Scottish Teenager Named “Most Multilingual” in the UK
A 14 year old from Callander has been named the most multi-lingual child in the UK. After he learned Russian, Bruce Ballie-Hamilton decided to acquire Mandarin next, because, he told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland programme, he “wanted a challenge”. Arabic was next on the list. After a language with, effectively, no alphabet he wanted [...]
Click here to continue readingSo, Which Foreign Language Is Most Difficult To Learn?
Many of those who study foreign languages wonder which language is the most difficult one in the world. Linguists say that there is no precise answer to this question because everything depends on which language you speak. Neurophysiologists believe, though, that the Chinese or the Arabic could be described as the world’s most difficult languages. [...]
Click here to continue readingThe Man Who Helped ‘Simplify’ Chinese
Students struggling to learn Chinese might not know it, but their task has been made easier because of the work of one man. Zhou Youguang helped invent Pinyin, a writing system that turns Chinese characters into words using letters from the Roman alphabet. This makes it easier to learn how to pronounce Chinese words, and [...]
Click here to continue readingGlobe to Globe: See 37 Shakespeare Plays in 37 Languages!
Since the 16th Century, the spiritual home to the plays of William Shakespeare has been London’s Globe Theatre (currently in its third incarnation). But after more than 400 years as a distinctly English institution, the theater is putting its name to good use and truly going global. As part of the massive Britain-wide run up to the [...]
Click here to continue readingJoin the Cult of the Hyperpolyglot
Many people want to speak a second language, but for some people two can never be enough. Welcome to the world of the hyperpolyglot. Ray Gillon speaks 18 languages. To be precise, he only speaks eight fluently. His grasp on the other 10 is merely conversational. Throw anything at him in Portuguese, Thai, Turkish, Russian, [...]
Click here to continue reading35 Cool Language Facts
1. French was the official language of England for over 300 years 2. Italian is the fifth most taught language, after English, French, Spanish and German. 3. German is the most widely spoken native language in Europe 4. English speakers will be able to recognise over 3,000 Spanish words 5. Portuguese has 178 million native [...]
Click here to continue readingIs a Lack of Language Skills Damaging British Firms Abroad?
One in three British firms sending a manager overseas do not require them to be fluent in the local language, a survey has revealed The research, from workspace provider Regus, profiled over 2,500 business owners and managers in the UK on their attitudes to doing business abroad. 35 per cent admitted that when appointing an expat [...]
Click here to continue readingAre You a Hyperpolyglot?
When God put the kibosh on the Tower of Babel, 72 languages were said to have been created from the one that unified those hubristic humans. In his new book, Babel No More, linguist Michael Erard seeks out the people who have put those pieces back together: hyperpolyglots, i.e., the most fluent mamma-jammas on the planet. [...]
Click here to continue reading10 Alternative Chinese Phrases
1. Nǐ zhēn niú! “You’re outstanding!” In China, you can actually compare someone to a cow (niú) to compliment his outstanding character. Yao Ming is definitely niú, and so is anyone who scores you train tickets after they’re “sold out” or tries the baijiu liquor sold in plastic squeeze bottles in grocery stores. 2. [...]
Click here to continue readingAu Revoir le francais? adeus português? до свидания России? وداعا عربية?
Au Revoir le francais, adeus português, до свидания России andوداعا عربية… At this time of year it is a common course of action across the media to try and predict events that are likely to occur within the coming year. This year however the BBC went a step further and has attempted to try and lay down some [...]
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