...is French an official language?
That's not the same question as In how many countries is French spoken?
What does it mean anyway, an official language?
The language map of the world for official languages would look very different from other language maps of the world.
Monday 26 December 2011
Monday 19 December 2011
Constructed languages
More than you think. Esperanto is one that you might have heard about.
Find out from Zam, the green alien, some advantages of Esperanto. You could learn a few phrases, too.
Saluton! Mi parolas Esperanton!
Hey, you can even insult each other in Esperanto!
Vi odoras kiel krokodilo. Kion vi opinias?
Find out from Zam, the green alien, some advantages of Esperanto. You could learn a few phrases, too.
Saluton! Mi parolas Esperanton!
Hey, you can even insult each other in Esperanto!
Vi odoras kiel krokodilo. Kion vi opinias?
Monday 12 December 2011
Endangered languages
Find out what you can about endangered languages.
What can be done about languages disappearing as the speakers of them die? Should anything be done? Should people accept language loss as an inevitability? It is useful to study or preserve endangered languages in some way, or should linguists focus their interests on currently spoken languages?
One of the more interesting theories is that languages currently spoken on a wider scale - so not thought of as endangered - could quickly become endangered, perhaps within a generation or two, thanks to globalisation interacting with government education policy.
People always get in the way, no matter what policies are implemented. What about the last two speakers of the endangered language who fell out, and are now not talking to each other?
What can be done about languages disappearing as the speakers of them die? Should anything be done? Should people accept language loss as an inevitability? It is useful to study or preserve endangered languages in some way, or should linguists focus their interests on currently spoken languages?
One of the more interesting theories is that languages currently spoken on a wider scale - so not thought of as endangered - could quickly become endangered, perhaps within a generation or two, thanks to globalisation interacting with government education policy.
People always get in the way, no matter what policies are implemented. What about the last two speakers of the endangered language who fell out, and are now not talking to each other?
Monday 5 December 2011
Russian
Okay, I do not recognise the alphabet, I can't reproduce the sounds, and I have no hope of taking myself seriously while I try to acquire either of those skills.
I've never been stopped by the threat of humiliation, so off we go.
Let's make noises with the alphabet sounds at Master Russian (they're optimistic).
Some explanation of the alphabet at the same site.
If you tire of the ads, try words here, at hello-world. Click through to hear the Russian.
A no-frills video, which I found quite helpful.
Over here I learned the Russian for hedgehog. That might come in handy one day.
Should I try and organise a couple of introductory Russian lessons for the home ed group? I see we have a Russian speaker on the island...
While you're learning how to say hello, you can view Russian art at the Gallery.
I've never been stopped by the threat of humiliation, so off we go.
Let's make noises with the alphabet sounds at Master Russian (they're optimistic).
Some explanation of the alphabet at the same site.
If you tire of the ads, try words here, at hello-world. Click through to hear the Russian.
A no-frills video, which I found quite helpful.
Over here I learned the Russian for hedgehog. That might come in handy one day.
Should I try and organise a couple of introductory Russian lessons for the home ed group? I see we have a Russian speaker on the island...
While you're learning how to say hello, you can view Russian art at the Gallery.
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