Monthly Archives: May 2008
words have their say in guatemala
My buddy Clark Boyd is on TV tonight. If you followed that link, sorry- Clark will not be cooking under duress , or dancing, or singing (all that ended in whisky-soaked tears on the Night of a Thousand Kilts in deepest … Continue reading
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podcast #5: Americans’ language-learning adventures abroad and the linguistic sensitives of a Eurotrashy song contest
Citing national security, the Bush Administration now offers grants to Americans to study languages such as Arabic. We travel to Cairo where language schools are full of American students. Also, a conversation with self-described language fanatic Elizabeth Little. And we also … Continue reading
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podcast #4: public radio cliché yes, but the obsessions of these people may be saving languages
It couldn’t last. I come from public radio. I just couldn’t resist putting out a podcast on endangered languages. And so after three good, honest attempts at tracking non-endangered global linguistic trends, I spoil it all with this offering. Despite this … Continue reading
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silvery-blossomed tree in bosnian
My friend and colleague Jeb Sharp is on assignment in Bosnia right now, prepping for a series that I’ll be editing this fall. I’m keeping up with her whereabouts by reading her blog. So, all you ex-Yugos: what’s the name (in English) of that silvery-blossomed … Continue reading
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podcast #3: a linguist’s fantasy island and Seinfeldian diplomacy
In this edition of The World in Words, the stories of a couple of people who aimed just a little too high. Linguist Derek Bickerton talks about his lifelong love of creoles and his attempt to create a new language … Continue reading
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podcast #2: putinology and don’t exaggerate on your resume
In this week’s podcast, the focus is on the Russian language. There are those names of leaders: Putin, Stalin, Medvedev. They all mean – or at least connote – concrete things to Russians. (A lot of non-Russians, btw, have great trouble pronouncing … Continue reading
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