July 2009

Thumbnail image for Recording Dying Languages

Recording Dying Languages

by Richard Brooks July 31, 2009 In Danger of Extinction

Being a field linguist is a hard, if rewarding, job. You have to travel to far-off places, often isolated villages with few luxuries. Then, you spend a lot of time recording the sounds and words of endangered languages that few people still speak.

6 comments Read the full article →

Slovakia and Hungary in Language Law Row

by Richard Brooks July 24, 2009 Languages

On the last day of June, Slovakia passed a law governing language use in their country. According to this article, posted on Euractiv.com, the law makes it illegal to use “incorrect” Slovak in Slovakia. The punishment is harsh with fines as high as 5,000 euros (£4,315). Basically, the law makes it very difficult for speakers [...]

5 comments Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for Online Role-Playing Game Teaches English to Chinese Students

Online Role-Playing Game Teaches English to Chinese Students

by Richard Brooks July 17, 2009 Education

The video game developer behind the popular Age of Empires game has just released a new video game in China aimed at teaching children a second language.

2 comments Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for How Does Learning Another Language Affect Your Brain?

How Does Learning Another Language Affect Your Brain?

by Richard Brooks July 10, 2009 Education

How does a learning a new language shape your brain? Are the brains of bilingual people different from those of people who only speak one language? Despite our advanced medical technology and fancy brain-imaging machines, our understanding of how the human brain works is still in its infancy.

1 comment Read the full article →
Thumbnail image for Star Trek’s Universal Translator: Coming Soon to an iPhone Near You?

Star Trek’s Universal Translator: Coming Soon to an iPhone Near You?

by Richard Brooks July 6, 2009 Free Translation

Remember the Universal Translator from Star Trek? The translator enabled members of the Star Trek crew to understand alien languages as they were spoken.

0 comments Read the full article →