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Valentine’s Day Traditions Around the World Vicki Mileson Tuesday, 15 February 2022 Every culture has their unique way of celebrating Valentine’s Day – a day loved and hated by many. Vicki explores some sweet and strange Valentine's customs from across the globe. Valentine’s Day itself has unclear origins but some people say it came from Rome , and today it is one of the most commercialised days of the year. The story of Valentine’s Day goes that Emperor Claudius II executed two men on 14 February, although different years, who were both called Valentine. According to Roman legend, one of these men healed his guard’s daughter’s blindness and left a note signed, ‘From your Valentine’. While in the UK, we may know Valentine’s Day as the day that couples go out for dinner and exchange cards and gifts, each country has their own way of marking the special day. Japan – cryptic chocolate and white gifts It’s traditional for women to gift men chocolates on Valentine’s Day. Giri choco is 'obligation chocolate' for friends and colleagues and honmei choco , ‘true feeling chocolate’ is for someone she has romantic feelings for. In return, on White Day, 14 March, men gift women anything ranging from white chocolates to white jewellery. South Korea – singletons unite As in Japan, women in South Korea give gifts to men on Valentine’s Day and the men then celebrate White Day. However, South Koreans celebrate a third day, known as Black Day . On 14 April, single friends gather to eat noodles and celebrate their singlehood. The day’s name originates from the noodles they eat that come in a black bean sauce. Denmark – guess your secret admirer Since the 18th century, the Danes have been sending gaekkebrev to their crushes (paper snowflakes featuring a poem) and then signing their name in dots to preserve an air of mystery. If the recipient manages to guess the sender’s identity, the sender must buy them an Easter egg. South Africa – wear your heart on your sleeve In South Africa, they literally wear their hearts on their sleeves and pin the name of their sweethearts to their clothes. It’s believed that the tradition came from the ancient festival of Lupercalia, where men would wear the name of their Valentine in a similar way. Guatemala – Valentine’s for everyone Over in Guatemala, Valentine’s Day isn’t just for romance. The focus is also on family, friends and colleagues and the day is more generally named ‘El Día del Cariño’ (The Day of Affection). There’s also an Old Love Parade in Guatemala City which celebrates the country’s senior citizens. The Philippines – government-funded celebrations for the world to see On Valentine’s Day in the Philippines, hundreds of couples come together to get married in public places . Often, the celebrations are government-sponsored, giving less privileged couples the opportunity to tie the knot and covering the cost of the wedding cake, flowers and even rings. France – bonfires in the name of love France is known as one of the most romantic countries in the world, with Paris as the city of love. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, they used to have ‘ une loterie d’amour ’, where hopeful singles would line up on either side of the street and call to each other until they were all paired up. The women left without a partner would then build a large bonfire and burn pictures of the men who had rejected them. The French government later banned this bizarre practice and Valentine’s Day is now more what you’d expect in France. Lots of croissants, champagne, and chocolate! Italy – love at first sight and Shakespearean romance Italy used to have the tradition of young, unmarried girls waking up before dawn to spot their future husbands. Legend said that the first man they saw on Valentine’s Day would be the man they would marry. Today, this is less common and one of the more popular traditions is to exchange ‘ Baci Perugina ’ – small, chocolate-covered hazelnuts wrapped in a romantic quote that is printed in four different languages. In Verona, there is a four-day festival to celebrate love with heart-shaped lanterns and a letter-writing competition to Juliet from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Ghana – for the love of chocolate Valentine’s Day in Ghana has been dubbed ‘ National Chocolate Day ’ to promote tourism and cocoa products, the backbone of their economy. They use the day to get the most out of chocolate-themed menus and exhibitions around the country. Taiwan – communicating with flowers Valentine’s Day in Taiwan looks a lot like Valentine’s Day in Western countries – giving flowers to your loved ones. However, in Taiwan, the colour and number of flowers carry a secret message . Red roses mean ‘you’re my one and only’ and 99 roses mean ‘I will love you forever’, while 108 roses mean ‘will you marry me?’ About the Author Vicki recently graduated her degree studying French and Spanish. She spent her year abroad in Grenoble and Bilbao, meeting people from across the world and sparking a desire to learn an unrealistic amount of languages. Vicki loves all things culture, but especially literature and film. Vicki was our 2022/23 Culture Editor. Southern Spain’s Architectural Gems Vicki Mileson Valentine’s Day Traditions Around the World Vicki Mileson What’s On in Nottingham: November Vicki Mileson 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: Valentine's Day Traditions Love Around the World Vicki Mileson Categories: Culture Global 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

How did the Convicted Felon Donald Trump Manage to Win the US Elections? Caitlin Morrell Monday, 9 December 2024 While the 2024 U.S. Elections were expected to be close between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Trump won by a landslide of 291 electoral votes to 222, becoming the first convicted felon to be elected president. Donald Trump’s shock victory in the 2024 U.S. Elections has divided the country into two reactions: excitement and dread for what will come in his administration's next four years. This article analyses some reasons for Trump's victory and what happens now. Donald Trump, the candidate representing the Republican party, was criminally convicted in May and found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business record to commit election fraud. And yet, the convicted felon won the election just weeks ago. The two candidates, former prosecutor and democrat Kamala Harris against the former defendant and republican Donald Trump were expected to be neck and neck according to many journalists and political analysts. Yet, in a turn of events, the republican won with over 76 million votes. The outcry from democrats has flooded social media, warning those of minority groups to do whatever is necessary to stay safe. On the other hand, there’s delight from Republicans who believe that Trump will lead America into a better condition than its last administration. Regardless of your thoughts, the revelation of this landslide win is still surprising, considering Trump’s controversial policies, sexual misconduct allegations and criminal charges- an issue of particular importance due to their severity. It makes many question: exactly how did a criminal win the presidential election? Many reasons are primarily based on what went wrong in Kamala Harris’s campaign. For example, Harris lamented the position of the United States regarding minor demographic groups such as LGBTQ+ groups and ethnic minorities rather than focusing on general issues that affect everyday lives of all Americans, such as the economy, crime rates and immigration. One could argue that the threat which some of Trump’s policies and views hold for civil rights in the United States, and Harris’ advocation for equality amongst the American people, including female healthcare and legalisation of abortion nationwide, may explain the demographics for Harris voters. Furthermore, Joe Biden, the current president, dropped out of the presidential race in July rather than earlier after blunders in debates that eroded confidence in the Democratic party. Many analysts and supporters believe that Harris may have stood a chance if given more time to campaign. Further out of Harris’s control as a black woman, is the historical gender and racial bias of presidential candidates where many previous candidates were white and/or male. While she did win over most voters from ethnic minority groups, these groups only make up a small chunk of the United States. Ethnic minorities make up only 72 million of the population compared to over 252 million white Americans according to 2023 statistics, and Trump won over half of the votes from both white men and women. That is not to say that Trump was fortunate based on the opponent’s misfortune. For example, Trump was right to focus on the United States’ economy. 45% of all voters said they were worse off financially than they were four years ago. One Trump voter talking to LBC stated : “We’re tired of being stomped down, we’re tired of high gas prices, we’re tired of being bullied - and we stood up for the first time.” A lot of Trump voters stated economy to be a driving point of their decision, but the attempted assassination of Trump in July could very well be a contributing factor too. Demonstrating resilience he made a public appearance less than two days later. By this point, Trump was dominating polls, leaving Biden behind and Democrats reeling from the defeat that had yet to be confirmed. Trump’s success in the US election is something that could be debated for days for many reasons, but the results have stated its official victor without complaint. While Haris and Biden has peacefully conceded and ensured “smooth transition” for the now President-Elect, it has not stopped them from working. The Biden Administration’s green light for Ukraine to use US-supplied missiles to strike Russia on Sunday (17th) and usage of landmines on Wednesday (20th) indicates rapidly rising tensions for the world. This is a major policy shift from the democrats promise in 2022 to limit anti-personnel landmines. How Trump will proceed in January with the Ukraine-Russia conflict as well as the fate of the United States is something that the world will sure be watching. About the Author Local to Nottingham, Caitlin is an International Media and Communications student and the 25/26 Publicity Officer. While she has yet to actually spend a year anywhere, she has an appreciation of travel/culture and would like to explore outside of her birthplace. Besides late night crash outs, she enjoys laughing at bad films, writing fiction and pacing her room with her music on full blast. Copyright free images via Pexels. 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: Elections 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

What’s On in Nottingham: November Vicki Mileson Tuesday, 1 November 2022 Lingo Magazine’s go-to guide for the top cultural events going on in Nottingham this month. November is promising to be the month of comedy, quizzes, the famed Nottingham Christmas market, and lots more cultural fun to get involved in. Hispanic Music Night – 3 November Join Hispanic Soc in on-campus bar Mooch for their music takeover! They promise a night of acts celebrating the variety of tunes from across the Spanish speaking world. Make the most of food and drink deals in Mooch and head down at 8pm. Nottingham Comedy Festival – from 4 November The 14th annual Nottingham Comedy Festival will return from 4 November to 12 November with comedy acts from the UK and beyond attending events across the city. There will be over 80 shows over the nine days. Check out the full line up for times, locations and prices. Canalhouse Comedy Nights – every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month More comedy will be available at the Canalhouse Comedy Nights where up-and-coming acts will be practicing their material. Doors open at 7pm! The Big Quiz at Malt Cross – every Monday Put your housemates’ general knowledge to the test at The Big Quiz at Malt Cross. It will cost £5 per team with proceeds going towards the YMCA. The quiz starts at 7:30pm but doors open at 5pm—organisers are expecting this one to be a hit so get in earlier rather than later. Progressions: More to me than sex work – 5 November Talks: 11am-1pm, 5 November General exhibition: 11am-4pm, 3-5 November This free interactive art installation by sex workers highlights contemporary experiences in Nottingham. The exhibition is right on campus and will be accompanied by a series of short talks about the history, rights, and research on sex work. Although this is a free event, you will need to book to attend the talks. Blk This & Blk That … A State of Urgency – until 6 November At the Djanogly Art Gallery at Lakeside Arts Centre, this exhibition will address racial politics, migration, religion, history, blackness/whiteness with sculpture, installations and photography. Nottingham Cocktail Week – 7 November to 17 November Conveniently coinciding with “Directed Studies Week” is Nottingham Cocktail Week . For £10 you’ll be able to buy a wristband giving you special access to discounts including 2-4-1 cocktails, 2 for £10 deals and exclusive menus at bars across the city. Participating bars include student favourites such as Penny Lane, Revolution Hockley, Revolucion de Cuba, The Beeston Social and The Walrus, among others. Middleway Words Festival – 10 November Attend this evening with local authors at Waterstones Nottingham right in the city centre. This literary festival began online during the pandemic and now connects writers and readers across the Midlands. Authors including Elizabeth Chadwick, Clare Harvey, T.M. Logan, Ian Charles Douglas and Wilf Morgan will be joined by BBC Radio Nottingham presenter John Holmes to discuss all things books. The talks will run from 6:30pm to 8:30pm and tickets will cost £5 for general admission or £4 for Waterstones Plus card members. They are available here . Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come – 11 November Poppy and Rubina, from the critically acclaimed podcast Brown Girls Do It Too (Best Podcast of the Year – British Podcast Awards 2020, Asian Media 2021), will be taking Nottingham Playhouse by storm to celebrate brown British women, sex and everything in between. Tickets range from £18-24. Nottingham Winter Wonderland 2022 – from 15 November It’s what we’ve all been waiting for – the return of Nottingham Winter Wonderland. You’ll have until New Year’s Eve to make the most of the market, festive food stalls and the Ferris wheel in the heart of Old Market Square. Snatched: Drag & Queer Performance Scratch Night – 24 November Hosted at Nonsuch Studios, this open-stage-night promises to showcase some of the best drag and queer talent Nottingham has to offer in a safe and inclusive environment. The night will welcome six drag artists and queer performance makers to share their work, all hosted by a special to-be-announced guest. Event tickets are sold on a pay-what-you-can basis and the suggested donation is £5 – available here . Tarot of Freedom: A Printmaking Workshop – 25 November As part of the ‘Make It Yours’ Creative Workshops at the National Justice Museum, join Paul Henegan to design your own tarot card with the art of printmaking. You’ll learn about tarot imagery, colour, symbols, numbers and energy as you experiment with different artistic techniques. The workshop is from 10am to 12pm and free tickets are available here . Let us know if attend any of these events – maybe even write us a review. We hope you enjoy! About the Author Vicki recently graduated her degree studying French and Spanish. She spent her year abroad in Grenoble and Bilbao, meeting people from across the world and sparking a desire to learn an unrealistic amount of languages. Vicki loves all things culture, but especially literature and film. Vicki was our 2022/23 Culture Editor. Southern Spain’s Architectural Gems Vicki Mileson Valentine’s Day Traditions Around the World Vicki Mileson Holi on the Downs 2022 Beth Walker Copyright free images via Unsplash and Instagram. 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: Vicki Mileson Nottingham Events Categories: Culture What's On 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

Liberal Arts < Back Eleanor Spence I was so intrigued when I heard about lingo magazine! I’m obsessed with languages and this just felt like the perfect place to explore and share ideas. Latest Articles by this Author A Journey Into British Sign Language 05/11/24

Holi on the Downs 2022 Beth Walker Wednesday, 20 July 2022 Our Social Media Manager headed to this year's 'Holi on the Downs' ran by UoN's Hindu Society. Read on for her experience of a day full of colour, culture and fun. I recently attended the annual Holi On The Downs event hosted by Nottingham Hindu Society. My friends and I booked it on a bit of a whim, thinking it would be a fun thing to do on campus together before we graduate. I don’t think we quite expected how large scale the event actually would be! Holi is an ancient Hindu festival that celebrates springtime, colour and love. This was certainly apparent at this NHSF event, well, apart from the overcast weather. Nonetheless, this event was fun from start to finish. With each ticket purchase, entry was guaranteed along with a t-shirt to wear at the event and a variable amount of coloured powder depending on how much you paid for your ticket. As The Downs grew busier, cultural music could be heard and clouds of coloured powder started to erupt into the air for all to see. It really was such a unique experience. Once my friends had arrived, we collected our powder packs and joined the fun. Before long, we were covered from head to toe in colour: reds, blues, greens, pinks, yellows and oranges. The powder was harmless, although it did get everywhere! Thank goodness it was hair wash night, because my hair was stained blue and yellow. It was all part of the fun, though, and it was great to see so much vibrant colour brightening up the complementary white t-shirts. After all the powder had been thrown, everyone gathered in the centre as music was played louder and, quite unexpectedly, a mosh pit formed. It was, honestly, probably the most bizarre experience I have had on campus, but a good one all the same. An Indian street food stall seemed to emerge from nowhere at that point and, while I didn’t actually have any, my friends told me it tasted great. This seemed to be a snack selection of onion bhajis, samosas, pakoras and other Indian delicacies. When it was time to leave the event, there was a brushing off station so that you could brush your clothes down. This was a relief. That said, I did still walk back through Lenton with a face stained by coloured powder, which attracted a few funny glances here and there. I was definitely ready for the shower I had when I returned home! Once my hair was clean and my clothes in the wash, I realised how much I’d enjoyed the afternoon of Holi celebration. It was an unforgettable experience and I would absolutely recommend the event to anyone who fancies going next year. About the Author Beth loves languages. She studied French to A Level and still try to maintain her skills through listening to French music and reading French articles. She also studied Spanish to GCSE level, although nearly wasn’t allowed … When choosing her GCSE options, she was certain that she wanted to do both French and Spanish. However, the school didn’t allow it as they said it would be too difficult to learn two languages at the same time. She wrote two letters to the head teacher, one in each language, explaining her passion for language learning and, thankfully, he allowed her to continue studying them. As an English student she considers herself a true wordsmith. She is fascinated by how languages work, and this fascination is going to inspire much of the content she creates for Lingo. She can’t wait to start working alongside the super talented Lingo Committee to produce what she's certain will be a fantastic new languages and culture magazine. A Taste of the Mediterranean in Nottingham: Review of Yamas Beth Walker Holi on the Downs 2022 Beth Walker A Thai-ing Together of Culture and Cuisine: Zaap Thai Street Food Review Beth Walker Images provided by Beth Walker. 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: Beth Walker Holi Events Nottingham Societies Categories: Culture Review 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

What’s On in Nottingham: December Vicki Mileson Thursday, 1 December 2022 Lingo Magazine’s go-to guide for the top cultural events going on in Nottingham this month. December is promising to be the month of Christmas fun, ice skating and comedy acts before we all head home for the winter break. Christmas at Wollaton Hall – from 2 December to 1 January Are you really a Nottingham student if you haven’t ventured over to Wollaton Hall in the freezing cold to see some Christmas lights? Wollaton Hall will transform into a winter wonderland with lights set to delight all ages – perfect to take any friends or family who you are lucky to have visit you. Nottingham Contemporary Craft Fair – from 2 December to 4 December For the first weekend of the month, the lowest floor of the Nottingham Contemporary will house a range of stalls for you to browse and buy handmade stocking fillers. Over 40 designers will attend the event and it’s a great way to shop locally this Christmas. It is free entry and there is no need to book. Nottingham Vintage Kilo Sale – 3 December Sustainable fashion lovers unite! Organised by Worth The Weight , St Mary’s Church will transform into a vintage kilo sale from 11am to 5pm, with over nine tonnes of stock for you to sort through and find those hidden gems. General admission tickets to enter the event are £2. For early bird admission, the ticket is £3. Beeston Christmas Lights Switch On and Christmas Market – 3 December In the heart of Beeston, there will be an array of market stalls and street theatre acts as well as a choir to keep you entertained and in the festive spirit. The light switch on will take place at 5:30pm, with fireworks kicking off at 6:30pm. The Canalhouse Comedy Night – 14 December Featuring a variety of established acts, the Canalhouse will be taken over for a night of laughs. Tickets are £2 and are available here. Swiftogeddon: The Taylor Swift Club Night – 16 December As if putting a load of Swifties in one room altogether wouldn’t be chaotic enough, this time it’s a club night too. Rescue Rooms will host a night of Taylor Swift fan favourites and her Christmas songs. Nottingham Winter Wonderland 2022 – until 31 December The Christmas market has returned. You’ll have until New Year’s Eve to check out the various hot chocolate stalls or try a Yorkshire Pudding Wrap, and then top it off with a trip to the ice rink’s skate-through bar. Christmas Skating at the National Ice Centre – until 8 January If you think there’s no better way to get into the festive spirit than seeing your friends fall over on the ice and laughing at them, head on down to the National Ice Centre for their Christmas skating. Let us know if attend any of these events – maybe even write us a review. We hope you enjoy! About the Author Vicki recently graduated her degree studying French and Spanish. She spent her year abroad in Grenoble and Bilbao, meeting people from across the world and sparking a desire to learn an unrealistic amount of languages. Vicki loves all things culture, but especially literature and film. Vicki was our 2022/23 Culture Editor. Southern Spain’s Architectural Gems Vicki Mileson Valentine’s Day Traditions Around the World Vicki Mileson Holi on the Downs 2022 Beth Walker 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: Vicki Mileson Nottingham Events Christmas Vintage Taylor Swift Categories: Culture Cultural 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

Physics with Astronomy < Back Jordan Walton Jordan is a final year Physics with Astronomy student. He can't speak any languages aside from English but is here anyway. He also loves pumpkins. Latest Articles by this Author Why are all programming languages in English? 06/02/23

French and Spanish < Back Ellie Price Ellie speaks both French and Spanish, so will feel right at home as part of our committee full of talented linguists. During her year abroad, Ellie spent two months on placement in Saumur, France and then travelled to Paris for a further two months! Ellie is extremely outgoing and sociable, and was our 2022/23 Social Secretary. Latest Articles by this Author Les règles de vie en France - Dos and Don'ts of Living in France 20/03/22

Spanish and International Media and Communications < Back Mehreen Ahmed Mehreen is a final year Spanish, International Media and Communications student. She has just come back from studying in Valencia and Barcelona. She loves art, live music and cooking! Latest Articles by this Author

Salamanca – home of the world's purest Spanish Samah Irshad Tuesday, 4 April 2023 Samah explores her exciting experience visiting Salamanca whilst studying Spanish at school and delves into why the region is well known for it's 'pure language'. Salamanca is a quaint city situated in the west of Spain. The region has deep cultural and historical roots which have influenced the city, as well as the Spanish language. The city was founded by the Celts in the 4th century. Later in the 8th century, it was invaded by the Moors, resulting in a change from its Christian culture to Muslim culture. There are many words which are derived from Arabic, which demonstrate the influence of Arabic culture. My personal favourite is the word ‘ojalá!’ It comes from ‘Oh Allah’, and it means ‘I wish’. In the 13th century, the Christian conquest took place during which Alfonso VI took control of Salamanca and established Catholic dominance. During this time, the University of Salamanca was founded and today is known as one of the oldest universities in the world and the first in the whole of Spain. During my time studying Spanish, I had the amazing opportunity of visiting Salamanca with my peers and staying with a host family. I was fully equipped with my GCSE Spanish knowledge to talk about all my hobbies and favourite foods! I engaged with the locals, giving me a unique opportunity to speak Spanish as the locals do. Most importantly, I grasped a deeper understanding of the culture, vibrancy, and soul of the city. One of the key things that locals would always mention with pride is that Salamanca is the best place in Spain to learn Spanish given it is the ‘purest’. What makes Salamanca linguistically different and unique is that locals do not have a regional accent, making it the easiest to understand for learners of Spanish. There are a variety of different languages that are spoken in Spain, not just Castellano (Castilian Spanish). Other languages include Gallego, Catalan, Euskera, Vasco and Valenciano. Each is specific to a different region within the country and has its own phonetic sounds and origins. For example, Catalan is known to originate from the Pyrenees Mountain area between Spain and France, and therefore contains many linguistic and vocabularic similarities to French although it is spoken in northern Spain. Throughout my time in Salamanca, I practised Spanish with my peers as well as the host family we were staying with. We also received language lessons at a centre to understand Spanish grammar further. Having the opportunity to explore this city is one of the best experiences I have had as there were so many fun activities to do during my stay. One of which was a scavenger hunt, where we had to find and complete unusual tasks. Tasks included going to different bakeries and finding out what the city’s famous dessert is, taking a picture with a local who looks ‘cool’ and getting a group of people to sing a Spanish song with us! As well as being fun this activity really encouraged us to engage in lots of conversation and bring us out of the comfort of the classroom and speak Spanish in the real world. On our journey to improve our Spanish speaking skills, we saw the impressive Salamancan architecture and discovered traditional food which completed our experience. I would encourage anyone who is learning Spanish to visit Salamanca and immerse themselves in the culture and language. About the Author Samah is a first year medic, who studied Spanish at A-level and absolutely loved it!! She decided to join Lingo because she wanted to continue with her language journey and learn more about other cultural interests! :)) 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 Samah Irshad. 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: Samah Irshad Spain Language Salamanca History 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

The Problem with Pronouns Niamh Woodhouse Tuesday, 15 February 2022 Niamh delves into the issue of neutral pronouns in gendered language and how different language speakers tackle the problem. As our global society more widely accepts the broad spectrum of gender and sexual identities, an issue arises for both language learners and native speakers alike: how to adapt their language to welcome this. Some languages already have gender-neutral nouns, or simply don’t assign gender within their grammar rules. However, others have grammar systems traditionally based on gender. These languages have several approaches to tackle the issue of how to address queer, non-binary, or gender-nonconforming people. Using existing pronouns To start exploring this topic, I first looked at my native language – English. The grammar we use doesn’t distinguish between genders except when using a masculine or feminine singular pronoun. Therefore, the pronoun ‘they’ has emerged to describe anyone who doesn’t come under ‘she’ or ‘he’. This move has been accepted by both everyday speakers as well as English language institutions, such as the Merriam-Webster dictionary , which added ‘they’ as the pronoun for a ‘single person whose gender identity is nonbinary’. However, this has met some criticism with claims that using the pronoun for both singular and plural uses can confuse and disrupt the meaning of the sentence. Another language that uses a pronoun already in use is Russian. However, unlike English, Russian grammar is heavily gendered. To get around this, Russian speakers have a few different approaches to pronouns. First is that some choose to take the masculine ‘он’ as it goes along with other terms that are more neutral. Some within the feminist community use the female option (‘она’) as the default gender. Other options include switching between both female and male pronouns and using the neutral ‘оно’, which is not usually used to refer to people. Changing case endings Another way languages are resolving the question around gender is by changing word endings. For example, some speakers of Spanish, a language where traditionally all nouns have a masculine or feminine gender, have adapted their vocabulary to become more neutral. However, as Spanish is a global language with many dialects and communities, there are many variations on how this is accomplished and no set standard for a gender-neutral ending. For hispanophones in the US, replacing the ‘o’ or ‘a’ ending with an ‘x’ is becoming a popular choice – such as in the term ‘Latinx’. Whereas in Peninsular Spanish, the symbol ‘@’ is commonly used as a substitute. Despite their attempts, both these solutions address more written language rather than spoken. One answer could stem from a group of Argentinian teenagers , who in 2017 started to replace endings with ‘e’ with the aim of eliminating gender from the Spanish language. Using both gender cases Hebrew, like Spanish, assigns a gender to verbs, nouns, and adjectives based on the noun. This has led LGBTQ and feminist groups to seek ways of expressing their language in a gender-neutral way. One solution is by using a ‘mixed’ gender and referring to the same person with both feminine and masculine endings. In Israel, a similar approach is to put both the male and female cases on nouns and verbs, sometimes with a full stop in between, so that all are fluidly included. For example, “I write” — “kotev” (כותב) in the masculine and “kotevet” (כותבת) in the feminine — alternatively could be written as כותב.ת in this form. The Nonbinary Hebrew Project draws on references in Jewish texts in order to argue that the male Rabbis writing the Mishna, a third-century book of Jewish commentary, recognized several gender categories, so modern-day Hebrew speakers can too. Inventing new pronouns Some languages invent completely new pronouns for a neutral gender – you may have heard of ‘zie’ used in English. Swedish has also followed this tactic: in 2015, they added the word ‘hen’ to its official dictionary . ‘Hen’ arose from linguists who suggested the term as an alternative to the male ‘han’ and female ‘hon’. The pronoun has been adopted by LGBTQ groups as well as in early years education, where it is argued that the pronoun allows children to grow up without feeling the impact of gender biases. About the Author Niamh was the founder of Lingo Magazine, was Editor-in-Chief for 2022/23, and is now a Lingo alumni. Speaking French and Spanish, she has a particular interest in articles about history, culture and travel! Whilst studying in Cadiz, Niamh met other language students from universities across the UK and soon discovered that many of them write for language magazines at their universities. Seeing this gap in the market for a language magazine, she set up the magazine alongside an amazing committee for her fellow and future language students at the University of Nottingham! Translation and the Untranslatable Aidan Cross The Problem with Pronouns Niamh Woodhouse 5 podcasts to help you improve your French Niamh Woodhouse 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: Niamh Woodhouse Current Affairs Russian Spanish Hebrew Swedish Categories: Language and Linguistics Language Study 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

You Are Not Alone Jess Henrys Wednesday, 15 June 2022 This Welfare Wednesday we take a look into loneliness, something many students feel at university. One of our Welfare Secs, Jess Henrys, takes a look into the subject and provides some advice for our readers in aid of Loneliness Awareness Week. It’s may seem strange to suggest that language learners get lonely, but even these notoriously sociable creatures can be struck by the loneliness bug. For the Marmalade Trust’s Loneliness Awareness Week 2022, we’re taking a little look at loneliness and a few ways to fight it. Sometimes we all need a little reminder that we are not alone. What is loneliness? In May 2021, the ‘ What’s Up With Everyone? ’ (WUWE) campaign was launched to offer mental health support through a series of short films. The campaign found that “loneliness and perfectionism” were the two most prominent issues affecting young people’s mental health. A year later, the fact remains. As reported by the BBC last week , almost one in four students report that they are lonely most or all of the time. WUWE defines loneliness as: “The combination of feelings and thoughts that you are alone in the world. It is not the same as being on your own, as that can feel good and welcome at times. It is a more uncomfortable way of feeling and thinking”. Loneliness can often be linked with isolation, where you are cut off from familiar people, places or resources that are a support to you. You may feel like you don’t belong. If these feelings are familiar to you, know firstly that you are not alone, and secondly, that these feelings are temporary. They may even pass on their own. And there are things you can do to help. Images by the Marmalade Trust for Loneliness Awareness Week 2022 1. Look Inside WUWE recommends looking inside yourself and pinpointing the obstacles in your daily life that prevent you from connecting with others, and then becoming a conscious observer of those around you. Being curious teaches us about other people’s likes, dislikes, and personality traits, and how we can best interact with them. Remember also to be gentle with yourself. The following ideas may inspire you to conquer your loneliness, but you don’t have to do everything all at once. Taking care of your mental health often means taking baby steps and managing tasks and changes in bite-sized pieces. Set manageable goals and build up to them: you don’t have to jump straight into joining a new society or making twenty new friends… maybe start with calling someone you know, or meeting up for coffee, or sending someone a quick text to ask how they’re getting on. What’s more, if you’re feeling lonely or emotionally overwhelmed, make sure to keep yourself physically healthy, such as by getting enough sleep and fresh air. These small changes can make a huge difference to your perspective on life. Finally, have a think about those friends who you haven’t heard from in a while. Could they be feeling lonely? Could they benefit from a personal message, a catch up, or some quality time together? Be the first to make contact. It could mean the world to someone. 2. Look Outside Get social! The best way to conquer your loneliness is to get out there and interact with others. There are many ways to get connected at Nottingham with other people just like you. Join a Language Society No one understands the highs and lows of studying languages better than your fellow coursemates. If you’re struggling to make friends in your classes, or just want to reach out more, why not drop into one of UoN’s course societies? For example: The French and German Society ; The Hispanic Society ; The Russian Speaking Society and many other language and non-language course-based societies at UoN. Take a deep breath and say hi! Join a Lingo Social At Lingo, we understand what life is like for language students, and we’re happy to share the highs and lows with you. Keep an eye out on our social media pages for our next social event, and feel welcome to come along, whatever your subject or background. Or, for more one-on-one support, drop an email to your Welfare Team at lingomagwelfareteam@gmail.com and one of the team will get back to you and signpost you to available support. Find your other interests Life doesn’t have to revolve around your course. Sometimes it’s worth taking a step back from learning your language to enjoy other things in life! Whether it’s sports or song writing , cocktails or cups of tea , there’s a society for everyone at UoN. Don’t be afraid to explore the societies that pique your interest, even the ones you’ve never heard of before. Whether it’s something you’re already good at, or something completely new, societies can be a great way to meet new and interesting people (and a great way to forget about deadlines for an hour or so). Volunteer If you are struggling with feelings of loneliness, be assured that you are not alone. Sometimes, reaching out to others in need can be a great way to tackle and challenge your own loneliness. The UoN Global Buddies scheme pairs up UoN students with new international or Erasmus students in need of a friendly face. Apply to be a buddy here . Applications for September 2022 close on 13/07. 3. Look Professionally With practice, feelings of loneliness and isolation can loosen the hold they have on you. But, if the feelings seem to be sticking around, it may be time to seek professional help. At university, this support can be found: With your Faculty and Wellbeing Team – Email your dedicated Faculty Support and Wellbeing Team Faculty of Arts : support-arts@nottingham.ac.uk Faculty of Engineering : support-engineering@nottingham.ac.uk Faculty of Social Sciences : support-socialsciences@nottingham.ac.uk Faculty of Science: support-science@nottingham.ac.uk Faculty of Medicine and Health Science : support-medhealthsci@nottingham.ac.uk With the University Counselling Service – https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/counselling/student-counselling/student-counselling.aspx With Cripps Health Centre – Make an appointment with a dedicated mental health practitioner here: 0115 846 8888. In the outside world, help can be found - With the Samaritans : Call free, day or night, on 116 123 Or email jo@samaritans.org.uk With the SHOUT 85258 text line: Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text message support service: Text SHOUT to 85258. With the Togetherall Online Community: https://togetherall.com/en-gb/ About the Author During her year abroad, Jess spent a semester in St Petersburg, Russia. According to Jess, when she first arrived, she barely knew a word in Russian and felt completely overwhelmed, but the city soon revealed its delights to her, and it became a home. She hopes that by sharing some of my Russian experiences, other travellers to the city can be comforted, and learn to love it as much as she did. Jess also jetted off to the French capital so she certainly had an incredible year abroad! Jess also has experience of being a Peer Mentor and is very knowledgeable about the university’s Support Services. She’s got a lot of enthusiasm to bring to this role! Jess was one third of our 2022/23 Welfare Team. Protecting your mental health abroad Aidan Cross Surviving Language Student Life: Scheduling Jess Henrys You Are Not Alone Jess Henrys 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: Jess Henrys Welfare Wednesdays Loneliness University Mental Health Categories: Welfare Advice 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