In the pod this week, Carol Hills and I pick our top five language stories of the past month. 5.The first Punjabi language public school in the US. The Sacramento Valley Charter School is about to open. It will teach … Continue reading →
For the Ariekei, who live on a distant planet in China Miéville’s latest novel Embassytown, speech is thought: “Without language for things that didn’t exist, they could hardly think them.” In Miéville’s Ariekei language, there is no room for metaphor, … Continue reading →
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Tagged as Ariekei, Belgium, blagging, Brussels metro, China Mieville, City & The City, Embassytown, Ethiopia, famine, Gordon Brown, language, metaphor, Millow, New Weird, Rupert Murdoch, Science fiction
Fiction is good for you. Good thing really, given the untold hours I’ve spent reading Voltaire, Dostoyevsky and um, Jackie Collins. I’ve always believed, in a vague, unsubstantiated way, that reading made-up stuff makes me a better person. There is … Continue reading →
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Tagged as Asian American, California, California State Assembly, Chinese, Chinese American, Chinese character, Chinese name, David Prager Branner, fiction, Jiang Zemin, Keith Oatley, Leland Yee, Mike Eng, national anthem, South Sudan, Voting Rights Act, wheat can be kindness
