Search Results

The Language of Lies: Exposing the Unreliable Narrator Saskia Johnson Tuesday, 18 March 2025 Have you ever wondered how language is used to construct lies? By delving into some of literature's most famous liars and unreliable narrators, I hope to conceptualise the act of deception and prove that dishonesty is not as easy to detect as you may think. While we encounter many notorious liars in literature, we may not even realise that the deception has sometimes taken root within the narrators themselves. As readers, it is natural for us to trust the narrators of the stories we read. Therefore, identifying unreliability is not always intended to be easy and may even be utilised purposefully by the author. That’s not to say that lying isn’t often obvious in many popular texts. Take Iago from Shakespeare’s Othello, for example. Throughout the whole play, the audience is aware that Iago is weaving lies whereas the other characters do not, often falling victim to his manipulations. This is because lying takes place in verbal communication through the act of violating, meaning that the quality of contribution to the conversation has been jeopardised by the speaker without their interlocutor noticing. The use of recurring utterances of other characters such as ‘honest Iago’ makes it clear that his deception is successful. It is important that this is communicated to the audience as it is Iago’s evil motives that drive forward the understanding of the play and subsequent tragedy. This is very different for unreliable narrators who are, for the most part, very subtly constructed by the author to be deceptive. Point of view is one of the most important linguistic considerations when attempting to understand how the unreliable narrator is established. Through first-person narration and third-person close narration, the reader sees the world through the consciousness of the narrator and subsequently, their subjective world. One of the most well-known, yet not strikingly obvious, unreliable narrators is Nick Carraway from The Great Gatsby. As a first-person narrator, the reader experiences the world of the novel through Nick’s eyes. In this case, we are dealing with a narrator who is full of contradictions and is easily influenced by those around him. For instance, when Nick first attends one of Gatsby’s parties, he is enchanted by what he witnesses and feels a certain admiration for Gatsby himself. However, when he attends another one of Gatsby’s parties with his cousin, Daisy, he is struck by the artificial nature of the events, just as Daisy herself is. This prompts us to question whether we can trust Nick’s psychological and ideological perception of the events. Is Daisy really the bad guy? Or is Nick too enamoured by Gatsby to be able to think any differently? In this case, it is unclear whether F. Scott Fitzgerald is making Nick unreliable to represent an interior message or if this is a characteristic associated with Nick’s personality idiosyncrasies. It’s times like this when I greatly admire authors and their ability to channel a mind, or multiple, in order to immerse the reader within the story, to leave them enchanted by flawed characters, clueless to the real messages creeping beneath the surface. Maybe next time you read a book, you’ll outwit the author. Just take a second to consider–am I being lied to? About the Author I have always enjoyed reading and creative writing! Upon coming to uni, I developed a particular interest in the study of linguistics which I find helps me to analyse texts and even write my own. Lingo gives me the opportunity to become a better writer and discover what it's like to be a journalist, writing about the things I am passionate about. Copyright free images courtesy of Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Language Categories: I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

YEAR ABROAD TALES: the highs and lows of au pairing Mhairi MacLeod Tuesday, 24 May 2022 Have you ever considered au pairing in a foreign country? Not sure what it actually entails or if it is an experience for you? Our Deputy Editor, Mhairi, shares her rollercoaster experience of au pairing in Barcelona and the realities that come with it. After my term in Peru was cancelled due to the dreaded Covid, I found myself desperately reaching out to the Spanish family that I worked for in the summer of 2019. My friends and family thought I was crazy as all they had heard for the last two years was how I absolutely hated au pairing and that the pressure of looking after two feisty Spanish boys had formed stress lines on my forehead at the young age of 19. I would never do it again. I shouted this from the rooftops whenever anyone asked about my experience of au pairing. Yet here I was sending a jumbled WhatsApp message to the same Spanish family asking if I could come and live with them again for three months. A week later, I was unpacking my suitcase in the same spare room as last time. The room where I had cried so many tears on FaceTime to my parents saying I just wanted to come home (who knew a 4-year-old could make me cry). All I can say now is that I am so glad that I took the risk to go back as my memories of au pairing had been heavily overshadowed by the occasional bad moments back in 2019. I had forgotten just how incredible the experience had been, the friends and memories made, and the huge improvements to my Spanish. There’s nothing like being sat around a dinner table with what seems like hundreds of tíos y tías, primos y abuelos, all talking over each other in their fiery Spanish. In the middle of their heated debate, in an attempt to acquire some backup, one of them would ask ‘the English girl’ what she thought. What felt like hundreds of heads would turn to stare as I tried to form a coherent sentence in Spanish without crumbling from embarrassment. It really is a humbling experience and made an oral exam seem like nothing. Oh, and did I mention that I was living in a huge house in the middle of Barcelona, with a beautiful garden and pool? Now it doesn’t sound too bad at all. Like many things, the experience of au-pairing has its highs and lows. When I first stayed with the family in 2019, the two boys were four and six years old. For a 19-year-old, who didn’t have much experience looking after children, I was plunged straight into the deep end. How was I to know that a four-year-old could cry over his sandwich not being cut the right way? Or that the six-year-old was actually very fast and on several occasions decided to run off down the street and cause me to look like a crazy lady chasing him? It probably took around two months to settle in properly and for the boys to get used to me. After that, it got easier and in hindsight was really great fun. I discovered that the boys were hilarious, whether they knew it or not, and despite their tantrums and meltdowns, they were actually sweet children. Some of my favourite memories are teaching them to swim in the pool and singing Calma by Pedro Capó with them every day. The parents were also the kindest and most accommodating people I have met, who always wanted to make me feel at home. They took me on their multiple family holidays, to the mountains in the Pyrenees, their family home in Cadiz, and weekend trips to beach houses, they really were so generous. I got to experience the local version of Spain and I was made to feel like one. When I returned at the start of this year, the parents were even more welcoming and kind. They constantly praised me for doing a great job with the children and if I looked tired, they would offer to help or tell me to have some more free time to relax. My work schedule was so convenient, and I had so much time to explore the city again. I would wake up at 6 am and get the kids up and ready for school. They would leave for school at 8.30 am (or thereabouts, it was always a bit of a stampede) and later I would pick them up at 5 pm. That left me with a whole day to do absolutely whatever I wanted. I filled this time with language lessons, exercise, exploring the city, and going to the beach, the list was endless. At 5 pm I would walk to their school and look after them until their bedtime at 9 pm. Just in time to go out and have dinner and drinks with my friends in true Spanish local time. The weekends were also my time off and the family often went away so I regularly ended up with a free house and some much-needed peace and quiet. On the occasion that they didn’t go away for the weekend, I had a fun time explaining what a hangover was to the kids, and that ‘yes I don’t look well’. This second time around with the family was an incredible experience, despite the occasional tantrums and meltdowns. The kids were now six and eight years old, they were more independent and welcomed me into their little lives like an older sister. I also cried considerably less than the first time, which in au pairing terms is a great sign. I now have such a good relationship with the family that they treat me as one of their own. They are constantly messaging me to offer up their various houses in Spain for a holiday or telling me that if I am in Madrid I need to visit this amazing bar, visit ‘tío Pablo’ who will give me a lift to the airport, and meet ‘cousin Paz’ who will take me on a night out. The Spanish really do have family everywhere. It sounds funny to say but I feel like I have a second Spanish family and I know that should I ever need their help they will always be there. I got to know Barcelona incredibly well and felt like a local, giving city tours and guides to my friends and family from home. On top of this, I met some great people from all over the world at my language school, some of who I now consider some of my greatest friends. I realise how lucky I was to have such a great experience with this family, as I know it is not always the case for other au pairs. For me, the experience of au pairing was something that made me grow up very quickly, there is a lot of responsibility and suddenly you are the adult answering all sorts of questions from two very inquisitive children. My favourite was the classic ‘how are babies made?’ to which I swiftly tried to change the topic by pointing to a dog on the other side of the road. Make no mistakes, it’s tiring and when I say tiring, I mean truly exhausting. I remember being dropped at the airport after three months with the family and falling asleep at the airport gate from sheer exhaustion. At times it’s not glamorous and it will make you question why you ever signed up for it. However, I can truthfully say that it is an invaluable experience and in my opinion one of the best ways to learn a language and experience a foreign culture. Whilst it wasn’t my ideal year abroad, Covid-19 has meant that we must be flexible and adaptable. Oh, and let’s not forget the other spanner in the works called Brexit. It is ok to feel disheartened that things have not gone how you may have wished however, this is proof that sometimes the ‘worse’ option can work out for the best. About the Author Mhairi is currently in her final year studying Spanish and Chinese. On her year abroad, Mhairi spent her time in Barcelona, Taiwan and Peru. She joined Lingo Mag as Deputy Editor 2022/23 to share her enthusiasm for languages, culture, and travel. "Learning a language is so much more than memorising verb patterns and grammar. Immersing yourself in films, books and music is where the magic happens." Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Barcelona’s must-visit Cocktail Bars Rosie Loyd Images provided by Mhairi Macleod For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Spain Year Abroad Advice Mhairi Macleod Living Abroad Au Pairing Categories: Travel Year Abroad Tales Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

How to travel cheaply during your year abroad Chloe Brewster Monday, 15 August 2022 In this article, Chloe, who has just finished her year abroad in France, offers advice on how to travel both within and outside your host country without spending a fortune or even relying on air travel. Living in your host city for a semester or a year always presents numerous opportunities for immersing yourself in local customs and activities, but sometimes you may fancy a change of setting and want to explore the country (or perhaps some others). Contrary to common perception, travelling during your year abroad needn’t be expensive provided that you plan accordingly and learn some tips which enable you to live and think like a local in your host country! Sign up for a rail card If you are working or studying in a country for a semester, it is easy to assume that investing in a rail card is not worthwhile, but rail cards tend to be cheap and barely make a dent into your pocket. For example, I only paid 15 euros for a regional ‘Grand Est Primo’ card during my year abroad in Strasbourg, France which reduced rail fares by 50% during the week and a mind-blowing 70% at weekends – needless to say, I used the card as often as I could because French regional rail travel is significantly cheaper than in the UK! The card even included trips to Switzerland which was a novelty since it wasn’t even in the same country , let alone the same region. A cheap visit to Basel, Switzerland thanks to a regional rail card (same cannot be said of the extortionately priced McDonald’s though!) Owning a rail card definitely incites you to explore your local region and sometimes appreciate a change of scenery. However, if bigger cities or further-away areas are more appealing to you, a general youth discount card (valid on long-distance trains) might be better suited which offers generous discounts for trains booked in advance (although last-minute deals can also be found). In France, the Carte Avantage Jeune (49 euros for a year) offers significant savings on TGV or fast-speed trains, which broadens the spectrum of cities that you can visit relatively inexpensively (see the below image). Even though it is a bigger investment compared to the cheaper regional cards, the Carte Avantage Jeune pays for itself within one or two trips! Cathédrale de Besançon, France – eligible for the Carte Avantage Jeune Travel by coach or bus In an era of increased environmental awareness, travelling by coach is advantageous both for your budget and for the environment. Flixbus and Blablabus are two of the most well-known coach companies in mainland Europe, making long-distance travel more accessible (and somewhat comfortable with free Wifi and charging points on board). Alternating between coach and rail travel can be a good compromise if travelling completely by coach doesn’t appeal to you, especially for day trips; during a recent visit to Luxembourg, I travelled there on regional trains then returned home via a Flixbus in the late evening. Exploring the Grund in Luxembourg City Watch out for special deals In between your work placement or studies, you probably don’t have an abundance of time to constantly check rail discounts in the hope that a special offer might come up in time for your travels! But it is definitely worth keeping an eye on rail apps for your host country (DB, SNCF, etc.) to see if there are any sales for particular routes which may usually be quite expensive. I finally managed to get discounted tickets to Paris not long before I finished my year abroad after months of waiting for special deals, so perseverance is certainly essential as difficult as it might be! Finally made it to the Eiffel Tower! Bring your student card/passport Now that you have hopefully arrived at your travel destination, you are going to plan what you are going to do there. If you are studying abroad, your student card should entitle you to discounts or free admission into cultural places such as museums. If you are travelling to another country (i.e. Germany from France), you can still use your (French) student card and be eligible for discounts, which is always much-welcomed. Porta Nigra, Trier (Germany) – a discounted visit thanks to my student card However, certain cities offer discounts or free admission based on your passport status. In Paris, free admission is usually determined by possessing an EU passport and being under the age of 25. While this may prove disappointing for British passport holders (another unfortunate legacy of Brexit!), all hope is not necessarily lost. For example, I visited the Arc de Triomphe for free by showing my long-stay student visa, although this should also apply to holders of a working visa. You never know when a passport/visa or student card may come in handy for entitling you to discounts, so it is always wise to bring relevant documentation with you for your travels because why not ? These are just a few tips (but not an exhaustive list!) for travelling as economically as possible during your year abroad and gaining an insight (via culture, history or food) into other regions in your host country. Whether it is for a day trip or a weekend break, travelling is definitely one of the most exhilarating elements of a year abroad and is not to be missed! About the Author Chloe is a final year French student who has studied abroad in Strasbourg and wants to share her experiences of travelling - including as a solo female - in Europe. She is particularly interested in French culture (if there is a fine arts museum around, she will find it!), but living in Strasbourg has exposed her to other cultures (German, Swiss, Luxembourgish, you get the gist...). Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Hungry in St Petersburg? My Top 5 Restaurants for Visitors Jess Henrys Images provided by Chloe Brewster For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Chloe Brewster Budget Tips Year Abroad France Categories: Travel Travel Tips Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Tone in Indo-European Languages: Let’s take a look at Punjabi Aaron Gil Monday, 31 October 2022 Indo-European languages are not typically associated with tone but there are a few Indo-European languages that incorporate tone in one way or another. Punjabi (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) is one of them so let’s take a look into how tone is incorporated in the Punjabi language. Indo-European languages are not typically associated with tone but there are a few of them that incorporate tone in one way or another. Punjabi ( ਪੰਜਾਬੀ) is one of them, so let’s take a look into how tone is incorporated in the Punjabi language. Punjabi is spoken in both India and Pakistan and has over 100 million native speakers . In India, it is written in the Gurmukhi script, whereas in Pakistan it is written in the Shahmukhi script. In this article, I’ll be referring to the Gurmukhi script, as that is what I’m familiar with. Gurmukhi is an abugida (a specific type of writing system) and consists of 35 primary letters. It is arranged in such a way that each row – excluding the first and last row - represents a certain manner of articulation, and each column is a variation on that articulation. For those curious about Gurmukhi, this video pronounces the names of the letters and gives some example words. Gurmukhi Alphabet The letters in the red box along with ਹ (sometimes) serve as tone markers and the placement of these letters within a syllable – at the beginning or the end – determines the nature of the tone In Punjabi there are three types of tone: low, high, and level. The low tone is characterized by lowering the voice below the normal pitch and then rising back in the following syllable. In the high tone the pitch of the voice rises above its normal level falling back at the following symbol. The level tone is carried by the remaining words. The sounds of ਘ,ਝ,ਢ,ਧ,ਭ , when appearing at the beginning of a syllable, carry the low tone3. The letter is pronounced in the same way as the first column equivalent. ਘ = ਕ + low tone High tone is typically seen when ਹ is in the middle or end of the word. In these instances, the sound of ਹ is not pronounced and the only indication of its existence in the word is the high tone. High tone also occurs when the letters the sounds of ਘ,ਝ,ਢ,ਧ,ਭ occur in the final position within a word. More detail about tone in Punjabi can be found in this lecture . One thing that you can infer from this is that tone in Punjabi is much simpler than Chinese for example. As to why tone has arisen in the Punjabi language, it is hard to say. According to the book ‘An Introduction to Punjabi - Grammar, Conversation and Literature,’ the tonal feature of Punjabi is something that awaits serious research. Many native speakers of Punjabi probably don’t even recognize the fact that they use tone as for them it is something acquired naturally. Nevertheless, tone is an important factor in the language and is something that makes it unique. About the Author Aaron is a fourth year Mechanical Engineering student, who likes learning about languages and would love to share some knowledge about his mother tongue of Punjabi which he is currently trying to learn. Tone in Indo-European Languages: Let’s take a look at Punjabi Aaron Gil Images provided by Aaron Gil. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Aaron Gill Punjabi Tone Indo-European Categories: Language Study Language and Linguistics Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Recipe of the Week: Chocolate Brownies with Dulce de Leche Emily Dawson Friday, 2 December 2022 Recipe of the Week with @ems.homecooking will teach you a new dish from around the world. This weeks recipe is one of my own and will teach you the secret to getting that perfect crispy brownie top. Serves: 12-18 Difficulty: 3/5 Time: 1hr (20 minutes prep, 40-45 minutes cooking time) A twist on everyone’s favourite baked treat that gives even Beeston Brownies a run for their money, this recipe is one of my own. The depth and thickness of the mixture means you can bake this one for 40 minutes and you’ll still have a deliciously gooey brownie. The dulce de leche also transforms the crust into a chewy outer shell making this recipe my go-to sweet treat, which is always requested by friends and family. Ingredients 200g butter 200g dark chocolate 4 large eggs 350g caster sugar 100g plain flour 50g cocoa powder 100g milk chocolate, roughly chopped 2 tbsp dulce de leche Method Melt the dark chocolate and butter in a pan over a medium heat, making sure to stir constantly as to not burn the bottom. Once melted, set aside to cool. Whisk the sugar and eggs together in a separate bowl until the mixture is pale and has doubled in size. Fold in the cooled chocolate mixture. Sift and fold the flour and cocoa powder into the mixture. Add the milk chocolate making sure it is distributed evenly. Pour the mixture into a 20cm x 24cm tin and spread it evenly across the tin Using a spoon, swirl the dulce de leche through the top layer in a spiral pattern. For more savoury and tasty treat recipes, follow @ems.homecooking on Instagram. About the Author Emily is a fourth-year student, studying Spanish, Chinese and Business. She is an avid baker turned chef who can often be found in the kitchen making content for her Instagram (@ems.homecooking). Emily was our 2022/23 Treasurer. Recipe of the Week: Shakshuka with Merguez Emily Dawson Recipe of the Week: Chicken Curry Emily Dawson Recipe of the Week: Vegan Pasta Bake Emily Dawson Images provided by Emily Dawson. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Emily Dawson Brownies Chocolate Dessert Cooking Categories: Recipe of the Week Culture Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

French and Francophone Studies < Back Francesca Wren Fran is a final year French student, returning to campus after completing her year abroad in France. She spent her time working as an English language assistant in the suburbs of the Paris. She can't wait to share her tips of living in Paris and her anecdotes of a year abroad with the readers of Lingo! Latest Articles by this Author Saving your centimes: How to do Paris on a Budget 16/03/22 YEAR ABROAD TALES: Does Distance Make the Heart Grow Fonder? 04/03/22

Exploring Spain through Erasmus Trips Grace Whitaker Tuesday, 14 June 2022 Grace, a Modern Languages with Translation third year, tells us about the various Erasmus trips she went on whilst completing a semester abroad in Valencia, Spain. Read on to find out why Grace can fully recommend Erasmus trips for other students, studying or working abroad. Before arriving in Valencia for my study abroad, I had little knowledge of the city, except that it is on the eastern coast of Spain. However, upon arriving, I soon learnt that it is one of the most popular destinations for Erasmus students with thousands attending just my university. Thanks to this huge Erasmus population, several different companies offer weekly club nights and trips at the weekend. One of the benefits of these trips is that there is transport included meaning you can visit places that otherwise would have been too difficult to visit independently. In this article, I will list some of the places I visited during my time in Spain. 05.02.2022 – Alicante The first trip I went on was during my second week of living in Spain. About an hour and a half further down the coast from Valencia, Alicante is a coastal city, very popular with British holidaymakers. We visited the castle, had lunch and walked around some of the Old Town. I feel that doing trips like these really encourage you to make and find new friends; the girls I went to Alicante with nearly 4 months ago are some of my closest friends now! 20.02.2022 – Montanejos Montanejos is one of those places that would have been near-impossible to visit without an organised trip. It is a hot spring located deep in the Spanish countryside, around an hour from Valencia. We first completed a fairly challenging hike which included several moments of me thinking that this was the end. Luckily, I survived and then my friends and I were able to swim in the hot spring - very refreshing! 13.03.2022 – Xativa During the Fallas (a famous Valencian festival), we visited Xativa, a town further into the Comunidad de Valencia. We spent the majority of the day exploring the castle where we were able to watch the daily ‘mascleta’ – a type of firework display that occurs during Fallas. We then wandered around the town centre and ate some patatas bravas before returning home. 09.04.2022 – Zaragoza Zaragoza was the furthest place I had travelled just for a day trip, taking over 4 hours to travel there from Valencia. However, it was a beautiful city to visit, especially the basilica where we had a guided tour. The basilica looks over the river that winds through the city and offers amazing views. The famous Romantic painter Goya called the city home and so there is a museum dedicated to his work. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to visit. Despite the long journey from the east coast, this is certainly a city worth visiting! 30.04.2022 – Isla de Tabarca Last but certainly not least was our trip to the Isla de Tabarca, the smallest inhabited island in Europe, just off the coast of Alicante. We arrived by catamaran to the island, I felt like I was living my Mamma Mia dream! After some lunch, we found a little cove where we were able to sunbathe and go swimming - I had never seen such clear water before. The weather was perfect, it is definitely my favourite trip. Whether you are studying or completing an internship, I would certainly recommend researching Erasmus companies in your area, almost all major European cities have them. They are an excellent way to make friends and visit places to make the most of your year abroad. About the Author Grace is a final year languages student studying French and Spanish. She is openly a member of the LGBTQIA community - an area she would love to focus on in her articles! Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse 7 Reasons to visit Santo Domingo Millie Adams Images provided by Grace Whitaker. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Spain Erasmus Day Trips Year Abroad Culture Grace Whitaker Categories: Travel City Guide Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

Weekend Getaways: The Lake District Gabrielle Wroe Monday, 17 March 2025 Why not take a quick weekend getaway with your friends? It’s the perfect escape for busy students in need of a break from constant studying. A weekend trip lets you unwind, recharge and discover new places- sometimes, all you need is a change of scenery to shake off the uni stress! Even if it’s just for a day or two, there are some great places to visit on a low budget. As a student, I’ve found that small trips are incredibly worthwhile. University life can be stressful, and taking a break to recharge is essential for your mental well-being. A perfect staycation that I highly recommend is the Lake District, which remains one of the most idyllic and tranquil places I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. Last spring, I ventured there for the first time with my partner, spending a weekend in the charming village of Dent. The Lake District is easiest to reach by car, with a scenic drive of around 2.5 to 3 hours from Nottingham. If you don’t have a car, don’t worry! There are also several train stations dotted around the region, making it accessible from various parts of the UK. Trains can be a cheaper alternative if you have a railcard along with student discount. During our trip we stayed in an affordable Airbnb for three days, which was ideal – it gave us the perfect balance of comfort and affordability. Airbnb is a great choice for budget friendly stays, but you could also look for B&B’s or hostels which could save you a bit more money. The Lake District is the perfect destination if you love hiking and the outdoors! Anywhere you stay in the Lakes has countless walks and hiking routes with picturesque views, so you’ll never run out of places to explore. Whether you’re intermediate or beginner, the Lake District offers trails for all levels of experience. If you prefer gentle strolls, I recommend taking a trip to Lake Windermere, which has beautiful views and offers a flat walk. There are also more challenging climbs such as Scafell Pike, England’s highest peak that promises breathtaking views. Also, in many villages there are local pubs and cafes that offer meals with a cozy atmosphere, which is perfect after a day of hiking. If hiking isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other activities such as boat rides across the lakes, local markets and lots of charming little shops and cafes. The area is very rich in history too, so there are a handful of museums and historic sites that you can explore if you aren’t too bothered about the walks. Whether you're seeking adventure or just a short trip with friends, the Lake District offers a perfect weekend getaway. About the Author My name is Gabrielle and I'm a third year studying International Media and Communications. I love travelling, photography and music, I really enjoy going to concerts with my friends. I was drawn to Lingo as I love writing and wanted to expand my skills. Lingo also covers many topics that I am interested in and allows me to learn about different cultures which I find super interesting. Header image is copyright free and courtesy of Unsplash. Article images provided by Gabrielle Wroe. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Travel Travel Guide England Categories: I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

Working with History: What It's Like to Work at Nottingham Castle Kaitlen Elaine Wood Sunday, 1 June 2025 Imagine stepping into a world where every artefact tells a story and every archive in a museum’s collections holds secrets waiting to be retold and newly uncovered. Working in the museum sector truly feels like an adventure through time, whether conducting research on specific collections or engaging with diverse visitors who offer their own perspectives and input on the historical narratives told throughout the museum. Each day that I work at Nottingham Castle reminds me that my role is pivotal in preserving Nottingham’s collective memory. My name is Kaitlen Elaine, and I am an international master’s student at the University of Nottingham. I am studying International Media and Communications, which involves extensive coursework on the United Kingdom’s cultural and creative industries. While I’ve always been interested in England’s heritage sector, I am grateful that I’ve received the opportunity to gain practical experience at the site of one of England’s most important medieval castles. Working at Nottingham Castle My role in the museum and art galleries encompasses various responsibilities, including serving as a heritage visitor experience assistant, assisting with cave tours, researching the castle’s alabaster collection, and working in the Brewhouse Yard Museum, which is a small museum below Castle Rock. Each aspect of this position has contributed to my personal and professional growth within this sector and my overall understanding and appreciation for Nottingham’s extensive history. Cave Tours Nottingham is known as the ‘City of Caves’ and is recognised for its extensive network of man-made caves that date back centuries. These caves hold significant historical importance, especially the cave beneath Nottingham Castle, called Mortimer’s Hole. These caves, which are carved into what is known as the ‘goldilocks’ of sandstone–not too soft and not too hard–beneath the city, have served various purposes throughout time, from storage and living spaces to dungeons and air raid shelters during World War II. During the cave tours, I assist the main tour guide with audience engagement and aid in the retelling of stories about the castle’s past, such as its role in the English Civil War and its connection to notable figures like Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest. Helping with cave tours requires a foundational understanding of the caves' physical layout and their historical context. I have learned to engage visitors by tailoring my communication styles to different age groups and interests. For instance, younger children might enjoy the tale of ‘Mortimer the Fox,’ which is a local fox that lives in the cave, while adults often appreciate more detailed accounts of historical significance, such as guessing the dates of certain events. This adaptability has improved my public speaking and boosted my confidence in interacting with diverse audiences. Working in Heritage Visitor Experience In addition to cave tours, I work as a heritage visitor experience assistant in the exhibitions and art galleries throughout the museum. This involves ensuring all visitors have an enjoyable and informative experience while exploring Nottingham Castle. My responsibilities include greeting guests, providing information about exhibits and events, and assisting with any inquiries they may have. This role has taught me how to handle challenging situations gracefully, such as addressing visitor complaints or managing large groups of people, while maintaining a positive atmosphere. Moreover, collaborating with other staff members has fostered a sense of teamwork that helps us provide exceptional service. However, one of the most challenging things about this position is that I must have a base-level understanding of each exhibition and gallery so that when someone asks a specific question, I should be able to answer it. For example, I need to know where works by Joseph Mallord William Turner are, as his work is commonly sought after by visitors. This gets easier over time, but it was initially quite overwhelming! Researching the Alabaster Collection A part of my work with Nottingham Castle involves researching Nottingham Castle’s alabaster collection, specifically the ‘Three Flawford’s Figures.’ Alabaster is a type of stone that has been used in art and architecture due to its translucence and softness. The castle is home to several unique alabaster artefacts that reflect local craftsmanship and broader artistic trends during different periods. My research focused on identifying the origins of these pieces, their historical significance, and artistic styles, as well as taking that information and simplifying it for a younger audience. For this research, I utilised various resources such as academic journals and museum archives, and I found an interesting book that explores Nottingham alabaster and its value in Europe. Creating a Scavenger Hunt As a part of my research, I developed a young person’s scavenger hunt designed to engage younger audiences with the history of the Three Flawford’s Figures on display at Nottingham Castle. The scavenger hunt encourages participants to explore the historical and artistic elements of the Flawford Figures and critically analyse the choices that the artist made when crafting them. I aimed to make the activity fun and informative by incorporating interesting facts about each artefact alongside interactive challenges that would keep young visitors engaged throughout their examination. The scavenger hunt not only keeps younger visitors entertained but also fosters a deeper sense of curiosity about art history. Working in Brewhouse Yard Museum Alongside working in the Castle, I also have experience working at the Brewhouse Yard Museum, where I have learned much more about the local heritage. The museum showcases life in Nottingham during different historical periods through engaging exhibits that highlight everyday experiences. The Brewhouse Yard Museum is located in 17th-century cottages that experienced a lot of economic ups and downs, urban expansion, and rapid industrial change. The most interesting thing that I’ve learned about the Brewhouse Yard area, which is located below the Castle, is that it was conveniently located outside the jurisdiction of the city’s parishes. This meant that the cottages provided tax-free living and safety for religious non-conformists for some time; however, this also meant that there was a lot of crime as well. My role here consists of greeting museum visitors, specifically those who have just finished a cave tour, as the tour ends at the bottom of Castle Rock, where Brewhouse Yard sits, and assisting with short guided overviews of the cottages. It’s interesting to witness firsthand how important storytelling is in museum work, which is a rewarding aspect of this position. Working with History Working at Nottingham Castle has provided me with experiences that extend far beyond my original expectations. From assisting with medieval cave tours to researching the Castle’s alabaster collection, I have gained practical skills applicable across the heritage sector whilst immersing myself in British culture and Nottingham’s unique heritage. This opportunity has nonetheless deepened my passion for continuous learning and my appreciation for history’s complexities, which is an invaluable lesson I will carry forward into future endeavours in the heritage sector. About the Author Header image provided copyright free courtesy of Unsplash . For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Culture Castle History Categories: I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

The International Booker Prize 2022 Revealed: The Award that Celebrates Authors and their Equally Gifted Translators Mhairi MacLeod Sunday, 10 April 2022 It’s book awards season and if there was ever a time to add some incredible works of translated fiction to your reading list, it’s now. Our Deputy Editor, Mhairi, tells us about the underestimated art of translation and gives us a rundown on the longlist of the International Booker Prize 2022. The highly anticipated International Booker Prize 2022 longlist has been revealed and this year the list includes a plethora of incredible books from all over the world. The thirteen selected books have been translated from 11 languages and 12 countries and the list includes a piece translated from Hindi for the first time. The International Booker Prize is renowned for its celebration of translated fiction and the prize gives equal recognition to the authors and the translators, with the £50,000 prize being split equally. The award celebrates perspectives, narratives, cultures, and characters from all over the globe. Whilst the translation of English books has been popular throughout time, the reverse has never been as sought after for various reasons. In recent times however, the demand for translated and foreign fiction has risen and has been gaining popularity. One only has to look briefly at the Instagram book community, or ‘bookstagram’, before noticing that foreign writers such as Murakami, Ishiguro and Fernanda Melchor come up as recommended reads time and time again. The task of translating a literary piece of work should not be underestimated. How does one effectively translate nuances specific to the initial language in which it was originally written? What about colloquial or slang terms? As for the flow of writing, do translators stick to the original and literal translation or do they slightly alter it to produce a mesmerising, more agreeable read? So much has to be considered when translating a book into another language and it can only be considered an art form. This year’s five judges certainly had a serious task on their hands however, after months of consideration and deliberation, they have whittled down the selection to just 13 books for the longlist. Frank Wynne, the chair of the 2022 judges, referred to the experience “as a kind of heaven”. Borges famously believed that paradise would be “a kind of library”, and spending the past year in the company of some of the world’s great writers and their equally gifted translators has been a kind of heaven. From the intimate to the epic, the numinous to the profane, the books make up a passionately debated longlist that trace a ring around the world. These 13 titles from 12 countries and 11 languages explore the breadth and depth of human experience, and are a testament to the power of language and literature. Here is the thrilling International Booker Prize longlist, all of which should be added to your reading list immediately. The shortlist of just six books will be announced on April 7th and the final winner will be revealed on the 26th May – a date for your diary. About the Author Mhairi is currently in her final year studying Spanish and Chinese. On her year abroad, Mhairi spent her time in Barcelona, Taiwan and Peru. She joined Lingo Mag as Deputy Editor 2022/23 to share her enthusiasm for languages, culture, and travel. "Learning a language is so much more than memorising verb patterns and grammar. Immersing yourself in films, books and music is where the magic happens." Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod Encanto: The Deeper Meaning Behind Disney's Award-winning Latino Film Mhairi MacLeod The International Booker Prize 2022 Revealed: The Award that Celebrates Authors and their Equally Gifted Translators Mhairi MacLeod Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Mhairi Macleod Booker Prize Awards Literature Translation Books Categories: Culture Cultural News Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

The Rise of Foreign Language TV Holly Cromwell Monday, 21 November 2022 The last few years have seen several standout films and TV shows that just so happen to not be in English. Money Heist, Squid Games and more - but why now and how come? Holly shares her thoughts on what has changed and why we only noticed just how good these films are. There’s been a longstanding belief in film and television that foreign language films were a bit niche – something for us language students and maybe the odd hipster. That was before Money Heist and Squid Games bust onto the scene and proved them all wrong. Since then, there’ve been others in different genres: Lupin , showing up for French crime dramas, the first French series to break the top ten of US Netflix; the rise of K Dramas mirroring that of K-pop; Young Royals , a Swedish teen drama that put Netflix Nordic on the map and, of course, Parasite brought film up to par as well. This media is not only more popular than ever, but some are also smashing records full stop. The final season of Money Heist was not only Netflix’s most viewed international series that wasn’t streamed in solely in English, but in the week the final episodes dropped it became the show with the highest total viewing hours on the platform, with almost four times that of the nearest (English-speaking) competitor. That’s 47 million hours against 190 million. Insane! But why now? Is it just that people realised that subtitles really aren’t as bad as they thought? I know a lot of people, including me, have left them on for English shows because they make life so much easier. One article states that over 80% of Netflix users now use subtitles at least once a month, and the streaming giant, which may be losing popularity but still dominates its field, now streams in more than 60 languages. This is possible of course, but we’ve not moved to a world of universal consumption – my Netflix feed is still 75% English even as I try to watch as much French media as I can for my degree. It’s one or two productions at a time that make it big out of nowhere, and from a variety of places, genres and budgets. Potentially, it’s the sheer choice. The rise of streaming has allowed not only a wider appreciation of subtitles but wider access to films – a Netflix or Hulu subscription is often cheaper than a cinema ticket and you have access to a massive amount of content at any time you want. Similarly, TV is no longer a matter of what happens to be on when you’re free, it’s there on demand. With wider access comes a wider range of choices and that means that things that would otherwise be overlooked or excluded, now have a chance, if not a big one, of being noticed. Then we have algorithms, if enough of us scream about Squid Games, then all of us will scream about Squid Games . It pleases the digital overlords. From there we find one of the complaints you hear about TV and film nowadays: that there’s so much choice and it’s all in different places (often behind paywalls on different streaming sites). With that much content available, things can start to feel a little bit stale. Even without intention, you start to spot patterns in media and the search for something new is easier when you stumble upon a highly acclaimed foreign film in the recommended section. Here is something that maybe is a little bit different! Whilst cinematographers and film critics like to claim film is a universal language; Korean, French, Spanish, or Swedish filmmakers may be working from a different set of references and cultural expectations and as such that stale taste dissipates. We speak the same language; we get the stories, and the emotions and we connect to the art, but we speak a different dialect and that makes these films refreshing. Not to say that any of my examples are only good because they’re foreign – they’re all stunning works and push forward the standards of the industry. However, it is notable that none of these examples of massively popular films were necessarily created with an English-speaking audience in mind. This is not Disney minimising LGBTQ+ representation so they can easily push sales through Russian and Chinese censorship. This is not a collection of calculated decisions from executives looking for the next big thing. They seem to be organically popular shows. Just good entertainment that happened to spark something amongst audiences across cultures, without a set intention to make it big – even as both film and TV are, in the end, both markets as well as art. About the Author Holly was our 2023/24 Culture Editor. An English and French student, Holly is interested in languages and cultures, with a particular interest in film. For her, writing for Lingo is a way to enjoy this further and be a bit more purposeful with her interests, find and share new things! The Rise of Foreign Language TV Holly Cromwell What is Culture? Holly Cromwell Why Do We All Need Subtitles Now? Holly Cromwell Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Holly Cromwell Foreign TV Money Heist Squid Game Netflix Categories: Culture Analysis Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

French and Russian < Back Juliet Kennedy Juliet is our Culture Editor for 2024-25. She is a student of French and Russian. She is interested in art and literature, and loves writing and travelling. Latest Articles by this Author Interview with Daria Morozova 10/12/24 Year Abroad Tales: Working in an art gallery on the Estonian-Russian border 11/06/24