There are over 6000 languages spoken in the world. And behind each and every one of them lies a rich and diverse culture. European Day of Languages aims to celebrate each language and culture by showing people across Europe how important languages are, and what fun can be had learning them.
Set up by the Council of Europe, it was first celebrated in 2001 and will go off with a bang in 2009 on the 26 of Sept with over 45 countries involved.
The idea is to promote interest in languages and language learning for adults and children. So whatever your age and whatever your interest in language, there should be something for you among the 300+ events (over 50 in the UK and Ireland alone).
Activities range from the light-hearted to the serious – from games and quizzes to literary evenings and round-table discussions on language policy.
If you’re in central London on 25 September, drop in on the language stand at Victoria station and enter a competition to win an Italian course. Or find out more about language courses for adults at events dotted around the UK.
In Brussels and Luxembourg – the EU commission’s main sites – events will include a conference and press event on early language learning with multilingualism commissioner Leonard Orban.
According to European Union's survey "Europeans and their Languages", 56% of EU citizens (25 member states) speak a language other than their mother tongue, but 44% admit to not knowing any other languages than their native language. However, 28% master two foreign languages. 38% of the EU citizens indicate that they know English, followed by 14% mastering French or German.
Friday 25 September 2009
Friday 18 September 2009
New Firefox browser provides foreign language functionality.
Firefox has added a feature to its web browser that allows a user to read a web page in a foreign language.
A new plug-in identifies the language used on a web page and automatically provides a translation, leaving the layout of the page unchanged.
The plug-in, designed by the San Francisco-based Worldwide Lexicon project, recognises over 40 languages. Users start by telling the software which language they prefer. When a page written in a different language loads, the software searches for translations provided by the project's community of volunteers. If none is available it uses an online service, such as Google Translate.
A test version of the plug-in is available at the Firefox website.
A new plug-in identifies the language used on a web page and automatically provides a translation, leaving the layout of the page unchanged.
The plug-in, designed by the San Francisco-based Worldwide Lexicon project, recognises over 40 languages. Users start by telling the software which language they prefer. When a page written in a different language loads, the software searches for translations provided by the project's community of volunteers. If none is available it uses an online service, such as Google Translate.
A test version of the plug-in is available at the Firefox website.
Monday 14 September 2009
Chinglish - Is this where we are heading?
"I like your smile, but unlike you put your shoes on my face". A charming way of saying "Keep off the grass". But could you figure it out? Or this: "Wash Clothing Store" for laundry.
They are both typical Chinglish, a combination of English vocabulary and Chinese grammar. Expressions such as "people mountain people sea", means extremely crowded, and "give you some color to see", meaning a punishment, are widely known and recognized.
Chinglish has been attracting global attention in recent years as China grows rapidly in stature on the world stage, attracting both fans and detractors.
The Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Programme and English First China Company, a language trainer known as EF Education, jointly launched a campaign to root out poor grammar and misused vocabulary in downtown Beijing on Tuesday. They argue Chinglish is an embarrassment that must be wiped out at all costs.
"EF Education is very happy to be able to help regulate English logos on the streets of Beijing", said Michael Lu, vice-president of EF Education. "And it is meaningful, to allow the capital show its most beautiful historical and cultural heritage to the world."
He said, since the launching of the campaign, foreign teachers and students had been very keen to volunteer participation. Michael Lu said he believed signs were very important in public services. "The signs in some old buildings confused foreign visitors, such as "Cherish Environment".
Chinglish, although the target of much criticism, has also won supporters who regard it as an interesting way for foreigners to learn how Chinese people think and express themselves.
"Many Chinglish logos carry Chinese elements and they will enrich the English language," 32-year-old Oliver Radtke said.
The German multimedia producer has been focusing on written examples of the lingo on signboards, menu cards and shop fronts. He had even published a book "Chinglish: Found in Translation," on the subject. About 50,000 copies of the book have been sold since it was published in 2007.
His first encounter with Chinglish was in a cab in Shanghai back in 2000. He saw a curious note reading "Don't forget to carry your thing".
He is convinced that the notion of one single, standard version of English is outdated because "it now boasts more than one billion regular users worldwide, and the number of people speaking it as their second language is growing rapidly."
Radtke's opinion is echoed by other fans of Chinglish.
"Some Chinglish is simply wonderful and displays a poetic side that is far better than admonitory signs in my own country," said an English teacher in Beijing.
Some Chinese university experts also side with Chinglish. "English has absorbed elements from other languages such as Frenchand Spanish in its growth, and the emergence of Chinglish again testifies to the language's vitality and inclusiveness," said Shi Anbin, an associate professor with the journalism and communication school of Tsinghua University.
They are both typical Chinglish, a combination of English vocabulary and Chinese grammar. Expressions such as "people mountain people sea", means extremely crowded, and "give you some color to see", meaning a punishment, are widely known and recognized.
Chinglish has been attracting global attention in recent years as China grows rapidly in stature on the world stage, attracting both fans and detractors.
The Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Programme and English First China Company, a language trainer known as EF Education, jointly launched a campaign to root out poor grammar and misused vocabulary in downtown Beijing on Tuesday. They argue Chinglish is an embarrassment that must be wiped out at all costs.
"EF Education is very happy to be able to help regulate English logos on the streets of Beijing", said Michael Lu, vice-president of EF Education. "And it is meaningful, to allow the capital show its most beautiful historical and cultural heritage to the world."
He said, since the launching of the campaign, foreign teachers and students had been very keen to volunteer participation. Michael Lu said he believed signs were very important in public services. "The signs in some old buildings confused foreign visitors, such as "Cherish Environment".
Chinglish, although the target of much criticism, has also won supporters who regard it as an interesting way for foreigners to learn how Chinese people think and express themselves.
"Many Chinglish logos carry Chinese elements and they will enrich the English language," 32-year-old Oliver Radtke said.
The German multimedia producer has been focusing on written examples of the lingo on signboards, menu cards and shop fronts. He had even published a book "Chinglish: Found in Translation," on the subject. About 50,000 copies of the book have been sold since it was published in 2007.
His first encounter with Chinglish was in a cab in Shanghai back in 2000. He saw a curious note reading "Don't forget to carry your thing".
He is convinced that the notion of one single, standard version of English is outdated because "it now boasts more than one billion regular users worldwide, and the number of people speaking it as their second language is growing rapidly."
Radtke's opinion is echoed by other fans of Chinglish.
"Some Chinglish is simply wonderful and displays a poetic side that is far better than admonitory signs in my own country," said an English teacher in Beijing.
Some Chinese university experts also side with Chinglish. "English has absorbed elements from other languages such as Frenchand Spanish in its growth, and the emergence of Chinglish again testifies to the language's vitality and inclusiveness," said Shi Anbin, an associate professor with the journalism and communication school of Tsinghua University.
Monday 7 September 2009
Language skills lead to a colourful career
Language is one of the most powerful communication tools available to an individual today. With the emerging globalisation trend, an individual who has knowledge of more than one language has a number of advantages to his/her credit. Careers nowadays not only ask for languages as a primary skill, but occasionally as a secondary skill as well.
Learning foreign languages may give one access to the rendering of certain specialised language services, which are highly challenging and remunerative. Naturally having a flair for languages helps but just as important is an interest in people and an agile mind. Awareness of social and cultural backgrounds of foreign countries also helps in the appreciation of the nuances of foreign languages for effectiveness in all kinds of work.
Translators should be meticulous and possess the ability to retain their concentration for long periods of time. They should also be able to get along with people, especially when it concerns assignments of a technical nature.
Interpreters at international conferences need physical stamina, cool temperaments and should preferably equip themselves with the background of the assignment they are to cover. On the other hand, foreign language teachers require proficiency, patience and the ability to communicate with students from different age groups.
Just about all universities conduct diploma, degree or certificate courses in many foreign languages. There are many foreign language training institutes which offer specialised training in a particular language at different levels. Those who have aquired the graduate level of proficiency in foreign languages may go in for MA-level programmes. Whilst learning a foreign language might be on the decline in some areas of the world, language skills offer a world of opportunities for those willing to learn.
Learning foreign languages may give one access to the rendering of certain specialised language services, which are highly challenging and remunerative. Naturally having a flair for languages helps but just as important is an interest in people and an agile mind. Awareness of social and cultural backgrounds of foreign countries also helps in the appreciation of the nuances of foreign languages for effectiveness in all kinds of work.
Translators should be meticulous and possess the ability to retain their concentration for long periods of time. They should also be able to get along with people, especially when it concerns assignments of a technical nature.
Interpreters at international conferences need physical stamina, cool temperaments and should preferably equip themselves with the background of the assignment they are to cover. On the other hand, foreign language teachers require proficiency, patience and the ability to communicate with students from different age groups.
Just about all universities conduct diploma, degree or certificate courses in many foreign languages. There are many foreign language training institutes which offer specialised training in a particular language at different levels. Those who have aquired the graduate level of proficiency in foreign languages may go in for MA-level programmes. Whilst learning a foreign language might be on the decline in some areas of the world, language skills offer a world of opportunities for those willing to learn.
Tuesday 1 September 2009
Korean language thrown a lifeline
Korean, a language with few students but high priority in government rhetoric, has been given a modest injection of money.
A project led by Gi-Hyun Shin at the Australian University of NSW has won $485,000 over two years under the National Asian Languages and Studies in Schools Program.
But in a sign of Korean's vulnerability, one of the universities that put together the successful proposal for NALSSP money has decided to abandon the language. From next year, Curtin University of Technology will take no new students.
Korean is one of four priority languages under this program, which has $62.4 million to spend over fouryears. Dr Shin said the money would allow work including teacher training and the development of materials on Korean culture for non-language subjects in schools, such as social sciences.
"What we're trying to do is to get high school students informed about what is happening in Korea at the moment and when they get to university they might be interested in signing up (for Korean)," he said.
Dr Shin said that despite the rapid rise of South Korea as a trading partner, the country and its culture had yet to create "any particular image" in Australia, which shared its status as a middle power. Among the priority languages, Korean lacked the strong profile of Chinese or Japanese.
This year Curtin decided it had too few students to maintain its Korean program, according to Will Christensen, head of the school of social sciences and Asian languages.
A project led by Gi-Hyun Shin at the Australian University of NSW has won $485,000 over two years under the National Asian Languages and Studies in Schools Program.
But in a sign of Korean's vulnerability, one of the universities that put together the successful proposal for NALSSP money has decided to abandon the language. From next year, Curtin University of Technology will take no new students.
Korean is one of four priority languages under this program, which has $62.4 million to spend over fouryears. Dr Shin said the money would allow work including teacher training and the development of materials on Korean culture for non-language subjects in schools, such as social sciences.
"What we're trying to do is to get high school students informed about what is happening in Korea at the moment and when they get to university they might be interested in signing up (for Korean)," he said.
Dr Shin said that despite the rapid rise of South Korea as a trading partner, the country and its culture had yet to create "any particular image" in Australia, which shared its status as a middle power. Among the priority languages, Korean lacked the strong profile of Chinese or Japanese.
This year Curtin decided it had too few students to maintain its Korean program, according to Will Christensen, head of the school of social sciences and Asian languages.
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