The Language Blog

Published On - April 21, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: History

St. Georges Day

St. George is the patron saint of England. The 23rd April was named as St. George's day in 1222, he has always been incredibly popular character although perhaps has been slightly forgotten over the years....

Published On - April 17, 2009

Richard Brooks Language Blog

Sydney School Revives Lost Aboriginal Language

A school in Sydney, Australia is teaching its students Dharug. What’s so unusual about this foreign language offering? According to an article on Voice of America news, Dharug is an aboriginal language that was once one of the main Aboriginal dialects and was spoken where the city of Sydney st...

Published On - April 17, 2009

Richard Brooks Language Blog

China to Issue Revised List of Simplified Characters

According to this report on the Window of China website, China plans to issue a new list of simplified characters for written Chinese. According to Wang Ning, the vice director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of Linguistics, the changes will be minor and are meant to red...

Published On - April 3, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: Language, Translation

Ebay Offer Translation Services to Japanese Vendors

Ebay have announced that they will be offering a translation service to Japanese sellers who want to list products on its English-language service which they hope will encourage cross border trade. The service will cause a slight delay in adding an item to the site but is relatively simple. Sellers ...

Published On - April 3, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: Language, Law

Postmaster Loses Job after Foreign Language Ban

Bloglingua previously reported the news about the Postmaster from Nottingham who refused to serve some customers as they were unable to communicate in English. Mr Kumarasiri was moved to new post office, on his request. He has now been told by the agency which employed him that his contract will not...

Published On - April 3, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: Education, Learning Languages

Learn another Language for Free

Would you like to learn another language? Have you spent the past few years talking about how you “really should sign up for a class?” Sometimes, it’s hard to find the time for continuing education. Software programs like Mango and Rosetta Stone provide flexibility for people with busy sch...

Published On - March 27, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: American, Dictionary, Language

Dictionary of American Regional English Just Released

The Dictionary of American Regional English has just been completed and is now available to the general public. Why would you need another dictionary, you may ask? The Dictionary of American Regional English is not a normal dictionary at all. 50 years in the making, it is a compilation of all the di...

Published On - March 20, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: Bad translation, Translation, Translation Errors

Lost in Translation: 2 Cuban Pitchers

In the World Baseball Classic, an error in translation caused the Cuban baseball team to lose two of its top relief pitchers for their game against Mexico on Monday, March 16th....

Published On - March 20, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: Language

Foreign Language Ban Enforced by Postmaster

A Postmaster from Nottingham has banned foreigners who can not speak English. According to the BBC Mr Deva Kumarasiri said that he could not serve people if he was unable to understand what they were asking for....

Chicago Overcome Olympic Translation Problem

Published On - March 17, 2009

Richard Brooks Language BlogTags: Olympics

Chicago Overcome Olympic Translation Problem

Chicago is bidding to host the 2016 Olympics but they have had to change their official slogan from ‘Stir The Soul’ to ‘Let Friendship Shine’ over problems with mistranslation in some countries....