The one bright spot in Spain’s troubled economy is foreign language study, offering a hint at the direction of Spain’s labor force—out. Spain is the final letter in PIGS, the acronym used to describe those European Union countries overburdened with debt, and the Spanish economy, with 20% unemployment, is unlikely

Lost and Found Language Department: Archaic Greek

Trebizond, a land of great mountains rising from the Black Sea in Turkey, has always been the end of the road. Last distant outpost of the Roman Empire, westernmost terminus of the Silk Road, final bivouac of Xenophon’s Ten Thousand, the distant land of Jason’s Golden Fleece. And the end

News You Can Snooze

I admit that the last post put many of my readers to sleep. Which is both the point and the problem when offering advice to the awake on how to get some sleep. But the teaser in that previous post was that the bedtime story was actually related to language.

Sleep Disorders and Language Learning

Rip Van Winkle under the leaves at Kaaterskill CoveWhat can one possibly have to do with another? It’s a stretch, I admit, and it may take a post or two, but I’ll bring it home to language in the end, I promise. This week is Sleep Disorders Week, coming right

When in Rome, Speak Italian as the Romans Do

If you want to live in Italy, you’d better be able to write a postcard. In Italian. That’s part of the language test now required by Italian authorities for non-Italians who want to live in Italy, where basic Italian proficiency is required for permanent residency following five years of legal

What Do You Mean, What Do I Mean?

  There’s more than words at work in a conversation. Listen in on the next conversation you overhear and you’ll know what I mean. Most of what you overhear is pretty light on content (actually, it’s mostly completely moronic, but I didn’t want to say that directly). And it’s behaviours like

Gaddafi Speaks to His Base

When it comes to psycho-killer clowns, Gaddafi is world-class. Sure, John Wayne Gacy was creepy, but the guy was strictly an amateur compared to a professional killer like Gaddafi. It’s a wonder what can be accomplished with air assets directed against unarmed protesters. As the body count soars, Gaddafi offers the

Bilinguals Do it Better, Longer

Bilinguals have what it takes to hang out and hold on. They can pick up a third language faster than a monoglot can learn his second. A second tongue makes for improved dexterity the third time around. And staying power? Stay tuned…. Researchers in Israel found bilinguals found it easier

Hidden Language Clusters Revealed

Mr. Local Business Guy thinks, “Hey, all my customers speak English because everybody’s speaking English.” Not so fast. All your customers speak English because they are the only ones you can talk to. And money talks, no matter what the language. So English only means only English. And I’m not

Gesture, Language and Washing Dishes

“Why do we look up to those we respect, stoop to the level of those we disdain, and think warmly about those we love? Why do we hide dirty secrets or wash our hands of worries? Why do we ponder weighty subjects and feel a load lift after we have