Top U.S. Translation Schools: Online Programs
Looking to start your career as a translator or interpreter, but can’t seem to find a good program in your area? There are a number of certificate and master’s programs offered entirely online, allowing students to set their own pace of study regardless of their physical location. The list we’ve put together covers some of […]
The Rise of Invented Languages, From Klingon to Dothraki
Oel naati kam? That’s ‘I see you’ – a typical greeting in Na’vi, the Avatar language. Yes, I’m talking about the big blue people, though if you’re a science fiction fan, it probably doesn’t surprise you to know that an entire constructed language, complete with complex grammar and syntax, corresponds to the Avatar people. These […]
The Importance of Cultural Competency
My German friend, Klaus, did an exchange program in Mexico during his third year of undergrad. After a couple of weeks in the bustling metropolis of Mexico City, he had made a few friends. One night, over some beers in his new friend Juan’s apartment, he was invited to a party. He inquired after the […]
A Cup o’ Joe and a Heart Attack on a Rack, Please – The Delicious History of American Diner Lingo
Along with Uncle Sam, Civil War daguerreotypes, and hot apple pies on Thanksgiving, diners are one of those nostalgia-inducing cultural artifacts that somehow get under the skin of millennials and baby boomers alike. Diners have long been a quintessential element of Americana, but along with bottomless coffee and the time-honored tradition of dipping French fries […]
Cinco de Mayo: A Minor Mexican Holiday Turned Major American Drinking Day
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is a day synonymous with tequila, recurring ethnic and culturally charged controversies, and more tequila. Long regarded by Americans as the boozy day in which both we and Mexico celebrate the independence of our neighbor to the South, many might be surprised to learn that Cinco de Mayo […]
Esperanto – The Language of International Peace
Bonan matenon, kiel vi fartas? That’s Esperanto for ‘good morning, how are you?’ If you’re trying to remember what country Esperanto is spoken in, don’t flex those brain muscles too hard. Because while around two million people from more than one hundred and twenty countries speak Esperanto, you’ll be hard-pressed to find more than a […]
Could Texting Be Making Us Linguistically Smarter?
Communication via complex language is perhaps the single most defining characteristic of humankind. But if the birth of spoken language was charted as hour zero on a twenty-four-hour clock, and the moment that you’re reading this article represents twenty-four-hundred-hours, written language would have only appeared about fifty-three minutes ago, at 11:07 p.m. We’ve been speaking […]
Why Do We Change the Way We Speak Depending on Whom We’re Speaking to?
In a recent BBC article, subtle changes in Meghan Markle’s accent following her marriage to Prince Harry were brought into question. The Duchess of Sussex hails from California, but linguistics experts have noted that, recently, she has begun slipping in and out of more British inflections, pronunciations, and expressions. Marisa Brook, an assistant professor of […]
Top U.S. Translation Schools: Specialized Programs
With the nearly exponential growth of the translation and interpretation industries over the past few decades, unique new language studies programs at universities seem to be cropping up all the time. Finding a program or degree that’s right for you can be exhausting and time-consuming, so we’ve put together a list to help you get […]
The Best Languages to Study for Government Jobs
In today’s global job market having bilingual skills can help you stand out among the masses to advance your career goals. According to the Center for Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at Ohio State University, the U.S. Government has greatly expanded its search for foreign language employees. This includes the Department of Defense, the Department of […]