Hand-picked stories on language

People working to save dying languages

The World in Words — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:10:38 +0000

It’s common knowledge that languages are dying at an alarming rate. Bringing back a language is a massive challenge where the odds are stacked against you. The language revitalization movement, however, is growing up. Activists have identified the approaches that may work. They share solutions among themselves and make fewer mistakes. Nina and Patrick explored these questions at a recording of The World in Words, in front of a live audience at the New York Public Library. Complete with a sing along and a dodgy joke or two.

Can’t find a word in the dictionary? Try Wordnik

The World in Words — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:09:55 +0000

Most dictionaries, including Merriam-Webster and the Oxford Dictionaries follow strict guidelines for admission into their volumes. Wordnik’s rules are simpler. If an English speaker or English writer uses a word deliberately … then that should count. Wordnik wants to “give a home to words that you can’t find in traditional dictionaries.” Even words you make up!

Singing in another accent

The World in Words — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:09:21 +0000

We tackle the complicated questions that arise when we sing in an accent that’s not our own. We’ll hear from linguists and an ethnomusicologist about faking the funk. We’ll explore the “how” and “why” artists appropriate accents when they sing. It’s a wild musical ride from the Rolling Stones to Cliff Richard and the Shadows to Iggy Azalea.

Exploring why some say we should call ISIS ‘Daesh’

The World in Words — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:08:37 +0000

For the past few years, a new word has been popping up to describe the group known as ISIS, ISIL and the Islamic State. That word is ‘Daesh.’ In this episode of The World in Words, we explore the meaning of the word Daesh.

In the late ’90s, the comedian decided that it wasn’t enough to joke about language; he wanted to joke in other languages.

The World in Words — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:07:47 +0000

Eddie Izzard has often joked about language from the silliness of Latin to why English speakers are so stubbornly monolingual. However, in late ‘90’s, Eddie decided that it wasn’t enough to joke about language; he wanted to joke in other languages. So in 1997 he took the stage and did his first set in France in French. It wasn’t funny, he admits, but it was the start of a career goal to do stand-up in as many languages as possible. Eventually he did feel funny (and fluent) in French. Now, nearly two decades after that first French show, he has toured in not only French but German and Spanish. He intends to learn Russian and Arabic next.

Losing the Language of ‘Us’

The World in Words — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:07:12 +0000

Valentine’s Day may have come and gone, but love shouldn’t be sequestered to one measly day. So, bring on the love. This week the World in Words goes down several Internet wormholes to explore the intersection of love and language.

Should kids be learning in more than one language? Californians just decided “yes.”

The World in Words — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:06:22 +0000

Eighteen years ago Californians voted to prohibit most bilingual education. In November 2016, California voters spoke up for bilingualism: 72 percent of voters overturned the ban by passing a law called Prop 58. In the intervening years, there has been a vast amount of academic research into the bilingual brain. It used to be viewed with suspicion — as an impediment to learning. Now bilingualism is seen as beneficial to some degree. Though, not by everyone.

Help! I can’t speak my grandfather’s language

The World in Words — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:05:45 +0000

Yowei Shaw was born in the United States and speaks virtually no Mandarin. Her grandfather Yeye is from Taiwan and speaks virtually no English. Kid talk was fine when Yowei was a kid. But now she’s grown up, she’s determined to have proper conversations with Yeye— before it’s too late.