Occitan’s Representations in France
Introduction Occitan is an historic language spoken mostly in France, but also in Italy or even Spain. It is also close to Catalan, so much so that certain linguists choose to define Catalan as some sort of an Occitan dialect. From a report published in 2013, we can see that Occitan was the most spoken […]
Shakespeare Said: The Words & Phrases Attributed to William Shakespeare
English playwright, actor, and poet, William Shakespeare, also known simply as ‘The Bard’ is often considered one of the greatest writers in the English language and considered internationally as one of the world’s greatest dramatists. His plays have been translated into every major modern language and they are still performed, studied and reinterpreted to this […]
Written Spoken Language
The title sounds quite oxymoronic (or maybe just moronic), doesn’t it? But it does make sense, once you think about it. On the one hand, we speak our language every day, hence the spoken part. On the other hand, we sometimes write our language, in more formal situations, like mail (or emails these days), hence […]
Dispatches from Linguists: Trying to talk Spanish – It Goes Wrong
This month the Dispatch is from Valentin Pradelou, who uses a rather funny anecdote about the pitfalls for language learners to explore polysemy. It is always enjoyable to read of funny language mishaps especially when they are so relatable and show that such things happen to us all. I would like to tell a story […]
The Dark Side of Translation: A Review
“We tend to consider translation as something good, virtuous and bright,” says Federico Italiano, in the introduction to his newly published book, The Dark Side of Translation. And isn’t it? Translation broadens communication, breaks down barriers, makes language more universally accessible. It is, ultimately, an act of inclusivity. Except when it’s not. The virtuous act […]
Etymology and Cardi B.
If you use Instagram, Vine, listen to pop radio, or have seen any of the Love and Hip Hop series, you may know who I am describing already. Cardi B., born as Belcalis Marelnis Almanzar, posted an insightful story to her Instagram. It begs the question, “Why am I told that getting a Hermes Birkin […]
