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A Journey Into British Sign Language Eleanor Spence Tuesday, 5 November 2024 Have you ever heard of British Sign Language (BSL), or thought about just how many people use the language across the UK? This article aims to shed light on the history and basics of this language. What is BSL? BSL hasn’t always been considered its own language, and it was only recognised by the UK Government as an official minority language in 2003! Sign language is a visual means of communication using gestures, facial expressions, and body language, and is used predominantly by individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Within Britain, the most commonly used form of sign language is called British Sign Language (BSL). BSL has its own grammatical structure and syntax, as well as not being dependent or strongly related to spoken English. BSL is the preferred language of over 145,000 people within the UK! There is a false impression that sign language is the same worldwide, however, this is far from the truth! There are national variations in sign language such as American Sign Language (ASL), and Japanese Sign Language (JSL), as well as regional variations of the language too. Today, there are more than 300 different sign languages in the world, used by more than 72 million deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals worldwide. Things to be aware of when communicating with deaf individuals When communicating with someone who’s deaf or hard of hearing, it is important to be able to communicate in a clear and considerate manner that supports their understanding. Here are a few tricks to help: It’s important to have someone’s attention before you start communicating with them, even though it may be hard for the individual to know that you’re trying to get their attention sometimes. Communicate with the individual directly and hold clear eye contact. Speak at a normal speed and volume, using regular lip patterns. If necessary, don’t feel afraid to use written notes/diagrams, as well as specific gestures or expressions to get your point across. Make sure that the room is well-lit so that the individual can see your face and gestures clearly. Keep checking to make sure that the individual understands you. Basic greetings in BSL Typically, BSL users will be very appreciative of anyone attempting to use sign language so here are a few basic signs which will help you initiate conversation: Hello/ Goodbye Wave your hand like greeting someone in English. Make sure to mouth ‘hello’ or ‘goodbye’ so the person is aware of how you are greeting them. How are you? Place both palms flat on you chest, and move them upwards and then forwards into a thumbs up position. Sorry Make a fist with your right hand in the centre of your chest, then move it in a circular motion on your chest while mouthing ‘sorry’. Thank you/Please When signing thank you or please in BSL, the same hand gesture is used and only the lip pattern of the word you are saying changes. Position your right hand with its fingertips on your chin and then move your hand slightly away from your face. Why is any of this important? Having a greater understanding of the language and culture of BSL is incredibly important because as a community, BSL users can often feel isolated and disconnected. BSL is the first language of many individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, and it is important to be aware of this when communicating with them. Often, individuals will speak and understand spoken English (as a second language), but that doesn’t mean that they are fluent or comfortable speaking the language. Furthermore, if you are communicating with a BSL user using spoken English, keep in mind that they will have to lip-read your responses (which isn’t as easy as one may assume), so be patient and ready to repeat if necessary. Overall, BSL is an important language to help connect individuals who are hard of hearing together, as well as with wider communities. We must continue to work on improving our inclusivity for deaf individuals so that they and their language are fully appreciated. I hope that this short article has helped you discover more about British Sign Language and that you might be able to use a few greeting signs the next time you meet someone who uses BSL. More information If you’re interested in learning more about British Sign Language, I would recommend joining a class! Alternatively, there are lots of online resources too. BBC Three’s video: Things Not To Say To A Deaf person ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SarMSwv_aHI ) British Sign Language Directory ( https://www.signbsl.com ) British Sign Language Site ( https://www.british-sign.co.uk ) Royal Association for Deaf People ( https://royaldeaf.org.uk ) About the Author 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. Images courtesy of Eleanor Spence 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: BSL Sign Language Language Language Learning 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

Modern Languages and Cultures < Back Evie Dowding Evie is our Travel Editor for 2024-25. She has just returned from her year abroad in Bordeaux and Argentina. Evie loves all things languages and culture, so this year she made a goal to write for Lingo Magazine! Her interests include reading, travel, adventure and most importantly food - "Call me pretentious but after living in Bordeaux for 4 months I've started swishing wine around my mouth to find its nuances!" Latest Articles by this Author Year Abroad Tales: A glimpse into Corrientes, Argentina through journal entries 10/12/24 Shopping sustainably? Here are the best vintage, second-hand and preloved shops in Nottingham 23/09/24

Iran: The Significance of the Hijab and Why We Must Do More Emily Dawson Wednesday, 15 February 2023 Iranian women are currently lining the streets in protest of the mandatory hijab and dress code. With support coming from all over the world, it is time we speak up about the deeper meaning behind the protests. Being forced. Being asked. Do you know the difference? Do you think people should have the right to decide? Women in Iran are currently being deprived of this basic right. Following the death of Mahsa Amini on 16 September, Iranian protestors have filled the streets fighting and protesting the brutality of the so-called ‘morality police’ and the strict dress codes enforced by the Islamic Revolution. Mahsa Amini was killed by the country’s police after being arrested for not correctly wearing her mandatory hijab and not conforming to dress expectations. Statements explain how Amini was beaten and struck several times before she died, yet the government is denying any wrongdoing. As of 4 December, six people have been sentenced to death, at least 26 others are currently facing charges for crimes that could see them hanged and 459 people have been killed. This hasn’t stopped the protestors from standing up for what they believe in. The mandatory ruling of the hijab, a religious piece of clothing associated with modesty and one’s commitment to Islam, was established in Iran in 1983 , with the expectation that all women, whether they are Muslim or not, would conform to the code. Ruling this item of clothing as mandatory is against what the hijab represents. Prior to 1983 , when the government were advocating for women to remove their hijabs, many women wore the hijab as a way of protesting against the government. Ironically, the opposite is now taking place. Women are currently taking to the streets in protest of the mandatory hijab. These women are fighting the violence of the so-called morality police with peaceful, non-violent demonstrations. They are removing and burning their hijabs – something which for many Muslims, not just in Iran but around the world, is a very significant and striking move. Removing the hijab has caused controversy across the country. Revealing their hair demonstrates their opposition to the strict rules imposed by the Islamic government. Burning their hijabs is a very strong and significant form of protest, considering the religious connotations of the item. This act is done not with the intention of destroying the religious hijab but instead to get rid of the restrictions for women that come with this obligatory dress code. These protests go to say that if the government can’t respect the religious perspective surrounding the hijab, then neither can the women of Iran. These demonstrations have certainly had the desired reaction; mobilising people around the world regarding a woman’s right to choose. Word has spread very quickly across the globe about the protests and the severe violence that the people of Iran are being subjected to. However, media-led discussions have been minimal. Why, when the media have such a power to help, do they sit silently? While the media have discussed the situation in Iran, reports focus on results rather than reason. These reports talk about the level of violence inflicted on the women, but not why the women are protesting. This style of reporting means the public draw their own conclusions that the religion is oppressive against women when this is not the case. It can be put down to the desire to remain oblivious; these events aren’t happening in the Western world therefore they don’t affect us. However, there is a need to discuss the whys behind the headlines; why these women are protesting, why the mandatory hijab is so significant and why this goes against everything taught in the Quran. There is a need to educate. Without these conversations, the Western world will remain blindfolded to what Islam is about and there will be no change in the way the Muslim community is viewed, therefore, perpetuating Islamophobic ideas. Everything comes back to education; the media have the means to educate and therefore the responsibility to do so. With the protests showing little sign of coming to an end , support has grown from all over the world; both men and women are standing in solidarity with the protestors. The latest form of protest can be seen with the Iranian footballers at the Qatar World Cup, who in their first match did not sing the national anthem. However, this didn’t come without risks. The players, who were originally told by their coach that they could protest if it aligned with FIFA’s criteria, have been informed that if they continue with this form of protest, their families will be imprisoned and tortured. These protests have spread across the world, with many of the world’s main cities fighting for ‘justice for Iran’. One brave man at the World Cup ran across the pitch as a form of protest with “Respect for Iranian women”, among other things, written on his top. If people who go about their daily lives with no connection to Iran can show such bravery, why can’t the media drive the change we need to see? About the Author Emily is a fourth-year student, studying Spanish, Chinese and Business. She is an avid baker turned chef who can often be found in the kitchen making content for her Instagram (@ems.homecooking). Emily was our 2022/23 Treasurer. Iran: The Significance of the Hijab and Why We Must Do More Emily Dawson Images provided by Emily Dawson. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Emily Dawson Iran Protests Women Hijab Categories: Analysis 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! 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Promises (African Voices): A Variety Pack Review from Beeston Film Festival Harriet Rothwell-Inch Thursday, 2 May 2024 A review of Promises (African Voices), a Beeston Film Festival short film variety pack spotlighting a selection of excellent African cinema: Climate in the Minds of Artists, Hearts of Bwindi, Muna, Een Saam (Farther), I Promise you Paradise, & Father's Day. Very rarely do we see African voices prominently displayed in cinema, so to have an entire feature filled with short films with African voices as the central focus was exciting. This variety pack contained both documentaries and short films, and platformed the voices and stories of people and communities from Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Egypt, and Somalia; stories of climate change, conservation, family, grief, strive, and above all, connection. Each of these short films fit snugly into the overall festival theme: ‘Protest and Resistance’, and not always in the way one would expect. To me, these films emphasized the subtle ways in which resistance is manifested; individually, collectively, and naturally. Climate in the Minds of Artists Four Tanzanian artists specialising in different artistic mediums ponder the question: “What does climate change mean to you?”; offering their unique insights and perspectives on the issue and the ways in which they take inspiration from it and other aspects of nature for their work. While most of the dialogue was in English, one interviewee was constantly switching between English and her native language (I want to say Swahili, but it could be any of the many African languages that exist) – as a languages student this brought me a lot of joy. I enjoyed the split screen editing that showed multiple clips of African nature, the interviewees, and their artistic processes side by side. The overall message of the film was surprisingly positive; life will continue, it may not be life as we know it, but it will adapt and continue. A charming presentation and appreciation of African art and nature. The Hearts of Bwindi This documentary was a beautiful appreciation of the natural world and a spotlight on those who fight to protect Uganda’s biodiversity in Bwindi National Park. Focusing on the ways wildlife rangers and local communities strive to live harmoniously with the forest, this left me feeling stunned by the beauty of the forest and by the cinematography and filmmaking choices. I particularly enjoyed the way the filmmakers periodically used the camera to draw focus to individuals against the stunning natural backdrop of the forest: with the slight movement from the backdrop in these shots, I felt like I was watching a compilation of live photos which focussed on and celebrated each person as a key element in the fight against natural destruction. As the documentary ended, the cinema filled with the glorious natural sounds of Bwindi National Park, leaving me feeling hopeful and at peace. Muna A portrait of multicultural immigrant families in Britain. What particularly struck me with this BBC short film was the isolation of the main character: British-Somali teenager Muna. No one seemingly has her back: her parents have specific rules and expectations of her, her brother is seemingly favoured, and her friends (who we only see through digital overlay of their group chat messages over the camerawork) don’t understand her. The presentation of a specific cultural and religious family dynamic was, to me, incredibly insightful and eye-opening. I highly recommend watching if you want more insight into multicultural Britain. Een Saam (Farther) A heartbreaking depiction of a father’s struggle after the loss of his wife and subsequent estrangement of his son. The excellent cinematography, flawless acting, and beautiful storytelling: this short film effortlessly blurred the lines between reality and memory and filled the cinema with such a profound sadness that I couldn’t help but internalise it. Yeah,I cried…a lot. The film depicts the different kinds of loss and grief in a sensitive and almost cathartic way. It’s a difficult and emotional watch, but that’s what made it stand out to me and why I sincerely recommend you watch it too. I Promise you Paradise An Egyptian short film depicting the fear of African migrants desperate to escape to a new life. Unfortunately, a technical issue with the subtitles meant I was unable to understand the dialogue in this film. Granted, much of the film was without dialogue, only music, but where there were conversations, I found myself relying on visual cues and the physicality of the actors to piece together the story. However, I found that this actually enhanced my viewing experience and made the film more impactful. Straight out the gate I sensed that something monumental had happened, I just had no idea what, and that tension remained palpable throughout the film. As the story reached its climax and the final pieces fell into place, the music fell away, leaving behind a silence emphasising the reality of the dangers desperate migrants face for a chance at a better life. Impactful and profound. Father’s Day In this South African film, Alake is being raised by a single mother but, after being called upon to give a speech for Father’s Day, tries to find his father. The film is beautifully made; the camera work and soundtrack captured the complicated nature of broken families and single parenthood through the eyes of a child sensitively and in a way that conveyed the emotional toll these situations take on both parent and child. Unfortunately, the subtitles weren’t working, so I couldn’t understand the parts of the film in Zulu. Thankfully, the final speech in this film was in English, so not only could I understand what was being said, but I could also react to and appreciate the emotional impact of story. An insight into how perceptive children are and a wonderful commentary on the importance of mothers. I strongly recommend going to Beeston Film Festival next year if you didn’t get the chance to visit this time around! About the Author Harriet was Lingo's Editor-in-Chief for 2023-24, and continues to write for us as an associate member. She is a houseplant fanatic, self-professed tea goblin, travel bug, and language learning enthusiast. In addition to English, she speaks Spanish & French, and spent time working in both countries during her Undergraduate degree in Modern Languages. She is currently studying for an MA in Translation! Finding the Light: Reviewing a Beeston Film Festival Variety Pack Holly Cromwell Promises (African Voices): A Variety Pack Review from Beeston Film Festival Harriet Rothwell-Inch The Beeston Film Festival: Highlighting the Truths of Womanhood in Film Emma Burnett Image provided by Beeston Film Festival. 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: cinema review Africa Beeston Film Festival Harriet Rothwell-Inch Categories: 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! LOAD MORE

Why are all programming languages in English? Jordan Walton Monday, 6 February 2023 Have you ever seen any computer code and wondered why all programming languages are in English? Explore the history of the why, as well as some exciting exceptions. Quick disclaimer: I am somewhat experienced in coding but in no way an expert. This article is factual to my knowledge, but here’s a pre-emptive sorry to the computer science people who will eventually find inaccuracies within: Sorry. Computers. We all use them every day but rarely do many consider how the websites we visit and apps we use were made. Obviously, someone made them, but how? Well, it isn’t as simple as saying “please computer make me an app”, computers aren’t that smart (yet). You’ve got to get down on their level and speak to them on their own terms. Computers pretty much only understand binary 1s and 0s and that just seems too complicated. That’s where programming languages come in. Programming languages allow people to essentially tell the computer what to do; whether that be to perform complex calculations or where to put a picture on a website. Essentially, they translate the way we think to how computers think, allowing them to understand a set of specific instructions a human can write down. Without these languages, programmers would pretty much have to input every instruction as an incomprehensible binary string of 1s and 0s. So, in short, they are very cool. I have to say at this point that coding is an incredibly versatile skill to have, and one that is very easily self-taught, so I would highly encourage everyone to have a go. The thing is though if you were to look at some programming languages to try out, or to just check out someone’s code, you would probably notice something: they are all in English. From the JavaScript that drives a lot of web development, to the C and C++ that run operating systems, and the Python that lies behind modern AI and machine learning, they are all written in English. This is confusing, right? There are programmers in every country in the world, and most of these people won’t speak English as a primary language, but all the main programming languages are in English. What’s with the discrepancy, and how did it come about? The answer lies in who wrote/invented the languages. Java was written by the English-speaking Canadian James Gosling, C was designed by the American Dennis Ritchie, and FORTRAN was designed by John Backus who again, was American. This is just a tiny fraction of the early computer programming languages, but you get the picture. A lot of other programming languages such as C++, Python, and Ruby were designed by people who didn’t have English as a first language (two Danes and a Japanese person respectively) but were written in English to build on and work with previous English programming languages. The key reason is that for people to work collaboratively on coding projects across the globe there had to be standardized languages. It just so happened that the core languages most modern software are built on happened to be written in English. That’s not the end of the story though, there are always exceptions. There has been an effort has been to create coding languages in many different, or even multiple, spoken languages around the world. Take ZhPy as an example. ZhPy is a translation of everything that the programming language Python can do into Chinese. It isn’t the only language used in China, they also do a lot of English coding, but is an equivalent. Examples of direct translating English programming languages into another language are plentiful. There’s Rouille, a French version of Rust, BAIK, an Indonesian version of C, and Teuton, a German Python. There are many more localised versions of established languages, as well as some less used non-English designed languages. The really impressive programming languages are those that are built with the intent to be used by those who speak different languages. Citrine is one such language. The developers’ goal is to “allow people to code in their mother tongue”. They aim to lower the barrier to coding, and to “democratise software”. A very admirable, and to all extents very successful project. Citrine works with over 70 languages, from Afrikaans to Zulu. So that’s that then. Most of the common programming languages are designed in English because they are built on fundamental languages that were written by English-speaking computer scientists, but there are efforts to translate and create more foreign-language programming languages. Nice and neat... But wait, are the ‘English’ programming languages actually English? We established before that computers can’t understand human language and only speak in binary, so if that’s true how are we talking to them in an English language and getting them to do what we want? Well, to be honest, none of these programming languages are actually equivalent to speaking a human language. To compare to two would be like saying British sign language is in English. It’s just not true. Language can be defined as consisting of a string of words in a structured, conventional way used to communicate with another user of that language. Have you ever seen a computer program? They use the right words yes, but not in a grammatically correct structured way that any sensical person would say is true English. Look at this Python code: You can pick out English words, sure, but that is in no way written in the English language as we know it. And Python is regarded as the simplest and easiest to read programming language! The problem is that every language is just a cheat code that gets translated down to the simple binary that computers understand. The closer to true English prose a programming language gets the slower the computer is to understand it as it has to strip it all back to binary every time. So, where does that leave this article’s title? All programming languages are written in English, except that actually none of them are? We use the spoken language’s words as a way to allow programmers to translate what they want to do into executable commands for a computer. No actual spoken language can be input directly into a computer. But to get away from the rabbit hole of computer science theory, the majority of programming languages you interact with use ‘English’, and this could present barriers to many aspiring programmers, so it is a truly great thing that there are those out there designing and developing programming languages open to all to allow for a shared, creative, and collaborative future. About the Author 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. Why are all programming languages in English? Jordan Walton Localisation and Transcreation in video games Aidan Cross Copyright free images via Unsplash. Other images provided by Jordan Walton. 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: Jordan Walton Programming Computer Science Coding Localisation 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

YEAR ABROAD TALES: Does Distance Make the Heart Grow Fonder? Francesca Wren Friday, 4 March 2022 In the next edition of our 'Year Abroad Tales' feature, Francesca gives advice from her experience being in a long distance relationship on her year and answers the question, does distance make the heart grow fonder? In the months leading up to my move to France for my year abroad, I was asked by almost everybody I know: ‘What are you going to do about Charlie?’ One person even asked me multiple times whether I was planning to split up with my boyfriend before I left and that she could never be in a long-distance relationship again, after having split with her ex when they both left for uni. My boyfriend was asked the same questions and more. Our friends asked us if we had discussed it, if we had considered what it was going to be like living so far apart, and most prominently, if we were worried about the other cheating. Charlie and I were solid in our resolve and answered all that we trusted each other and that we were positive we would make it through. And jusqu’ici, tout va bien (so far so good). We communicate clearly and regularly and make enough time for each other without crossing the channel every weekend. But the same cannot be said for others. Long distance relationships can be tough – your faith in your partner and your relationship is put to the test – and deciding what you want out of a year away is no easy task. Most of us feel pressured to make a choice before we have even left British shores, to cut the anchor and sail away or to start writing wedding invitations. I have encountered people on both sides of the spectrum while on my year abroad and, as frustrating as this advice is, it really does depend on the individual. My counsel to anybody questioning their relationship and the year abroad is to avoid too much introspection. In my experience, pros and cons lists serve only to confuse everything further. If you feel burdened by your partner and ache to be single, a conversation needs to be had, because growing bitter towards each other is not fair on anyone. If missing your other half is unbearable all of the time, surround yourself with new friends and new experiences. Longing for home and the person you are with is natural, but when you become consumed by that sadness, you start to miss out on all of the amazing things a year abroad can offer you. Ultimately, there are no easy answers to whether you and your partner can or will be able to exercise a long-distance relationship. Like many other things in love, the best advice is to be patient and listen to your gut instinct. The year abroad doesn’t have to be a 9-month shag-fest (unless you want it to be) and being in a relationship doesn’t have to feel like being ‘tied-down’. Take each day as it comes and put your enjoyment and your happiness over rigid expectations of what a year abroad, or indeed a relationship, ‘should’ be. Jusqu’ici, tout va bien. If you'd like to share your experience of the year abroad, get in touch with us on Insta @lingomag_ ! About the Author Fran is a final year French student, returning to campus after completing her year abroad in France. She spent her time working as an English language assistant in the suburbs of the Paris. She can't wait to share her tips of living in Paris and her anecdotes of a year abroad with the readers of Lingo! Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Hungry in St Petersburg? My Top 5 Restaurants for Visitors Jess Henrys Images provided by Francesca Wren 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: Tips Living Abroad Relationships Francesca Wren Advice Categories: Travel Year Abroad Tales Feature 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

Interview with a Polyglot Charlie Bodsworth Monday, 10 June 2024 Ever wondered how someone can manage learning and speaking multiple languages at once? Our Language & Linguistics editor, Charlie, got talking to UoN alum, Emily, to figure out just that. Whether you’re monolingual or bilingual, I’m sure you’ve wondered, like I have, how polyglots can fit so many languages into just one brain! To get some insight into the world of the most avid language learners, I chatted with Emily Ridyard, a UoN Modern Languages alum who speaks three languages and has been learning two more on top of that! Charlie: Can you introduce yourself, please? Emily: Yeah! I'm Emily. I speak English as my first language, but I've also learnt French, Spanish, and Russian. During my degree, I did a bit of Serbian. And I'm currently learning Ukrainian. C: How does that tie in with your current work? E: I work with refugees. I work a day and a half per week at St Nic's Church, leading English classes for refugees who are looking to learn English as a way to get involved in British society. Two and a half days a week, I'm at a charity called Refugee Roots, where I support refugees and asylum seekers with their practical needs. C: How did you learn each of your languages? E: My family moved to Belgium when I was three. We ended up staying for five years. I went to an international school, so my schooling was done in English, but we had French classes almost every day so I had a decent grasp of French by the time I left Belgium. At secondary school, I continued French and also picked up Spanish. It happened that my French teacher had a degree in French and Russian, so she asked the school whether she could teach GCSE Russian classes after school and the school agreed! I already knew that I loved languages, so I was like: “yes please!” C: Was there anything in particular that gave you that spark to learn languages? E: In Belgium, going to an international school, all my peers spoke multiple languages. I remember being like “I want to speak all these really cool languages!” So, I would take a little notebook out at play time, and make my friends tell me words in their languages, and write them down. I was committed! Having that appreciation of other cultures and languages really young is what made me want to stick with it. C: I feel like a lot of people in the UK don't lean into that. Why do you think there are so many people that never learn a second language or have a lot of difficulty with it? E: In other countries across the world, being good at language learning is the only way to access the wider world. And because so many other people speak English, it can lead to either intentional or unintentional laziness. I also think that the school system in the UK isn't set up for language learning. It's not presented as very appealing. When I was on my year abroad as an English teaching assistant, one of their topics was superheroes, and they were watching clips from Marvel films! That contrasts so sharply with the topics I did in school, such as health. C: How would you say your languages interact in your head? Do you think or talk to yourself in any of your languages? Do you get them muddled up? E: When I was in France, I was speaking French at work and at home. That was when I was probably the most absorbed in it. I could find myself thinking and dreaming and living life in French. When I left university, I would’ve said that French was my strongest language, but in my work, I speak with a lot of Latin American asylum seekers, so I now have much better Spanish. I definitely get Spanish and French mixed up because they're just very similar. When I try to speak French, sometimes just random words come out in Spanish! C: What do you think is one of the biggest language mix ups you've ever had, between languages or just in one? E: Well, both Russian and Spanish use the sound “ ee ” for “and”, but it's written very differently. So, “ ee ” is written in Russian a bit like a capital N backwards. And in Spanish, it's written with a “y”, which is also a letter in the Russian alphabet, but a different sound. I once wrote an entire essay in Russian but accidentally wrote “and” in Spanish every time! C: What would you say are some of the difficulties with some of your weaker languages, Serbian and Ukrainian? Do you struggle to keep them up? E: I've always said, and I think it's true: if you don't use it, you lose it. That's what I’ve found with my Serbian. While I was by no means fluent, I could hold a decent conversation. Now I think I'd really struggle because I haven't used it. Also, I think it's easier when there's lots of media readily available in the target language. Even though I don't speak very much French, I still watch quite a bit of French TV. Whereas for things like Russian or Ukrainian, it's perhaps a little bit harder to access media. C: That makes a lot of sense. Do you have any advice for others who want to learn multiple second languages? E: Just go for it! There is sometimes this natural hesitation about it, but once you've learnt one language, it only gets easier. Even if you’re learning something completely different to a language you already know, you've got that discipline and those rhythms in place. It's not as scary as sometimes people paint it to be. I also just encourage people to do things in a way that is fun and engaging! 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. Interview with a Polyglot Charlie Bodsworth 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 interview language learning polyglot Charlie Bodsworth Categories: Interview 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

Taiwan Diaries: Freedom Rosie Loyd Friday, 10 June 2022 Studying at National Cheng Kung University for the Spring Semester, 3rd Year Mandarin and Spanish student, Rosie Loyd, updates readers on her time so far in Tainan, Taiwan. Finishing my isolation stint was a relief, to say the least. After 10 days stuck in a hotel where the only window was in the bathroom, followed by 7 more days with an element of freedom (we could go outside, but the rules were a little hazy), I was raring to explore Taiwan. I attended classes in person for a week or so each day from 1 – 4pm before they were put back online due to rising Covid cases. At first, my coursemates and I were all a little disappointed, but the fact is, we are now so used to this style of learning having had most of our UK university experience online. It also means we can do the lessons from anywhere as long as we have a good Wi-Fi connection. Sicao Green Tunnel with Mhairi, fellow Lingo member. In the past few weeks, I’ve slowly adjusted to the Taiwanese way of life and learnt several key things along the way. 1. The heat is oppressive. Well, to be specific, it’s the humidity that is so intense. You cannot walk anywhere without physically being affected by it. Oh yes – you’ll also get some surprised looks if you tell people you have walked to get somewhere; not many locals walk, instead, they pile onto their scooters and whizz about. Having said this, last week we saw torrential rain for several days, and the temperature fell to about 19°C. Apparently, it had been 24°C back in the UK. The jeans and a jumper came out and all in all it was rather strange given that a couple of days later it was back up to 30°C. 2. Locals eat exceptionally early around here. When going for an afternoon stroll, we’ve noticed that many people eat their supper at around 5pm each day. Restaurants also shut at about 8pm. They probably think it’s just as strange that Europeans eat so late! Streets of Tainan 3. Baseball is a lot of fun. We’ve watched the Tainan Uni Lions play a couple of times at the Tainan Municipal Baseball Stadium and it is highly entertaining. Think loud music, lots of dance routines to learn, cheerleaders and a lot of jeering. Us ‘foreigners’, as we are referred to over here (外國人pronounced ‘ wàiguó rén’, literally meaning ‘outside country people’), even got a shoutout from the man leading all of the dances. I’d highly recommend going to watch a baseball match in Taiwan if you ever get the chance! 4. Back to the topic of being called ‘foreigners’ – it’s quite a cultural difference when you think about it. Imagine if a bunch of Chinese or French people were sitting together in the UK and you singled them out and called them ‘foreigners. I’m not sure that would go down well in this woke climate of today…! Outside the Tainan Municipal Baseball Stadium This past weekend, we put our tourist hats on and took the train to Kaohsiung, only about 30 minutes away. Kaohsiung has a very large port and a nice beach with black sand – we’d been craving the sea since the moment we felt the heat. What a moment that was to finally dive in! Aside from enjoying the very popular Cijin Sunset Beach Bar on Saturday evening (another place I’d recommend – great music, drinks and atmosphere), we hiked up to the top of Shoushan (壽山), a nature trail with a variety of plants, bugs and lots of monkeys! Rather exhausting in the heat, but it was definitely worth it. We stopped off at the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, and also visited the Liouhe Night Market. Other sites we’ve visited include the Sicao Green Tunnel, where we hopped on a boat tour of some very overgrown mangroves, the National Literature Museum, Chimei Museum with British photographer Tim Walker’s V&A Exhibition, and the famous Hayashi Department Store. All in all, Taiwan is proving to be a success! I’m loving the chance to finally speak Chinese in a ‘natural’ environment. We’ve found that the best speaking partners are taxi drivers. The majority are very friendly and love chatting with us 外國人, often calling us beautiful (漂亮 pronounced piàoliang ) and mistaking us for Americans! Their driving might be questionable, especially when you spot that they’re driving barefoot, but we’re not too fussed as long as they are jolly! Stay tuned for more updates. About the Author As a keen Spanish and Chinese linguist, I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to share contemporary and engaging stories with readers. I love discovering surprising news stories that don’t always reach the headlines and finding a way to present them in a digestible and relevant fashion. Rosie spent her year abroad in Barcelona and Taiwan. You can read about her incredible experiences here on Lingo Mag! Rosie was our 2022/23 Current Affairs Editor. Barcelona’s must-visit Cocktail Bars Rosie Loyd Taiwan Diaries: Quarantine Rosie Loyd Why you should visit Strasbourg Chloe Brewster Images provided by Rosie Loyd. 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: Year Abroad Taiwan Chinese Studying Abroad Rosie Loyd Categories: Travel Year Abroad Tales Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! 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

Beyond Creatures: Unveiling Pokémon’s Multicultural Universe Jasmine Johal Friday, 26 January 2024 Jasmine takes us on a tour of the real-world locations that influenced the game maps within the Pokémon universe. The Pok é mon franchise, a pop-cultural sensation that has captured the hearts of millions worldwide, has drawn inspiration from real-world locations, cultures and ecosystems to craft an expansive and vibrant universe. The first few generations of Pokémon were motivated by various aspects of Japanese culture. For instance, Pokémon’s Kanto region, named after and based upon Japan’s Kanto, includes cities and landmarks, such as Saffron City and Cerulean Cave, which parallel real-world locations like Tokyo and Mt. Fuji. The traditional and modern aspects coexist within this region to demonstrate the blend of cultural heritage and technological advances in Japan. Pokémon’s Unova region mirrors the vibrant energy of New York City: with places such as Castelia City mimicking Manhattan’s busy streets, the Skyarrow Bridge reminiscent of the Brooklyn Bridge and Nimbasa City resembling the vibrant lights of Times Square, Unova clearly portrays NYC’s lively energy. Kalos is a Pokémon region motivated by the romantic allure of France. Its architectural designs, landscapes and cultural elements were heavily influenced by various areas within the country. There are landmarks similar to the Eiffel Tower (in Lumiose City) and vineyard-filled areas emulating regions like Bordeaux. Kalos’ fashion, cuisine and love for art reflect France’s diverse culture, beckoning players to immerse themselves in a vibrant, French-inspired setting. The Alola region in Pokémon bears a resemblance to the exotic ambiance of Hawaii, with its sun-kissed beaches and tropical landscapes. Alola embodies both the energetic cityscape of Hau’oli City, resembling the bustling Honolulu, and the serene Melemele Island, which captures the tranquillity of Hawaiian villages. The names of the areas incorporate Hawaiian words into their titles. The video game even features traditional festivals, similar to real-life Hawaiian luaus, honouring Hawaii’s rich cultural heritage. Alola invites trainers to battle on sun-soaked shores, embracing a place that defines the heart of Hawaii. The Pokémon region of Galar is a blend of modern and historic Britain. The lively city of Wyndon mirrors the grandeur of London, with its towering buildings and cultural diversity. Meanwhile, Hammerlocke radiates an aura of medieval England with its castle-like structures and rich history. The region’s sporting culture, notably through Gym Challenges, echoes the passion for football matches found in the UK. With its mix of modern elements and respect for heritage, Galar entices trainers to discover its distinctively British-inspired environment. Based on Spain, the Paldea region demonstrates a vibrant fusion of cultural elements. The architectural landscapes evoke the charm of Spanish cities. The Academy, mirroring Barcelona’s iconic La Sagrada Familia, stands tall with spires, resonating the magnificence of the famous cathedral. Modern influences are also present, with Levincia drawing parallels to Madrid. Furthermore, Paldea extends tributes to neighbouring regions on the Iberian Peninsula, notably Portugal and Andorra. Cascarrafa and Porto Marinada, with their aquatic themes, pay homage to Portuguese coastal towns through their bustling markets and structures adorned with characteristic tiles, offering an exploration of Iberian culture within the Pokémon universe. The Pokémon world provides vivid representations of real-life locations across the globe, with each region showcasing unique cultural traits. The diverse landscapes, architecture and festivals within each game encourage players to explore its captivating universe, making Pokémon much more than just a game about catching creatures. About the Author Jasmine has lived in the UK her whole life but has been brought up in an Indian household. She can also speak Mandarin at around B2 level and this year she is learning French alongside her degree. As an engineer, she is hoping to use her passion for languages and diverse cultures to travel the globe and work on a range of different projects! Beyond Creatures: Unveiling Pokémon’s Multicultural Universe Jasmine Johal How Artificial Intelligence is Revolutionising the Tourism Experience Jasmine Johal Things I Wish I Knew Before Going Interrailing Rachel Lara Hoddes 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: Jasmine Johal Real-World Inspirations Gaming Culture Virtual Exploration Travel Guide Categories: Travel 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 is Culture? Holly Cromwell Friday, 17 February 2023 A look at what culture actually means. Thinking a little more deeply about everything we include in the word, what we use it for and ultimately why it matters. Culture is an almost undefinable wreck; an amorphous frustration that nonetheless has a tangible effect on the world around you. I know that might seem rich coming from a girl who insists you can tell when the rolling hills of northern England become the Scottish Lowlands but, I promise, you can really feel the effects. We even have a word for that: culture shock. Finding yourself in an alien culture has a profound impact on a person, even if you’re expecting it and studied up. Most newspapers have a section for culture. If we trust them then all there is to culture are art galleries, exhibitions, books, theatre and film. As much as I love the arts, we know there’s more to it than that and it wasn’t Moli è re that left me feeling out of step. Then we have the university itself. I study history, politics and aspects of sociology under the banner of a degree that promises immersion in the “rich culture of French and Francophone countries”. But there’s a lot more to it than that; especially with the Year Abroad team taking the time to warn us about cultural differences in various countries. For France: first names for family and close friends until told otherwise, businesses and institutions with very strict opening and closing times, and fashion tending to be more conservative just to start. Then there’s the fact that even this is not consistent: in my lyc é e the teachers refer to each other by first name to the point that I don’t know a lot of their surnames. We watch our favourite shows and say, “ this is culture”. We look at bad situations and describe a “culture of harassment”. We describe people who are worldly and well-read as “cultured”. “Culture shock” leaves us not knowing where to go to pay in a restaurant, how to react to strangers or when to go to lunch. Culture is in the food we eat; the way we build our houses; the way we spend our free time and when we have it; the way we dance and what we dance to; what we watch and how we react to it; what we wear and when and why; the way we talk and what we do or don’t talk about. Where does this leave us? Culture is one of those disgustingly vague definitions: a collection of the behaviours, histories, media, actions and habits of a group of people at a particular time – even when, inevitably, some of those people are not behaving, remembering, acting, thinking, consuming or producing media in the same way. Describing a culture is like trying to pin down the exact flocking behaviours of all birds into a single, flat, permanent map. A good guess might be that culture is anything you could make an inside joke about because the only way to define culture seems to be by those borders that we stumble into when we leave our own culture in some way. So, do we care? Yes. Because culture is important. Our cultures define the way different people react to national or global problems; help us cope through isolation and crisis; and write the narratives we wish for in the future. It describes everything we choose to conform to or resist, and everything we do without thinking. An understanding of culture, however you define it, helps us to empathise with others and eases communication. Just try not to think about it too hard. About the Author Holly was our 2023/24 Culture Editor. An English and French student, Holly is interested in languages and cultures, with a particular interest in film. For her, writing for Lingo is a way to enjoy this further and be a bit more purposeful with her interests, find and share new things! The Rise of Foreign Language TV Holly Cromwell What is Culture? Holly Cromwell Why Do We All Need Subtitles Now? Holly Cromwell Images provided by Holly Cromwell. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Holly Cromwell Definition Opinion Categories: Thought Piece 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

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