Author Archives: ALTA Language Services
Recent Blog Posts
5 Fascinating Facts about the Sinhala Language
August 23, 2019
Sinhalese, also known as Sinhala, is the native language of the Sinhala people. Over 16 million Sinhala people live in Sri Lanka, making them the island’s largest ethnic group. Sinhala people can trace their origins from Indians who traveled to Sri Lanka around 540 BC. Most Sinhalese speakers live in […]
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Eight travel destinations where English alone won’t cut it
August 16, 2019
English speakers have it relatively easy when it comes to traveling abroad – it’s the most popular second language in the world, commonly studied in 55 countries. And in most major international cities, even in the countries on this list, you will have an easier time finding English speakers than […]
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Ten Interesting Animal Etymologies
August 12, 2019
The animal kingdom brings us a wealth of fascinating, unusual, and enlightening etymologies from around the world. In this article, we explore ten of them. Camel This beast of burden traces its linguistic heritage from the Latin camelus and Greek kamelos. The word has resonances with the Arabic jamala, which […]
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Why being bilingual isn’t enough to be a translator or interpreter
July 30, 2019
Many people are bilingual. They might have grown up in another country, had relatives who spoke another language, or they have studied for years to become an expert. They might even sound like a native in either language. However, having knowledge of another language isn’t the only skill required to […]
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4 Ways That People Around the World Celebrate Summer
July 25, 2019
Cultures around the globe have rejoiced in the bounty of summer since ancient times. Although many of these celebrations have changed shape in our contemporary era, the original sense of appreciation for nature’s offerings continues. Festive days and action-packed evenings are the hallmark of these exciting international celebrations below: Latvia […]
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How Does Diet Shape Language? New Study Links Diet Changes to How We Pronounce “F” and “V”
July 19, 2019
Linguistically, “f,” “v,” and related sounds are thought to be relatively new. As recently as 20,000 to 100,000 years ago, humans may not have been able to produce these unique sounds. A recent study published in Science Magazine seeks to uncover the origins of the sounds. By linking to the […]
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The Meaning and Roots of U.S. State Names
July 11, 2019
Our country has an incredibly rich linguistic and cultural history, a fact that becomes readily apparent by examining place names across the nation. Drawing from Latin, Spanish, French, and a host of Native languages, the names of the states paint a robust picture of the country’s roots. Alabama: From the […]
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Why Don’t Americans Have British Accents?
July 4, 2019
Anyone who has seen a Shakespearean play or historical drama is probably familiar with the differences between American and British accents. The British accent seems so formal and historical, while the American accent can seem like a casual upstart in comparison. So how did the United States shift away from […]
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Why Are So Few Translated Books Published in America?
June 30, 2019
Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Emperor’s New Clothes, Pippi Longstocking: although you may not have realized at the time, some of the first stories you remember reading or hearing were translations. In the US, until relatively recently, it was rare for a translator’s name to even be noted […]
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14 Cultural Faux Pas Around The World
June 20, 2019
Planning a trip outside of your own country can be an involved process. On top of the usual tasks of purchasing airline tickets, booking a hotel, deciding what to see, and making reservations, you may also need to obtain a visa and learn some basic foreign language phrases. One thing […]
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