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Words of the Year 2023 Charlie Bodsworth Sunday, 31 December 2023 Love a bit of lexical fun? Let's take a look at the major dictionaries' choices for Word of the Year 2023. In December, the most well-known English dictionaries published what they consider to be their ‘Word of the Year’ (WOTY). These words are typically those which have either come into existence or gained new meaning within the given year. We’re going to take a whistle-stop tour of this year’s chosen words and what this might say about the year 2023! Oxford WOTY: Rizz ( https://languages.oup.com/word-of-the-year/ ) First up is the Word of the Year that is most talked about: Oxford’s. A shortening of the word “charisma”, this word rose to popularity thanks to a Tom Holland interview in June where he said he had “no rizz whatsoever” when asked about his dating life. What’s unique about the word “rizz” is that it comes from the middle of “charisma”, whereas almost all other shortenings derive from the start or end of a word, such as “carb” from “carbohydrate” or “toon” from “cartoon”. Oxford discussed how this year has seen a rise in people’s concern with their social and professional rapport, possibly connected to the re-entry into regular life post-lockdown. All of this makes “rizz” an interesting reflection and exploration of our desire for self-confidence and human connection. Cambridge WOTY: Hallucinate ( https://dictionary.cambridge.org/editorial/woty ) With the rise in AI usage, especially generative AI like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, “hallucinate” has taken on a new meaning this year. For AI, to “hallucinate” is for it to produce false information and present it as factual. While other words have also gained new AI-related meanings, “hallucinate” has a particularly strong resonance as a reminder to take caution when using AI tools, as an AI tool will present both true and false information in the same confident manner. There has been a lot of talk online about AI usage in the year 2023. As such, “hallucinate” is a good choice for Word of the Year. It constitutes a marker of the current state of AI, where it is powerful yet not fully realised, and will therefore still produce some inaccurate or irrelevant information. Merriam-Webster WOTY: Authentic ( https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/word-of-the-year ) While Cambridge’s choice has focused on misinformation, Merriam-Webster’s focuses on the search for realness. “Authentic” has gained relevance in 2023 both for its meaning as “real and actual” against the false information often produced by social media and AI, as well as in relation to meaning “true to one’s own personality”, with this year seeing an increase in popularity of celebrities whose branding and influence revolves around being “authentic”, such as Taylor Swift or Sam Smith. Collins WOTY: AI ( https://www.collinsdictionary.com/woty ) Collins has also decided to turn their attention this year towards the rise of AI and its significance in many areas of our lives. Their explanations of this choice highlight some of the hot topics and questions raised by the new role that AI has taken on in digital culture and daily life. Dictionary.com WOTY: Hallucinate ( https://content.dictionary.com/word-of-the-year-2023/ ) The last of the major dictionaries to publish their choice for Word of the Year, Dictionary.com appears to be in the same boat as Cambridge by focusing not on “an aspect of how AI functions but to one of the ways it can malfunction”. Again, as AI is increasingly talked about and commonly used, it’s important to be reminded that this technology is still in its earlier stages. Lingo What's our WOTY? While we’re not a dictionary ourselves, we thought it would be fun to see what our readers thought was the real winner and 2023 WOTY. We took to Instagram and asked our followers to choose from the above winners their favourite Word of the Year. With 63% of the poll votes, our winner was “rizz”! Clearly you’re all a pretty charismatic bunch! So, there you have it! This year has given way to lots of discussion around the place of technology in society, as well as our own social identities. Now keep your eyes peeled over the next year for new words, how they’re used, and the power they carry. About the Author A nerd in every sense, Charlie was our 2023-24 Language and Linguistics editor. She completed a BA in Modern Languages with Translation Studies, including a year spent in Paris, and is soon to complete her MA in Translation Studies. She speaks French and has just started learning Japanese! In her spare time, she plays video games, watches movies, and spends plenty of time with her two gerbils. Words of the Year 2023 Charlie Bodsworth The Language Taking Over the World: English as a Lingua Franca Emma Burnett My Journey with Language Learning 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: language words dictionaries Charlie Bodsworth Categories: 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! 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! 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Karneval: Germany's obsession with Native Americans Olivia Marshall Monday, 19 February 2024 In Germany, it's common for people to dress up as Native Americans at annual Karneval parades. Is it time to put a stop to this tradition? With the passing of Ash Wednesday, Germany’s “fifth season” has come to an end, marked by Karneval , also known as Fasching in Austria and southern Germany. Karneval is celebrated by dressing up and dancing through the streets. With parades, floats, and of course drinking, traditionally allowing Christians to enjoy themselves before the start of lent. One of the Germans’ favourite costumes has turned out to be Native American dress. Thousands can be seen wearing tunics and dresses, feather headdresses and face paint. Certain costumes are legally prohibited at Karneval : notably those with overly realistic weapons, such as pirate swords; police costumes which too closely resemble the uniform of the real German Polizei ; as well as anything related to the Nazis; but dressing as other cultures is deemed to be acceptable. Due to a long tradition of wearing Native American costumes, it seems a lot of Germans don’t consider this to be problematic: but it repeatedly catches the attention of the foreign public, who are often outraged at its acceptance in Germany. So where does the tradition come from? Germans’ fascination for Native American culture is based in the widespread popularity of German author Karl May’s late 19th century adventure books featuring Winnetou, an Apache chief, and subsequent films in the 20th century. The books were so popular that the Nazis didn’t ban them, despite non-white main characters. This interest lives on in Germany, resulting in this trend that is seemingly unaffected by any criticism that it receives. Whether or not these costumes are acceptable is widely discussed in German media and routinely causes backlash from non-Germans, yet they still seem to be a firm favourite for those of all ages. This year’s Karneval caused some contention on X (formally Twitter). User @sagdocheinfach shared a photo of her Native American costume, causing heated debate in the replies and quote tweets, with some claiming it to be cultural appropriation and racist, others considering it a way to promote and share Indigenous culture. Dressing up as other cultures can often be a tricky subject nowadays and is probably best avoided, so why are Germans sticking with this tradition? Many Germans are genuinely fascinated by Native American culture and think that dressing in this way is acceptable as they are celebrating the culture. It is not their intent to make a caricature out of or mock Native Americans and so, in their eyes, they are not causing any harm. There’re no significant Indigenous presence in Germany, so they lack contact with cultures like this and there is a lack of awareness and education meaning even well-educated people genuinely see no wrong in their costumes. A big problem with these costumes is that, it can feel as though they are treating this group of people as a plaything, as if they are mythical or only existed in the past. In addition, Native Americans don’t look one specific way or have one specific culture; there are hundreds of Indigenous tribes and the costumes worn can be seen to play to stereotypes. If Germans really are so interested in Native American culture, shouldn’t they perhaps invest their time in speaking up about issues these groups face rather than simply dressing up as them, or at the very least, buy authentic Native American-made clothing and jewellery rather than wearing stereotypical costumes? About the Author Olivia was our Welfare Officer for 2023-24. After graduating with a BA in French and German with Translation in 2022, Liv is now completing an MA Translation Studies. Apart from being passionate about translation, she loves to travel, explore new places, and experience different cultures. She is looking forward to meeting others with the same interests through Lingo. Karneval: Germany's obsession with Native Americans Olivia Marshall Link to tweet: https://twitter.com/sagdocheinfach/status/1756258406732603787 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: Karneval Carnival Native Americans Germany Olivia Marshall Categories: Cultural Guide 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

English with Creative Writing < Back Bethan Beddow Bethan, an English with Creative Writing student, has a passion for writing, specifically writing about things close to her heart, such as underrated Welsh culture! Latest Articles by this Author Exploring the hidden treasures of Wales 15/12/22

What makes a language “easy” to learn? Aidan Cross Sunday, 26 February 2023 Does the thought of learning a new language sound too difficult? Here’s what to look for to make it “easier” when deciding what language to learn! Today, over 7000 languages are spoken across the world, and it is estimated that more than half of the world’s population speaks more than one . As English has become a global language, it is unsurprising that it is the most common second language to learn. However, for native English speakers, what makes a different language “easy” to learn? It is generally agreed that exposure, immersion, and practice are the most important factors in successfully learning a new language. Because of this, the availability of resources in that language is something to consider when deciding what language to learn. Are there films, TV shows, or YouTube videos that you can watch in that language; books that you can read; or music that you can listen to? For example, the “ Korean wave ” and how this growing interest in South Korean culture has made a variety of Korean content accessible to English speakers with the popularity of K-dramas such as “Squid Game” and K-pop groups such as BTS. Your motivation and dedication to learning a new language is also a critical factor in determining how “easy” it is to learn. Your cultural ties to a language, through your family, community, or religion, e.g. Arabic in Islam and Hebrew in Judaism, can therefore make a language “easier” to learn. This is because it has a real, practical use and place in your life as well as that you will already have an understanding of the culture behind the language. After all, learning a language is so much more than just learning the vocabulary and grammar, the cultural context is just as important. Furthermore, you will have the advantage of knowing native speakers to practice with and learn from within your family or community. However, you shouldn’t be disheartened if this isn’t the case, and you are choosing to learn a language for study or work, for travel, or just for fun; ultimately, it is your motivation and dedication to consistent practice that will determine how “easy” it is to learn. Nevertheless, it cannot be avoided that, linguistically, some languages will just be “easier” than others for native English speakers to learn, for example, languages that use the Latin alphabet, e.g. Indonesian, and not the Cyrillic alphabet, e.g. Mongolian, or their own script, e.g. Thai. Languages with similar origins and shared histories, predominately Indo-European languages, e.g. Hindi, as well as those from the branches of this language family, particularly the Romance languages, e.g. Spanish, and Germanic languages, e.g. German will also be “easier” to learn due to their similarity to English. A language’s similarity, or dissimilarity, to English can affect how “easy” it is to learn in a number of ways: Vocabulary, e.g. 29% of English vocabulary comes from French Grammar, e.g. there is no verb conjugation in Mandarin and no articles in Russian Pronunciation, e.g. tonal languages such as Yoruba or click consonants, like in Xhosa, as well as sounds that don’t exist in English, like the Portuguese “ão” So, what languages are generally considered the “easiest” for native English speakers to learn? Unsurprisingly, it’s the Romance and Germanic languages spoken by our European neighbours: Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, and Norwegian. About the Author Aidan is one of the founding members of Lingo Magazine and has a passion for languages – never studying less than three at once, hoping to become a polyglot! – as well as the histories and cultures of the peoples and places that use them. They are especially interested in translation and the connections between different languages and cultures across the world. They are looking forward to being Lingo's Treasurer this year and making the magazine and society as inclusive, informative, and interesting as possible. As for languages, Aidan is in their final year of Hispanic Studies & History at the University of Nottingham, studying Spanish and Portuguese, and in their free time also studies Korean - and has recently started learning Italian! Translation and the Untranslatable Aidan Cross 5 podcasts to help you improve your French Niamh Woodhouse The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages: realistic or idealistic? Rosie Loyd 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: Aidan Cross Language Learning Korean Media English Categories: Language and Linguistics 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

Translation Studies < Back Charlie Bodsworth A nerd in every sense, Charlie was our 2023-24 Language and Linguistics editor. She completed a BA in Modern Languages with Translation Studies, including a year spent in Paris, and is soon to complete her MA in Translation Studies. She speaks French and has just started learning Japanese! In her spare time, she plays video games, watches movies, and spends plenty of time with her two gerbils. Latest Articles by this Author Interview with a Polyglot 10/06/24 Words of the Year 2023 31/12/23 Japanese: One Language, Three Writing Systems 12/04/24 'A Victory for Feminism': How France Made the Right to Abortion Part of its Constitution 05/04/24 The Wonderful World of Studio Ghibli 05/04/24

4AM Kru: The crew taking the underground jungle scene to a new level Byron Taylor Sunday, 15 September 2024 4AM Kru have burst onto the music scene with energy, providing 90s rooted new jungle, and before the release of their new album 'Incognito Rhythm' Byron takes a look into their inspirations, style of production and ambitions in such a competitive industry. 4AM KRU burst onto the scene in 2020 with an energy rarely seen in mainstream music. They are masters of disguise in their music, packing clever samples into fast beats, along with graceful breaks and electronic elements that warp and expand. Their creativity in production is a standout in the nu-jungle genre, each track bringing unpredictable elements and a unique ID. They were born in London, the birthplace of Jungle in the early 1990’s, a scene that reflected a rebel spirit. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act attempted to shut down young peoples’ energy and creativity as rave culture had always faced strong opposition due to the fear of violence and drugs, when people were just trying to have fun. Pirate radios and jungle music went hand in hand. 4AM KRU brings us a fresh, mind-bending version of jungle music reminiscent of this era. Their first track ‘King Konger’ has a rapid beat, warped sample vocals and expansive electronic breaks, heralding great things to come. ‘It’s Alright Baby’ is like a wicked jungle Christmas tune, with disconcerting samples and bells, not to mention the heavy bass and breakbeat. ‘London Girls’ is addictive, with a majestic sample, piano chords and beat that floats with ease, fading out at one point with a euphoric effect. Every beat glides beautifully, strange yet danceable. The KRU’s aesthetic is London inspired, cartoon like, and genuinely creative, with an astonishing level of detail on the cover of each single. The 4AM KRU rat is atop the shard in the cover art of their debut track , and perhaps Dalston Junction via The Moon gives us a clue of their high ambitions and potential. The ‘Good Time’ cover is a trippy take on Dali’s ‘The Persistence of Memory’ . It’s clear that a lot of thought has gone into these illustrations. ‘High Time’ is their hit track, for a good reason. How they found ‘Gangsta Pat’, I don’t know; one of the finest gems of a sample I’ve seen in a while, reminiscent of MJ’s ‘The Lady in My Life’. ‘Stay Puffed’ is another great sample, injected with energy, synths and an infectious beat breathing new life into it with relentless breakbeats. They’re developing too. ‘Pianos Raining Down’ and ‘Ooh Boy’ are proof of further potential. The duo somehow bring a four-dimensional element to jungle music, playing with our expectations to twist samples, change up beats and provide luscious instrumentals throughout. 4AM Kru have already made waves: reinventing the jungle scene, and securing huge sets at the likes of Reading festival and Boardmasters recently. Their recent single ‘Ribena’, incidentally released the weekend before Notting Hill carnival. It has an 80s reggae sample of Papa Levi, bringing a party spirit and epitomising the celebration of summer. 4AM Kru's debut album 'Incognito Rhythm' was released on the 12th of September; it's even more fast-paced, sample heavy jungle to cap off summer of 2024. About the Author Writing has always been a way to express my creative interests to other people and share knowledge of lesser known culture, whether it be film or music. Lingo is a community that nurtures this aspect of life, helping students to enrich their understanding of the world and different perspectives on life, promoting creativity and celebrating culture. Throughout my articles I try to explore the cultural impact of media and richness of life, whether it be new cinema releases, 70s music or climbing. 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: Music Dance Underground Culture 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

Medicine < Back Samah Irshad 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! :)) Latest Articles by this Author Salamanca – home of the world's purest Spanish 04/04/23

Unveiling Hidden Connections: The Surprising Parallels Between Korean and Tamil Anika Jennifer Mariel Thursday, 25 July 2024 Unraveling the unexpected yet riveting connection between two seemingly unrelated languages. Korean is the national language of South Korea and North Korea. The language falls under the Koreanic family of languages, boasting over 80 million native speakers. Over the past few years, there has been a rapidly growing interest in the Korean language, largely due to the global boom in K-pop and Korean entertainment. On the other hand, Tamil is not only the native language of people from Tamilnadu, a southern state in India, but it is also an official language in countries like Sri Lanka and Singapore, with over 85 million native speakers. It belongs to the Dravidian family of languages, and it is widely regarded as one of the oldest living languages in the world. Although it may not seem like it, there is a whopping 5700 kilometers between Tamilnadu and the Korean Peninsula. So, how exactly are the two languages interconnected? While most attribute this link between the two languages to ancient trade, there is a fascinating folklore that may provide further explanation. This folklore dates all the way back to the 13th century, and follows an Indian princess hailing from the Ayuta Kingdom (a kingdom in ancient Tamilnadu), named Sembavalam (Korean name: Heo Hwang-Ok), who was crowned the very first queen of Geumgwan Gaya in Korea after marrying the Korean king, Kim Suro. Many believe that she may be the reason for the influence of the Tamil language and culture on Korea. As a native Tamil speaker and an ardent Korean language student, I can certainly vouch for the ease with which Tamil-speakers can pick up the Korean language. It may be daunting to take up a new language, especially when it has its own script, but from personal experience, I found that learning came quite easily to me. The more I heard the Korean language, the more it started sounding just like Tamil in my brain! Already being fluent in a language that is linguistically similar to Korean, I found that certain words and grammatical rules were nearly the same! Research has found that the two languages may have over 500 words in common! For example, the words for ‘mother’ and ‘father’ carry the same pronunciations in both languages: அம்மா, அப்பா (pronounced ‘amma’ and ‘appa’ respectively in Tamil) and 엄마, 아빠 (pronounced ‘eomma’ and ‘appa’ respectively in Korean). The word ‘I’ is நான் (pronounced ‘naan’) in Tamil and 나는 (pronounced ‘naaneun’) in Korean. The word ‘tooth’ is பல் (pronounced ‘pal’) in Tamil and 이빨 (pronounced ‘ippal’) in Korean. Additionally, words for ‘you’, ‘day’, ’grass’, and ‘climb’, also sound similar in the two languages! Unlike English, both Tamil and Korean follow the Subject-Object-Verb sentence structure. But it doesn’t end there! The Korean Peninsula also shares socio-cultural similarities with Tamilnadu. Both cultures emphasize the importance of family, literature, art, and more. Many games and traditional practices in Korea have Tamil counterparts that are equally as important in Tamilnadu. If you are a native Tamil speaker, I hope that this encourages you to learn Korean, and if you are a native Korean speaker, I hope that this encourages you to learn Tamil. Learning languages can be an incredibly enriching experience, as it not only enables you to interact with people across the world but it also opens the door to captivating historical heritage. Did you already know the similarities between Korean and Tamil? Let me know! About the Author I'm a passionate writer with a Journalism degree and a desire to spark discussions and explore perspectives on both light-hearted and significant topics. I'm set to start my Master's degree at the University of Nottingham soon. I've always been drawn to languages, and I'm a polyglot myself! I speak English, Tamil, Hindi, German, and Korean. If I'm not writing, I'm definitely playing video games, or watching my favorite show. As someone who loves the idea of languages and culture, Lingo is perfect because it helps you explore things that you wouldn't have even known to explore! It encompasses everything that I look for in a magazine, and I'm looking forward to contributing to it! Translation and the Untranslatable Aidan Cross Why am I forgetting my English? Charlie Bodsworth What makes a language “easy” to learn? Aidan Cross 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: Language Korean Tamil Linguistics Categories: 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! 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! 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A l’isoloir: what you need to know about the French Elections Niamh Woodhouse Wednesday, 6 April 2022 The French head to the polls this weekend to elect their next President. With many candidates from all sides of the political spectrum, controversial campaigns and troubling times, Niamh gives the rundown of everything you need to know this French election season. Election season has begun in France as voters head to polling stations this weekend to elect who they wish to be their President for the next five years. The current term, under Emmanuel Macron, has certainly been eventful, with the Gilets Jaunes movement of 2019, an increasingly severe climate crisis, two years of a global pandemic and now a potentially devasting war in Europe. All these issues and more will be on the electorate’s minds as they go to the ballot box. With this article, you’ll be filled in on all the basics you need to know for the upcoming election across la Manche . How does the election work? The French election process consists of two rounds of voting, held 14 days apart. The first round, this year on 10th April, allows candidates, who have managed to collect at least 500 signatures of support from elected representatives, such as mayors, to run in the race for President. If one candidate out of this initial group gains more than 50% of the vote, then they win the election and will become the next president of the 5th Republic. But, if no one wins the first round, as is looking likely this year, the two candidates with the highest number of votes progress to the next round. This year they will go head-to-head on 24th April. Finally, the winner of this round will take office in the Elysée Palace on 13th May. Politics fans will be glad to hear that this is not the end of the French election season – the following month there is another vote to decide on the Députés (MPs) to represent each constituency in the National Assembly. The newly elected president will hope for a majority from the 577 places up for grabs so they can run the government the way they promised in election campaigns. Who is in the race? This year, there are 12 candidates running for President - eight men and four women. Starting in the centre, we have the current President, Emmanuel Macron, representing his party République En Marche! (Republic on the move!), which attracts voters from both sides of the political spectrum. Last election season, En Marche were the new party on the scene and took the political world by storm, winning the election in the second round. Of the five remaining frontrunners, we have two from the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Yannick Jadot. Mélenchon stands for the Union Populaire , a far-left party focusing on issues such as governmental and constitutional reform. While Jadot represents France’s equivalent of the Green Party, Parti Socialiste , the party of former President François Hollande, and its candidate, the Parisian Mayor Anne Hildalgo, have failed to overcome major setbacks over their reputation. This has lead voters of the traditional left to look elsewhere, especially to Macron and the centre. Moving on to the contenders from the right side of French politics, Valerie Pécresse is from the more moderate party Les Républicains , whilst Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour represent the far right. Le Pen, along with her father Jean-Marie, has been an infamous name in French politics for many years, having a strong anti-immigrant rhetoric. New to politics, the Reconquête nominee, Eric Zemmour, holds more hardline views, promising to implement a ‘zero immigration’ policy. What are the important topics and issues up for debate? Opinion polls suggest that the most important issues of the election debate have been the economy, immigration, and security. The current economy is relatively strong, having bounced back from the impact of the pandemic. As well as this, unemployment has decreased to 7.4%, just above the European average. Both of these factors will draw voters to Macron, as it has been under his government that these improvements have occurred. The next issue, immigration, has always been an integral part of French society, albeit a controversial one. There are around 7 million immigrants living in France, mostly coming from countries across Europe and the Maghreb (Northern Africa). The topic is most prominent in the campaigns of the right-wing candidates, with Madame Le Pen promising a referendum on the matter if she succeeds. France has experienced a number of terror attacks over the past few years, so understandably security is an important topic for both voters and nominees. Macron promises to put more police on the streets to reassure the French public, pointing to the fact that crime has fallen under his presidency. What are the predictions? According to the polls, Macron is strongly out in front in the race to the Elysée. This advantage has recently been strengthened by his strong response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, he does not have strong enough support to claim victory solely from the first round. So, the question is who will he go against in the second. Marine Le Pen looks to be the strongest contender, gaining more support after remarks came out from her far-right rival, Eric Zemmour, saying that he ‘admired’ Putin. Le Pen has also had controversy surrounding links to the Russian President, having to bin a number of flyers featuring the pair together. Nevertheless, her message on purchasing power, made worse by the crisis in Ukraine, has resonated with many, especially the working class. Then, currently polling at 14% is the far-left politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Melenchon’s principal policy is to change the political system, creating a 6th Republic. Even though he is the strongest contestant from the left, his vote suffers from the fragmentation on this end of the spectrum. So many parties representing similar political ideals lead to confusion and division amongst voters. As a result, the left once again are being shown to lack a strong foothold in this election. 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! A l’isoloir: what you need to know about the French Elections Niamh Woodhouse "El silencio de otros": 45 years of the Amnesty Law in Spain Aidan Cross French Connection: An Interview with a True Parisian Part 2/2 : The Long Five Years 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: France Politics Elections President Niamh Woodhouse Categories: News Guide Global Affairs 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 Wonderful World of Studio Ghibli Charlie Bodsworth Friday, 5 April 2024 After having watched basically every Ghibli movie out there, Charlie has come to tell you why you need to watch them, and to tell you all about what's behind the curtain in this Japanese animation studios creation of wonder. The wonder of Howl’s Castle, the eyesore of Yubaba, the insanity of Totoro’s full-toothed grin. Studio Ghibli creates masterpieces, and that’s no understatement. You may already be familiar with their wonderfully nonsensical settings and highly detailed 2D animation style, leading to both incredible beauty and (intentionally) excruciatingly uncomfortable ugliness. While I’m not yet finished, I desperately want to share with you my experience watching Ghibli’s entire filmography and tell you why you need to watch more of it! Most Ghibli films seem to fall into one of three categories: war and environmental tragedies, Japanese slice of life and whimsical fantasy. Tragedy The smallest yet hardest hitting of the three, Studio Ghibli’s tragedies do something rarely seen in animation films; they allow emotions to breathe. They don’t shy away from the most intense effects of destruction , depicting familial abandonment, child starvation, and even full-on decapitation. And when these themes come to a climax, they never cut away quickly. These moments sit for uncomfortably long, so you can realise every pain-staking part of the characters’ experience. In Grave of the Fireflies , a war film known for being a tear-jerker, Seita finds his mother in a makeshift hospital, fully bandaged from severe burns after a bombing, with her eyes and mouth the only things left uncovered. The disfigured image of her burned face is left on screen for many seconds with no dialogue, no music, no cutaway. It’s just raw. I’ll be honest, I had to look away, and still this moment is imprinted in my mind. While the social messaging in Ghibli’s war and environment films is notoriously pronounced, its handling of them in these ways make them so worth the watch. Slice of Life An interesting category, Ghibli’s slice of life films tend to be incredibly culturally specific to Japan. They cover matters such as nostalgia for the countryside and traditional family roles. Unfortunately, these topics were a little lost on me. However, it seems from the home reception that these films really struck a chord with the Japanese . I would really recommend these to people who want a deeper understanding of Japan and its social and familial sticking points. I want to quickly highlight one film: My Neighbours the Yamadas . There are a couple of Ghibli films that break the artistic mould; simplifying the animation style, making drawn lines more visible, and creating minimal background pieces (sometimes removing backgrounds altogether). My Neighbours the Yamada s is a wonderful example of this, giving it a homemade and slightly corny feel to reflect the family at the centre of the film’s loose plot. Fantasy Now what Ghibli is probably most famous for: Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Arrietty , and everything in between! The main feature that always strikes me about Ghibli’s fantasy world-building is how soft it is. Compared to the J. R. R. Tolkeins of the writing world, Studio Ghibli pioneers soft world-building. This means leaving a lot (if not, all) of how a world functions unexplained - from magic systems, to politics, to spirits, and even character backstories. You are thrown in the deep end, with little to no context. The sense of wonder created by this technique is unparalleled. It’s what makes Ghibli unique. this leaves room to focus on emotion and connection, both between characters and between the character and the audience. It’s also a creative way to allow the viewer to interpret the narrative within these unexplained words as best suits them. My unsung hero here has to be Ponyo . It’s child-like and completely joyful, with no particular villain, only parents looking out for their children. Ponyo’s magic reflects this too, seemingly formed of young Ponyo’s will to be with Sosuke. And yet, she marvels at the most mundane human things like a good bowl of ham ramen. It is chirpy and cheerful and the perfect film to cosy up to on a rainy day. So, what’s the takeaway? Obviously, I recommend Ghibli’s films to anyone. They are so intricately woven together in production, narrative, and style, that I feel they are a real cinema staple. Just let yourself be transported to a different world, where not everything makes sense, and experience the magic and emotion found within. About the Author A nerd in every sense, Charlie was our 2023-24 Language and Linguistics editor. She completed a BA in Modern Languages with Translation Studies, including a year spent in Paris, and is soon to complete her MA in Translation Studies. She speaks French and has just started learning Japanese! In her spare time, she plays video games, watches movies, and spends plenty of time with her two gerbils. 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: Japan film animation review Charlie Bodsworth 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

Exploring the history of the Vikings in Scandinavia, Part 1 – Oslo Aidan Cross Tuesday, 26 March 2024 Aidan, a final year Hispanic Studies & History student with a love for all things Anglo-Saxon and Viking, shares their recommendations for the best places to explore the incredible history of the Vikings in Scandinavia in this two-part article. First up: Oslo I spent every summer of my childhood visiting museums, castles, and heritage sites with my family. My parents actually met doing historical re-enactment and they wanted to pass their love of history on to us. It might just be Stockholm syndrome (in this metaphor, history is the captor; my family are the hostages) but they were successful – both myself and my younger brother are in our final year of history degrees. In fact, we both specialise in medieval history, specifically the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, the period that my parents were re-enacting. Last year, I had the chance to accompany my brother on a two-week trip to Scandinavia that he was taking with funding from his university as research for his dissertation, visiting Oslo, Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Copenhagen. So, if you find yourself in any of these cities, here are my recommendations for the best places to explore the incredible history of the Vikings – hopefully I can share my love of history with you, as my parents did with me and my brother! The first stop on our trip was Oslo. Part of the University of Oslo, the Historical Museum is filled with fascinating exhibitions and is the perfect way to spend an afternoon hiding from the cold and the snow. In particular, you can’t miss the VÍKINGR exhibition. [1] Balancing the typical depiction of Vikings as warriors with their role as explorers and traders, it shows the changes that the meeting of new cultures brought to Viking society. The highlights are the restoration of the Gjermundbu helmet, one of only five known surviving Viking helmets, and the Langeid sword, found in a pre-Christian Viking grave, yet decorated with Christian symbols. The temporary exhibitions are just as special. During our visit, the exhibition was “Fabulous Animals – From the Iron Age to the Vikings” [2] , exploring the importance of animals and their relationship with humans in pre-Christian Scandinavia, through their depiction in intricate goldwork and jewellery. It is likely that many of the objects from the Historical Museum will find their new home at the Museum of the Viking Age, previously the Viking Ship Museum, which is also part of the University of Oslo. Reopening in 2027, I have been waiting (impatiently) to be able to visit this museum as, amongst their collection of more than 50,000 Viking Age objects, is the incredible Oseberg ship – a well-preserved Viking ship discovered in a burial mound. [3] To be continued… About the Author Aidan is one of the founding members of Lingo Magazine and has a passion for languages – never studying less than three at once, hoping to become a polyglot! – as well as the histories and cultures of the peoples and places that use them. They are especially interested in translation and the connections between different languages and cultures across the world. They are looking forward to being Lingo's Treasurer this year and making the magazine and society as inclusive, informative, and interesting as possible. As for languages, Aidan is in their final year of Hispanic Studies & History at the University of Nottingham, studying Spanish and Portuguese, and in their free time also studies Korean - and has recently started learning Italian! [1] https://www.historiskmuseum.no/english/exhibitions/vikingr/ [2] https://www.historiskmuseum.no/english/exhibitions/exhibitions-archive/fabulous-animals/ [3] https://www.vikingtidsmuseet.no/english/the-collection/index.html Images provided by Aidan Cross. 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: history museums norway vikings travel Aidan Cross 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

Study in Style: Nottingham’s Best Study Spots for Meeting Those Deadlines Holly Philpott Tuesday, 24 September 2024 Holly takes us all over Nottingham, on a quest to seek out the safest study spots in the city. Another academic year, a new welcome week. If you’re a new student, reading all that Lingo Magazine’s Freshers’ series has to offer, welcome to Nottingham! While your first few weeks will be centred around navigating the hills of University Park Campus and finding out where your lectures are, why not also try discovering some of the stellar study spaces Nottingham has to offer? Hallward Library and George Green are the most popular libraries on campus, but if you’re anything like me, or any other student who craves caffeine and a comfy space to work in, then you should definitely consider making the extra journeys to find coffee shops to catch up on those lectures. Not only does travelling to somewhere new mean you can have a brief moment of exercise to break up a day of work, but a change of scenery can do wonders for focus and concentration. That, and the chance to have a barista-style coffee of your choice- it’s a mocha for me, please! Whilst there are so many wonderful cafes I’ve found over my four years at Nottingham, I’m sure there are plenty more to explore this year. That being said, here are some of my top choices for places to study! Blend (Various Locations) Blend at East West NG1 5FS Blend in Sneinton Market NG1 1DW Blend at Nottingham Contemporary NG1 2GB So many Blends, so many chances to enjoy some of the finest coffee the city centre has to offer! Each different Blend location can guarantee a lovely atmosphere, delicious coffees and lunchtime food (not to mention pastries!). It’s the perfect place to catch up with friends or make a start on your next essay. One of my favourites is Blend at East West, which is set inside a series of offices - but don’t let that dissuade you! The cafe holds plenty of space and plug sockets for laptops, and floor-to-ceiling windows which allow for lots of daylight. Waterstones Cafe 1-5 Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham, NG1 2GR Now this is my number one place to be, a five-storey gem located in the heart of the city centre. Everyone knows what Waterstones is, but have you ever been in one with five floors full of books and stationary, with chairs to sit and peruse the latest reads, and with a cafe on the fourth floor ?! When I discovered the cafe during my second year at Nottingham, I felt relieved as a bookworm, that I could purchase new books, study and drink coffee in one building. Waterstones’ cafe is spacious and light, with the windows overlooking the town square. There is often a great selection of pastries, hot food and snacks on offer. The coffee itself is also incredible, and did I mention that you can get a discount in the cafe when you have a Waterstones student loyalty card? I can’t say anything else other than try it for yourself: Waterstones truly is the place to be . Public and Plants 11 Low Pavement, Nottingham, NG1 7DQ What. A. Showstopper! On one sunny September morning, I decided to pay a visit to a new hub of activity: located in a beautifully kept building just a stone’s throw away from the Old Market Square tram stop. Public and Plants has something special to offer for everyone. Want a deliciously crafted coffee? Sorted. Want something to eat? Look no further than the many kinds of croissants on offer including almond, raspberry and Nutella. Maybe even buy a new house plant? There’s a selection near the windows, ready to be taken home! As I enjoyed my new book and devoured what can only be described as the most decadent almond croissant known to mankind, I couldn’t help but be swept up in the lively and welcoming atmosphere, and lit up by daylight flooding through the windows. This beauty is brand new to Nottingham but is set to become a staple place for any student. Homemade Cafe (at the Pavillion) Forest Recreation Ground, Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG5 2BU This treasure trove of a cafe is set on the Forest Rec Ground, a large green space only a stone’s throw away from the Victoria Shopping Centre. Sure, this cafe may be a bit further from campus, but if you take your books and laptop with you for an adventure, you won’t be disappointed! This cafe does not only cater to all your coffee/hot drink needs, but they have an incredible selection of lunchtime foods and cakes made on site daily. And, if you happen to go on a sunny day, why not take a walk around the park before heading back home? It’ll be sure to give you some well needed rest from studying, and make the trip one you’ll be grateful for taking. 200 Degrees (Various Locations) 200 Degrees at 16 Flying Horse Walk, Nottingham NG1 2HN 200 Degrees at 7-9 Milton Street Nottingham NG1 3EP 200 Degrees is the ultimate trendy coffee shop, with a vast selection of hot drinks and smoothies, and a mouthwatering counter of pastries. I will never say no to an almond croissant there, that’s for sure - what better way to wake up in the morning? 200 Degrees is kitted out for us students too, with lots of seating and power sockets; if you’re worried about your laptop dying in the crucial moments of writing an essay, they’ve got your back. They also have a loyalty app, too, so you can get your tenth coffee free! Nottingham Central Library 1 Carrington Street, Nottingham NG1 7FH Why hello brand new city library! The Nottingham Central Library has been in the works since I started at UoN (so a good three years now!). When I was visiting Nottingham on a day trip during some time back home from my year abroad , I couldn’t resist having a peek inside… and wow was this space worth the wait! Registering for this library is a must; there is plenty of natural light flooding into the space, with an array of places to study and rooms to book out. There is also a small cafe downstairs, so you never have to worry about packing your things up and going elsewhere for a snack. Not only that, but why not register just to borrow some fiction books? The majority of reading we’ll do in our time at university is academic, so giving our brains the chance to escape with a new read is always valuable. Will I possibly be here more than Hallward? Time can only tell… And there we have it! Several places, both already cherished and brand new, for you to take a look around this year. If there’s anything else I can say here, it’s that there are plenty more places than this to find in Nottingham, both around campus and in the city centre. But who am I to spoil all the exploring? I’ve put some ideas onto the map, and it’s up to you to find the rest… have fun cafe-hopping! About the Author 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: Student life 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