LANGUAGES

Alina Simone's daughter Zoe teaches her Russian-speaking grandfather some basic Chinese.

Russian-speaking New Yorker would rather her daughter learn Chinese

Alina Simone was born in the Soviet Union to Russian-speaking parents. She has given up on passing the language on to her daughter.

Russian-speaking New Yorker would rather her daughter learn Chinese
Performer Jacqueline Salamack (L) jokes with an audience member after a performance of "A Klingon Christmas Carol" in Chicago, December 20, 2012.

Why yes, I do speak Klingon

Why yes, I do speak Klingon
Barcelona soccer fans make their feelings known about Catalan independence, at a game on Wednesday Oct 18th 2017

The roots of Catalonia’s differences with the rest of Spain

The roots of Catalonia’s differences with the rest of Spain
ferrante

Language versus dialect, or why we're obsessed with Elena Ferrante

Language versus dialect, or why we're obsessed with Elena Ferrante
Dancer Link Berthomieux says that when French people use the English word ‘black,’  “It’s a trendy way to say ‘noir.’”

Why the English word 'black' became the new 'noir' in France

Why the English word 'black' became the new 'noir' in France
Girl sitting with other students look to side

Once, students were punished for speaking Spanish. Here, they are honored.

This isn’t the spelling bee that you watch on ESPN. This is Concurso nacional de Deletreo en Español, the National Spanish Spelling Bee.

Once, students were punished for speaking Spanish. Here, they are honored.
Dutch-born author of Lingo Gaston Dorren. Dorren is pictured here in Turkey reading the German translation of book originally written in English: A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka. Dorren's first language is Limburgish.

In parts of Europe, speaking six languages is no big thing

Dutch-born writer Gaston Dorren grew up speaking two languages, fell in love in a third, and added a fourth, fifth and sixth along the way. His book about Europe's many languages is called "Lingo."

In parts of Europe, speaking six languages is no big thing
Sign in Beirut celebrating the hybrid Arabic/French/English that many Lebanese like to speak.

Three mother tongues in one

Many Lebanese speak a full-on mix of Arabic, French and English. Calling this linguistic melange a "mother tongue" started out as a joke, but now it's become a part of Lebanon's national identity — even if it means that sometimes people don't understand what they are saying.

Three mother tongues in one
Larry Hagman at JR in Dallas, watched around the world.

Talking Texas in Iran

What is it about Texas that sparks the global imagination? Persian and Turkish both have an expression that means, "This is not Texas." The Norwegian adjective, 'Texas' means out of control.

Talking Texas in Iran
Reza Jamayran poses in front of an image of a childhood hero, Lucky Luke.

If you want to convey a sense of lawlessness in Persian, Turkish or Norwegian, just say 'Texas'

"Inja Texas nist" means, "It's not Texas here" in Persian. You say it to someone who is flouting the rules or behaving obnoxiously.

If you want to convey a sense of lawlessness in Persian, Turkish or Norwegian, just say 'Texas'
Ali_firstdays_1

Nothing challenged my readiness to live in the US more than a chicken sandwich

When he first arrived in America, Afghan student Ali Shahidy knew his English was ready to tackle the tough language of academia. But he never expected to be tripped up by lunch at a fast food restaurant.

Nothing challenged my readiness to live in the US more than a chicken sandwich
At Bede's World in Jarrow, Britain, a staff member dressed as a monk poses in front of a recreation of an Anglo-Saxon animal shelter.

From its beginnings to today, the English language has always been a hodgepodge

Despite what grammar sticklers think, there was never a golden age of pure English: the language has always been an unruly mishmash of other languages. Just consult the Venerable Bede, a 7th century monk who documented the beginnings of English.

From its beginnings to today, the English language has always been a hodgepodge
Ben and Jerry's ice cream in Israel is labeled "glida," the Aramaic word for frost. In modern Hebrew, it means ice cream.

A history of Hebrew, told one word at a time

Before it became the predominant language of Israel, Hebrew hadn't been spoken for 1,700 years. That's presenting a challenge for the editors of the "Historical Dictionary of the Hebrew Language."

A history of Hebrew, told one word at a time