Search
Close this search box.

Beyond Words Round Up

It’s hard to believe that 2009 is half through! Fortunately, it’s been a busy year at ALTA, and while we’ve been delivering on interesting language testing and translation projects, we always find time to dedicate to Beyond Words posts. Here are a few articles from the past six months that might have slipped your radar, but that should prove to be fun and interesting reads:

Language and Culture Book Recommendation
In this article, Danielle offers a review of Anne Fadiman’s The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. With this book, Fadiman explores the cultural and language struggles of a Hmong family in California. The title refers to the Hmong translation for an epileptic seizure.

Egregious English: 20 Commonly Misused Words and Phrases
This Language List takes a humorous look at Family Guy’s baby Stewie’s invective against improper use of English words and phrases.

5 More Difficult Words to Translate
The wild success of Maria’s original 10 Most Difficult Words to Translate article prompted us to amend the list with five more interesting words and their meanings.

English Pronunciation Lesson: A Telephone Conversation
Many English learners find it difficult to be understood over the phone because of issues with pronunciation. We created this resource with mp3 recordings so you can read and hear examples of phrases commonly used during telephone conversation.

The Etymology of Heavy Metal
We’re not talking about chemistry terms here. Beyond Words contributor, Chris, rocks out this word origin article. He was probably wearing a cutoff Maiden shirt when he wrote it.

Interpreting Book Recommendation
The first public, international use of simultaneous interpreting was at the Nurenberg trials after the Second World War. Jocelyn reviews the book, The Origins of Simultaneous Interpretation: The Nuremburg Trial by Fracesca Gaiba.

The Etymology of Olé
This article was inspired by a wonderful TedTalk. The Spanish word Olé has a fascinating history that goes back to the traditions of the Northern Africans who ruled Spain for over 700 years.

Hope you enjoy the reading, and have a wonderful July 4th!

Related Articles

Beyond Words 2010 Quarterly Round Up

Other Resources

November is Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month has officially been celebrated in the United States each November since 1990. This is recognized on the federal, state, and local levels with special programming and events to highlight and honor the traditions, culture, history, and...

Learn More

5 Fascinating Facts About the Hawaiian Language: A Look into its History and Significance

Hawaiian language, also known as ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, is one of the two official languages of Hawaii. While the language was banned in schools after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1896, there have been revitalization efforts since 1978. Today...

Learn More

What is Heritage Language?

Individuals who speak multiple languages or live in multilingual households may have a “heritage language.” This term describes the language the individual speaks or hears at home, but it is not the dominant language spoken in the community. In the...

Learn More

Contact Us

Get Started Today

Interested in our language services? Complete the form or call us during business hours (9 AM to 6:00 PM ET) at 800.895.8210.

Preparing for your test?

View our test prep materials or FAQ’s for common questions about taking a test.