Stories about Language from October, 2007
Jordan: Blogging in English Back
Jordan Watch is back in English, writes Jordanian blogger Batir Wardam.
Russia: Bukovsky on Putin's Prison Slang
Former dissident Vladimir Bukovsky says president Vladimir Putin doesn't understand the prison camp slang he sometimes uses, Window on Eurasia reports.
Barbados: Gullah Gullah Island
Gallimaufry finds similarities between the language of the Gullah people and the way Barbadians speak: “I am reminded that something as commonplace as the way we talk is, even without our conscious knowledge, powerfully denotive of our national African heritage.”
China and Hong Kong: Translation Politics
Many bloggers in Hong Kong pointed out that the criticism against Martin Lee's article in Wall street is a result of translation. An example given by erynnyes from Those were the days, is the translation of “press for” to “give pressure to” (zh). The blogger also points out that China...
The Balkans: The Language Issue
Balkan Baby writes about the “language issue” in the Balkans: “What language do we speak when we are in the countries that once made up Yugoslavia? In Slovenia and Macedonia the answer is quite simple since these two countries both had their own languages which were recognised by the Yugoslav...
Macedonia: A Bit More On Toše Proeski
Bosnia Blog talks to a Macedonian about singer Toše Proeski, who died in a car crash earlier this month: “He did a lot of charity concert. He was very nice. He is the only thing we have.”
Japan: Taiwanese chorus music to the ears
A video of an auditorium in Taiwan featuring 258 Taiwanese people watching and singing along to the lyrics of Japanese anime songs became a hit in Japan earlier this week after it was uploaded to a popular video sharing website, attracting over 120,000 views and nearly as many comments. A Japanese blogger considers how this kind of connection can bring Japan and Taiwan closer together.
Europe: Roma Links
Lots of new content on TOL's Romantic, including a post on the official patron saint of Catholic Gypsies.
Morocco: Interview with an Amazigh Blogger
Jillian York sheds light on the message and struggle of Moroccan Amazigh and activist Bouba, who blogs at Ghasbouba. Who are the Amazigh? What is Bouba blogging about and what does he like to see the blogging world accomplish?
Japan: NOVA on the brink of collapse
Despite numerous statements to the contrary from an increasingly evasive management, the collapse of Japan's largest English language school operator NOVA appears imminent as bloggers have been reporting lesson cancellations, school closings, and busy phone lines. Read about the thoughts and first-hand experiences of Japanese bloggers in today's post.
Estonia: Nicknames
Itching for Eestimaa writes about Estonian nicknames.
Slovenia: Lojze Podobnik
TOL's Romantic writes about Lojze Podobnik, a Slovenian author writing on the Romani culture and way of life.
China: Buzzwords at the 17th Party Congress
Democracy, the scientific development, harmony, and what else in the 17th Party Congress? Take a look at Joel Martinsen's post in DANWEI.
Japan: Language and Culture
Is it possible to learn a language while remain clueless in its culture? Ampontan has some interesting discussion.
Czech Rebublic: Redubbing the Old Dubs
The Czech Daily Word reports on the need to re-dub English-language shows dubbed for the Czech TV back in the early 1990s.
Russia: Birch Bark Letters To Be Translated
De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis reports that the online collection of ancient Russian birch bark letters will be translated into English.
Algeria: Language Learning Site
Algerian blogger Lameen Souag introduces us to a new language learning site.
Lebanon: Bittersweet Blogging
Louis-Noel Harfouche has returned to blogging about Lebanon in a new post about the Arabic language. “And bitter[sweet] and disheartening as it (and its people) are at times, Lebanon remains an infectious, delicious, long-savored and addictive torment,” he explains.
Slovakia, Hungary: Unfriendly Relationship
Pestcentric writes about the not-too-friendly Slovak-Hungarian relations.
Latvia: Citizenship Debate
So far, there are 121 comments to the “Stateless in Latvia” post at Euroblog by BBC's Europe editor Mark Mardell – and All About Latvia is tired of explaining Latvia's citizenship laws.
Ukraine: Milla Jovovich Ukrainian Song
Ukrainian Musical Matters writes about an unlikely subject: Milla Jovovich. Her 1994 album – “one of the best kept musical secrets of the 90's” – includes a Ukrainian folk song that Milla sings in Ukrainian.
