May 2009

Welsh Language Issue On Par With Saving Our Planet

by Richard Brooks May 27, 2009 Languages

The BBC have reported that more than half of the Welsh population feel that preserving the Welsh language is as important to them as saving our planet from global warming. In recent years the Welsh language has dramatically increased in popularity. Today 64% of the people in Wales think it is important that they speak [...]

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Big Cuts for European Languages and Cultures Division

by Richard Brooks May 27, 2009 Education

According to the BBC a demonstration has taken place at Edinburgh University’s Old College building in protest at the potential cuts to language department’s budget.It is alleged that the £400,000 in funding is to be cut from the European Languages and Cultures Division.

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Gmail Incorporates Automatic Translation

by Richard Brooks May 21, 2009 Machine Translation

Google just unleashed a new feature to help users break through the language barrier. After you enable the feature, you’ll be able to translate any email you receive with a quick click of the mouse. The new Gmail translation feature can translate 41 different languages, including Thai, Estonian and Maltese. Automatic translation is available to [...]

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TED Conference Talks Now Available in Multiple Languages

by Richard Brooks May 15, 2009 Free Translation

TED (Technology-Entertainment-Design), the annual conference that brings together influential people from the areas of technology, entertainment and design, is now offering translated videos of speeches and performances from its conferences.

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Indian Beggars Become Multilingual

by Richard Brooks May 11, 2009 Languages

Are you more likely to give money to someone who asks you for it in your native language? According to this article from The Sun, beggars and street performers in New Delhi are becoming multilingual, hoping to increase their haul from foreign tourists during the Commonwealth Games next year. Although most of the tourists expected [...]

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Outrage over French Eurovision Song

by Richard Brooks May 7, 2009 Events

This year’s Eurovision Song Contest will take place on the 16th of May in Moscow and the song chosen to represent France will be sung in French (this time).

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Rallying Support for Jerriais

by Richard Brooks May 7, 2009 In Danger of Extinction

Jerriais is the language spoken in Jersey; the language was influenced by many languages from Norse Viking to Frankish.According to the BBC Dr Julia Salabank has set out to compare the language policies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

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GPs Urged to Use More Sign Language Services

by Richard Brooks May 7, 2009 Events

Concerns were raised about the lack of sign language services provided by doctor’s surgeries in the UK at the Deaf Day 2009 event in London on the 4th April. People attending the event signed a petition which demands that surgeries use online software called Sign Translate.

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Linguistic Divide in Belgium

by Richard Brooks May 7, 2009 Languages

Belgium’s European parliament election, which is due to take place on 7th June, has been riddled with feuds over the rights of Dutch and French speakers. The BBC reports that francophone political parties have been denied billboard space for their election posters in two mainly Dutch speaking municipalities close to Brussels. Belgian politics closely mirrors [...]

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Language and Genetic Analysis Sheds Light on the Origins of Humanity

by Richard Brooks May 1, 2009 Technology

In Africa, a team of researchers has combined linguistic and DNA analysis of African tribes to shed light on the migrations of early humans more than 50,000 years ago.

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