As many as 3,000 languages could disappear within the next 80 years, all but silencing entire cultures. In this quick talk, language activist Daniel Bögre Udell shows how people around the world are finding new ways to revive ancestral languages and rebuild their traditions — and encourages us all to investigate the tongues of our … Lire la suite How to save a language from extinction
Belgium is perhaps best known for its delicious waffles, tiny geographic span, and downright confusing linguistic landscape. Situated between France, the Netherlands and Germany, this minuscule country somehow manages to incorporate all three influences and all three languages. For those Francophiles who are wondering, “Can I speak French in Belgium?” The answer is yes — and no. … Lire la suite Parlez-Vous Français ? : The Belgian Language Situation, Explained
Dressed in a warm jumper and his most homely trainers, Fred tossed some biscuits and rubbers for the children into his trolley. Which side of the pond did you grow up on? How you interpreted the above sentence revealed the answer (unless you’re from Canada, where the words sometimes have both meanings, leading to double the misunderstandings). … Lire la suite 12 Words With Very Different Meanings in the U.S. and the UK
Although it can be tough to learn and understand, the alphabet of the Arabic language is quite a sight to look at and a great source of fascination for those interested in languages. Fun fact, the Arabic alphabet doesn’t have any short vowel letters. Instead, it has what is called “harakat”_features_ that are placed on … Lire la suite 40 Arabic Words Transformed into Illustrations of Their Literal Meanings
Langue orale typiquement populaire, l’argot a suscité dès le XIXe siècle la curiosité des journaux, qui se sont plu à en reproduire les meilleures expressions et à en décortiquer les mécanismes. « L’argot, c’est le verbe devenu forçat », disait Victor Hugo. Comme l’auteur des Misérables, les journaux français affichent dès le XIXe siècle une véritable fascination pour l’argot, ce … Lire la suite L’argot, vie et mort d’une langue du peuple
Words carry a certain social weight to them and that’s what dictionaries try to hide from us. Dictionaries give us literal meanings, dry most often, but can’t capture the different ways people use words and what they intend when they use them in different contexts. HipDict is an Instagram account that humorously redefines words and adds the … Lire la suite If Dictionaries Were Honest: 52 Words Redefined
