Category Archives: Language
French is one of those delicious and intriguing languages that nearly everyone wants to learn, but few actually seem to master. Sexy, sibilant and seductive with a whisper of poetry just underneath its apparent rigor and romance, French is a language that never fails to enchant.
There is not only one French, there are many.
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Is a smile a universal sign of friendliness and understanding? Does a waving hand always mean, “Hello!”? The answer is no. Just like spoken language, body language varies all the world round. In fact, many travel guides devote small sections to body language – what to do and what not to do – in order…
It’s hard to imagine that Herman Melville didn’t roll over in his grave several times when the first hard cover copy of Emoji Dick was rolled off the presses. Yet, it seems somehow fitting that one of English literature’s most celebrated novels would be translated into the new iconic language of our time: Emoji. And,…
Did you learn Pig Latin as a child? If so, like many Americans, Pig Latin might have been the first “second language” you learned! Somewhere between second and sixth grade, a child is asked, “Ooday ouyay peaksay igpay atinlay?” At which point, the exciting process of orienting the ear to understand it more quickly, and…
When conducting business in Russia, before you even arrive, it is important to familiarize yourself with the most important basic phrases. Learning some of the following will allow you to travel around more easily, communicate your needs to non-English speakers, and greet those you are working with in their own language. Greetings Hello (formal)…
If you’re an English speaker, you can easily make your way throughout Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, where English is the native language. However, along your journey, you may struggle to understand a few words here and there due to distinct accent differences. Or, you may notice that certain spellings or phrases are different…
Body language is an integral part of how we communicate with one another. It always has been and it always will be. Some of us talk with our hands, most of us shift in our seat when we start to get nervous, and all of us do it without thinking. Unfortunately, we live in a…
As you make your way across the United States, you will hear similar words with different meanings. For example, if you are on either of the coasts, the word dinner means the last, and often largest, meal of the day. However, to older generations in the south or Midwest, dinner means the largest middle meal of the day, while supper refers…