Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Stephen Hawking was a larger-than-life figure, studded with superlatives for his incredible contributions to the field of theoretical physics. But Hawking was perhaps just as well known for something else: he was severely disabled by a degenerative illness known as ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Diagnosed at the age of twenty-one, Hawking lived with ALS […]
English Gaming Words Like “Streamer” and “eSport” Banned in France
French government workers are banned from using certain English gaming terms. Government officials, including teachers, must now use French terms like “jeu video de competition” for “eSport” and “joueur-animateur en direct” for “streamer” according to reporting from The Guardian. The announcement came at the end of May 2022 from the French Culture Ministry and Académie […]
How to Create a Bilingual Pay Differential Policy
In a diverse and globalized world, many organizations provide additional compensation to employees who have the skills to communicate with clients and partners in more than one language. This pay incentive for a specific skill – in this case a language skill – is known as a pay differential. Pay differentials for language skills are […]
Did You Know There’s an International Language Award?
Movie stars have the Oscars and musicians have the Grammys – but linguists have the Linguapax Award. The non-governmental group Linguapax International recognizes individuals and groups working to promote the preservation of linguistic diversity, language revitalization, and multilingualism. Promoting multilingualism is essential because, according to UNESCO, “there are 6,700 languages spoken in the world, 40 […]
How has the COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Children’s Language Development?
In the aftermath of Covid, there has been increasing talk of a ‘lost generation’ of children, whose education, nutrition, and well-being were severely damaged by two years of coronavirus, with potentially lifelong, irreversible effects. But is it alarmist to suggest that children whose development was stalled by lockdown will never be able to catch up? […]
Can Mushrooms Speak to Each Other? Scientists Think it’s Possible.
New research from the University of the West of England suggests that mushrooms may use a 50-word language to communicate with each other. Andrew Adamatzky, director of the Unconventional Computing Laboratory at the University of the West of England and author of the study, observed electrical impulses from mushrooms that he suggest may correlate to […]
Medical Interpreter Language Assessment Test Information
Medical interpreting is an exciting career with an expanding future. As medicine continues to solve diverse health challenges faster and better, medical interpreters get a front-row seat to the action. Helping people communicate about their health is rewarding too. Exchanging medical language is a craft that draws on evolving bases of vocabulary. Interpreters convert oral […]
What the Mi’kmaw Language Act Means For Indigenous Languages
Canadian lawmakers are working to protect the Mi’kmaw language. On April 7, The Mi’kmaw Language Act was introduced which will formally recognize Mi’kmaw as the first language of Nova Scotia. This legislation also creates a committee to help revitalize the Mi’kmaw language. “I am very excited about this legislation today. It is a big first […]
What is Aphasia, the Disorder that Led Bruce Willis to Retire from Acting?
A few weeks ago, legendary actor Bruce Willis announced that he’ll be taking a step back from acting due to health concerns, including a diagnosis of aphasia. Ever heard of aphasia? You’re not alone. In this article, we’ll break down what aphasia is, including symptoms, treatment options, how it affects bilingual and multilingual people, and […]
HCAHPS Scores for Hospitals: Where the Opportunity for Improvement Lies
Improving scores on a hospital consumer assessment like the HCAHPS survey and providing the best care are objectives not always completely aligned. Patient satisfaction can be improved by elements unrelated to healthcare or that spend hospital funds unwisely. Some patient requests can even worsen their outcomes. Unnecessary amenities in rooms, along with misguided pain management […]