· February, 2010

Stories about Language from February, 2010

Sri Lanka: Cricket And English Language

  26 February 2010

Lanka Rising comments on the issue of accents and the speakers of English as a second language: “Cricket was Englishmen’s, but now we play better cricket so that now they follow us. Can not we do the same with English language? Yes we can.”

Africa: When language reflects life

  20 February 2010

Language does reflect life as Miquel observes: Of course, many people here in Côte d'Ivoire keep insisting that the word for pen is “bic” instead of “stylo” or to grab a “Lotus” (a local brand) instead of a “tissus”…

China: The Party’s Policies are yakexi

  17 February 2010

C. Custer from ChinaGeeks blogs about a new buzz word, yakexi, in Chinese Internet community. It is an Uyghur word for good and recently used to praise Chinese policies in the Spring Gala. But the word has been re-iterated to mock at the political propaganda.

Morocco: To Valentine or Not to Valentine?

  17 February 2010

In Morocco, as in many countries, celebrating Valentine's Day has caught on as a modern expression of love. In major cities, storefronts stock candy hearts and teddy bears, but, as blogger Robin du Blog points out, the Moroccan media doesn't always encourage the celebration.

India: Death of a Prehistoric Language

  8 February 2010

The last speaker of the ancient Bo language, Boa Senior, has died in her native Andaman Islands (part of India) in February 2010. It's a vivid confirmation of last year's report from UNESCO, warning that 2,500 languages are at risk of disappearing.

India: The Death Of Bo Language

  6 February 2010

Madhu Baganiar, who belongs to the indigenous Oraon (Kurukh) community comments on the demise of Bo language with the death of Boa senior, the lone survivor of the Bo tribe: “tribal language(s) could be preserved and (could) prosper through known script only, as the pace of alienation of tribal language...

Jamaica, U.S.A.: Wisdom of Children

  5 February 2010

“I learned that children are naturally giving and spontaneous and if we are not willing to accept some of the ‘wild energy’ of our children and if we continue to treat our schools as warehouses, then we should be prepared to accept the death of their imagination”: Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey...

Ukraine: Yanukovych Campaign Ad in Crimean Tatar

  5 February 2010

LJ user indrih posts a copy of Victor Yanukovych's campaign ad in the Crimean Tatar language and explains (RUS): “Next to Yanukovych's last name are the words ‘light’ and ‘kindness,’ next to Tymoshenko's last name – ‘darkness’ and ‘evil.’ ‘This is the difference between them,’ is written underneath this comparative...