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Culture Spotlight: Capoeira Society Aidan Cross Friday, 5 April 2024 We sat down with Billy Nayani and Qaa’sim Uhuru, Capoeira Society’s President and Instructor, to find out more about one of the University of Nottingham’s newest societies and the incredible art of capoeira. Our newest print edition was inspired by the theme of rejuvenation and fostering community; on that theme, we’re revitalising our Culture Spotlight series! We sat down with Billy Nayani and Qaa’sim Uhuru, Capoeira Society’s President and Instructor, to find out more about one of the University of Nottingham’s newest societies and the incredible art of capoeira. What is the history and culture of capoeira? Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art with strong African roots that originated in Angola. Modern capoeira comes from north-eastern Brazil, particularly Bahia, due to the region’s involvement in the slave trade and over three hundred years of slavery. Capoeira developed amongst enslaved West African peoples and their descendants in Brazil as a way of maintaining their culture and traditions. In 2014, it was designated an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Describe capoeira for someone that has little to no knowledge of it Capoeira is a fusion of martial arts, acrobatics, dance, and music. It is typically performed in a roda – the circle in which the game is played. Everyone participates within the roda ,, whether as one of the two contestants, as a musician playing an instrument such as the pandeiro , a hand frame drum, or berimbau , a musical bow, to set the rhythm, or as a spectator, singing and clapping. There are three styles of capoeira: capoeira Angola – the traditional style; capoeira regional; and capoeira contemporânea. Traditional capoeira Angola leans more heavily into the playful game of capoeira (the dance and the music) whereas capoeira regional, which was founded in the 1930s by Mestre Bimba*, is more acrobatic and more of your typical martial art. The modern capoeira contemporânea is a combination of the two styles. *Mestre – a keen linguist might notice the similarity to Maestro or Master, a Mestre is a master practitioner of capoeira and Mestre Bimba, as you might guess, is a legend of the art. What do you enjoy most about capoeira? Qaa’sim: Capoeira maintains a strong link to African culture and is an active, holistic way to engage with and learn about Brazilian culture and history. Billy: The happiness of capoeira and the positive energy within the sessions. No matter how bad your day has been, capoeira is a way to bring positive energy back into the day. How can students get involved with capoeira? Capoeira Society run weekly one-hour sessions on Thursdays from 5-6pm in Monica Partridge, in room B02, which are taught by Qaa’sim. Aimed at beginners, the sessions don’t teach any specific style of capoeira. Instead they are focused on the music, movements and flow of capoeira, such as the ginga – the fundamental movement in capoeira, the sway, performed by placing both feet shoulder-width apart and moving one foot back and forth – as well as kicks, escapes, and sequences. Make sure to follow Capoeira Society on Instagram to find out more about the society and the art of capoeira and to keep up to date with their sessions! 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! Culture Spotlight: Capoeira Society Aidan Cross 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: culture spotlight capoeira brazil Aidan Cross interview Categories: Cultural Spotlight 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

Foreign Film in the Face of Western Commercialism Francesca Beaumont Tuesday, 6 December 2022 Francesca gives a short exploration into the logistics of English-speaking Filmmaking in comparison to Foreign films In a society that prioritises constant media consumption above all else, the cultural significance of foreign cinema is more important than ever. A certain commercial element plagues the English-speaking films we consume so offhandedly. This is because for a film to be popular enough to be hosted by cinemas it must follow what is known as the four-quadrant system of film production. That is, for a film to be deemed ‘worthy’ of having companies' money funnelled into it, it must appeal to at least two of the four quadrants: Males under 25’s, Females under 25’s, Males over 25, Females over 25. This fiscal phenomenon is at the epicentre of contemporary western films and acts as a major block in creating something with real artist autonomy and integrity. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the leading example of this loveless disregard of the creative. Clark for Business Insider noted that “In total the MCU has earned more than 25 billion dollars worldwide, making it the biggest movie franchise.” Films amassing this level of wealth are never curated by the creative with experimental liberty, but rather via large corporations churning out the same formulaic, hero beats bad guy narrative that appeals to all four major quadrants. This specifically western need to constantly align the narrative to the most stable path of revenue is also apparent within the western casting process. From nepotism babies to influencers, our film industry commonly casts actors, not on merit or talent, but rather on which celebrities can generate the highest revenue. A topical example of this is Harry Styles, who monopolised on his musical fame to push himself into the film industry. In Geoffrey Macnab’s review for The Independent of Don’t Worry Darling (2022. dir. Olivia Wilde) he claims that “Styles gives a surprisingly dull and low-wattage performance.” That is “Nowhere near as captivating as the tabloid frenzy surrounding it.” The fiscal incentive is not completely alien to foreign film franchises, but it is a recognised truth that other film industries operate on a less capitalist ethic. It can be argued that foreign films have the space for more profound plots to be explored. Take, for example, Drive My Car (dir. Ryusuke Hamaguchi. 2021) and Decision to Leave (dir. Park Chan-Wook. 2022), both contemporary foreign films that rail against our formulaic plot and thus treat their audiences as people capable of dissecting intricacies that many of our films do not allow us to explore. Time and time again foreign films are overshadowed by the release of something less authentic, but English. In Bong Joon-Ho’s (Dir. ‘Parasite’ 2019) Oscar Speech he claimed that “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” By actively engaging with films outside the scope of western cinema you expose yourself to a wider range of perspectives, plots, and personalities. This is not to say that there is no enjoyability factor within our films, but more to suggest that a wider scope of artistic expression is stifled and not achieved under our current commercial system of filmmaking, and we should consider foreign films as something just as worthy of consumption. About the Author Francesca is a Philosophy student, who loves reading Lingo articles as she is really interested in languages, travelling and culture. So thought she'd try write some of her own! Encanto: The Deeper Meaning Behind Disney's Award-winning Latino Film Mhairi MacLeod An evening of 'Santi' Emily Brown Foreign Film in the Face of Western Commercialism Francesca Beaumont 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: Francesca Beaumont Film Hollywood Foreign Film Cinema Categories: Culture Analysis Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

The Zone of Interest (2023) - the new film from director Jonathan Glazer Sarah Taylor Wednesday, 22 May 2024 Film review of director Jonathan Glazer's 2023 film; 'The Zone of Interest' CW: mentions of the Holocaust and concentration camps The film centres around one family, and particularly their family home. For most of us the family home is a place of sanctuary. This is also true in this case but it is the complete acceptance that the location of the family home is within yards of Auschwitz the concentration camp, and all of its horrors, many of which can be heard throughout the film, acting as a reminder that certain people were in complete denial to the pain inflicted upon others. It portrays detachment and how dangerous that can be. The dialogue and particular scenes relay the ease planning to kill large groups of people in such a matter-of-fact way, and with the agreement that the process is very effective and beneficial to the German people. The film is full of scenes of idyllic family activities and the sheer delight the family take in playing in the garden with no acknowledgement or care of what is taking place just a few yards away from them. Against the backdrop of this idyllic family life shows the desperation and harsh living conditions of the camp. The film uses a negative exposure of a girl planting apples to convey the danger attached to it, the risk of eating one of them, and the desperation of trying to help where help is so needed. The film’s eerie soundtrack reminds me of Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, in the sense that it conveys the true horror of what life now had become; dark, terrifying sounds like a roaming Pterodactyl taking over, projecting violent intentions with only one outcome. As in Kubrick’s film, this music plays during scenes of foreboding horror as a kind of warning of what is about to happen. The juxtaposition is the most fascinating part of the film, life and death set side by side, joy over sadness and happiness against misery. This is intensified by the mise-en-scene: the colours of the flowers, green grass and fertile sole against the backdrop of grey high walls; unfeeling, sterile, cold, and still, where everything struggles to live or breath. The representation of dogs is another contrast, for the German family their dog is a loving pet but to the prisoners in the camp they are to be feared, an imminent threat and a source of potential pain. The film highlights how objects, animals, food, and shelter can have two different meanings depending on what situation you find yourself in. The necessities of life are all very present in the house and garden – food is prepared and eaten, and water is easily used in summertime activities, something that is all too absent over the wall and all too keenly felt with disastrous consequences. The haves and have-nots are essentially what this film portrays. The fact that the essential necessities were taken away from people and these people were completely dehumanised. The film conveys the dangers of this – when compassion and empathy are missing and what that can lead to. About the Author Sarah is a staff member here at the University working as a Senior Research Administrator for the Faculty of Engineering. She loves writing and culture, and thought that Lingo Mag would be a fantastic opportunity to combine both passions. She also loves photography, books, history and walking. 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 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: film holocaust 1943 review 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! 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

24 hours in... Barcelona Grace Whitaker Tuesday, 26 April 2022 Grace, currently on her Year Abroad in Spain, gives us a snapshot into her girls’ trip to Barcelona. Read on to find out her top tips and best recommendations for anyone who wants to visit the Catalonian capital. For the Spanish part of my Year Abroad, I opted to study at the University of Valencia, on the eastern coast of Spain. Barcelona lies just a couple of hours north on a high-speed train and so naturally, my friends and I planned a weekend girls’ trip there. Here’s what we did with our 24 hours in Barcelona. 12 am – Barcelona’s Nightlife Barcelona has some of the best nightclubs in Europe and in true European fashion, they open and close later than our beloved Nottingham counterparts. We decided to go to Downtown , which is situated in the University Zone of Barcelona. Normally, there is an entry fee, however, on certain nights you can get in for free through Shaz Guest List (a Barcelona-based Instagram account that gives you free entry to clubs). The club plays an eclectic mix of anglophone music as well as Hispanic reggaeton. The décor was muy guay (very cool) with huge LED lights on the walls. Also with the metro running 24 hours in Barcelona, it was easily one of the best (and cheapest) nights out of my Year Abroad. 11 am – Parc Güell One of the must-see attractions in Barcelona is Parc Güell, where you can view some amazing houses designed by Gaudi. It is a steep climb to the top, but the viewpoint and the park itself are phenomenal. As well as this, how close you can get to the houses allows you to really admire them and immerse yourself in Gaudi’s art. Throughout the park, there are plenty of benches, so I recommend bringing a picnic and embracing the landscape around you. 2 pm – Sagrada Familia Perhaps the most famous site in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia truly lives up to its reputation. Looking up at this magnificent church, you truly can appreciate the depth in detail as well as its immense scale. As a student, you can buy a discounted ticket to the basilica, which includes an engaging audio guide. The inside, framed by several coloured stained-glass windows, is just as astonishing as the exterior. There was a certain serenity felt upon entering; I would certainly recommend this to anyone visiting Barcelona. 5pm – Moco Museum. In Barcelona, you will find an array of excellent museums. Moco was the one we decided to visit, a modern art museum with a sensory and light experience. This was undoubtedly the highlight of my trip. With artwork from Andy Warhol to Dalí to Damien Hirst as well as an instagrammable sensory experience. It was easily the best 9 euros I have spent! It is situated in the beautiful Gothic quarter, which is also worth a wander around. 7pm – Dinner Living on the continent as a vegetarian can be difficult, often being limited to Italian restaurants. Thanks to TikTok, I found this amazing vegan fast-food restaurant called Vegan Junk Food Bar . As someone who has tried very few non-meat substitutes, I was slightly sceptical about the taste and texture of the food before dining here. However, both the food and cocktails were delicious and definitely changed my opinion on vegan substitutes. Sunset – The Bunker To finish off the day, watching the sunset at Bunkers del Carmel is a must. The Bunker is essentially a large hill with a panoramic view of Barcelona, from the sea to the Sagrada Familia. Unfortunately for us, the sky was cloudy and therefore we were not treated to the golden sky that we were hoping for. However, the view itself is worth the climb. I had such a good time on my trip to Barcelona and we managed to see many of the fantastic sites it has to offer. It is definitely worth a visit for anyone who finds themselves in Spain on their Year Abroad! About the Author Grace is a final year languages student studying French and Spanish. She is openly a member of the LGBTQIA community - an area she would love to focus on in her articles! Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse 7 Reasons to visit Santo Domingo Millie Adams Images provided by Grace Whitaker. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Grace Whitaker Barcelona Food Spain 24 Hours Culture Categories: Travel City Guide Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! 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Spanish and Mandarin < Back Mhairi MacLeod Mhairi is currently in her final year studying Spanish and Chinese. On her year abroad, Mhairi spent her time in Barcelona, Taiwan and Peru. She joined Lingo Mag as Deputy Editor 2022/23 to share her enthusiasm for languages, culture, and travel. "Learning a language is so much more than memorising verb patterns and grammar. Immersing yourself in films, books and music is where the magic happens." Latest Articles by this Author YEAR ABROAD TALES: the highs and lows of au pairing 24/05/22 Encanto: The Deeper Meaning Behind Disney's Award-winning Latino Film 15/02/22 Violeta by Isabel Allende: One Hundred Years on the South American Continent 29/04/22 The International Booker Prize 2022 Revealed: The Award that Celebrates Authors and their Equally Gifted Translators 10/04/22 Celebrating Women in Languages this International Women’s Day 08/03/22

Hispanic Studies < Back Aysha Harris As someone who has been brought up in a bilingual household and across several countries, similarities and differences in languages and different customs are one of my key interests. Lingo explores these topics and beyond in a digestable and informative manner most importantly. I also enjoy running and all sorts of arts and crafts. Latest Articles by this Author

Rugby: A culture of respect? Eleanor Curtis Sunday, 26 November 2023 Following the recent Rugby World Cup, there has been an increase in discussion about the role of the referee. For a sport sometimes famed for the interpersonal respect demonstrated by players and coaches alike, the criticism of referees is surprising, and perhaps symptomatic of changes within the sport. Invented in 1823, rugby has remained a globally popular sport for 200 years. The game is regulated by many old and convoluted laws, and each match is governed by an on-field referee. The referee is respected; they manage the game like a teacher would manage a class. Players will address referees with deference, accept their decisions graciously, and allow them to advise on and guide the direction of play. The most recent Rugby World Cup has, however, called this status quo into question. Held in France, with the final occurring on the 28th of October, this year’s men’s World Cup title was retained by the South African side, who clung onto their precarious title with a 12-13 scoreline against New Zealand. They had previously beaten England and France to get to the final. In the quarter final, played on the 15th of October, there was a similarly narrow scoreline, with the victors beating the vanquished by only one point (FRA 28-29 RSA). This match sparked debates over the quality of refereeing in the competition, with Ben O’Keefe of New Zealand being criticised for slow and inconsistent decisions. This came to light after an early moment in which he stopped play due to a slap-down by Eben Etzebeth, disrupting the flow of the play as France were still in possession of the ball. Head Coach of Les Bleus claimed that this incident was ‘key’ in allowing the Springboks to equalise and eventually win the match. O’Keefe has been criticised by French captain Antoine DuPont, who said in a post-match interview that the referee was ‘not up to the challenge’ presented by the match. O’Keefe also presided over the World Cup semi-final, in which South Africa took victory from English hands, with the Springboks leading for a mere 2 and a half minutes and closing the game at 15-16. Given the close nature of their knock-out encounters, it is possible that referee decisions allowed them to gain these slight advantages, with missed penalties and the slowing of match speed brought about by new laws and inconsistent mastery of others. The final match of the cup was refereed by the Englishman Wayne Barnes, who showed the first recorded red card in a final to Kiwi player Sam Cane for a high tackle. This required the use of the Television Match Officials or TMOs, a relatively new entity which exists to review the escalation of a yellow card to a red card in an isolated environment away from the field. A yellow card automatically incurs a penalty of 10 minutes off pitch, during which, if signalled by the on-field referee, the off-field officials will deliberate if a red card is needed. Therefore, decisions are removed from the field, potentially leading to a breakdown of respect on field. There was another incident in the final where the TMOs were involved in the disallowance of All Black’s Aaron Smith’s try, following a knock on. The TMOs only have the right to look back two phases, thus missing the broader context of Kiwi possession for four phases in the run up to the try. Since the final, this try has been reviewed and World Rugby have conceded that the disallowance was unlawful, and the try should have stood. This potentially could have led to a kiwi victory. Following the final, Wayne Barnes, an esteemed referee with an extensive international career of 111 tests, has received threats against his life for the decisions he made on the field, and their potential to change the outcome of the match. Ben O'Keefe has received similar threats following his involvements in the RSAs two other knockout matches. These situations draw into question the very DNA of Rugby: has the culture of respect degraded so much that referees are targeted and blamed for their decisions, even after the players have left the field? For those of us who are interested in rugby, it is unnatural to see this level of impolite conduct. Therefore, we must question the direction of the sport. In further questioning, should the TMO system be retained, despite arguments that it causes more problems than it solves? This level of discussion following the end of a competition is unprecedented, and surely something must change for the sport to continue its legacy as the game that we know and love. About the Author Eleanor was Lingo's Treasurer for 2023-24. She is very interested in cultures across the world, and how languages and history influence these. She loved being a part of Lingo Magazine, a collaborative community showcasing all the elements of language and culture that our world has to offer! Film in Flux: Conflating Creativity and Artificial Intelligence at Gothenburg Film Festival Francesca Beaumont Falling for Autumn: why are autumn traditions in the US so at odds with the weather? Eleanor Curtis Rugby: A culture of respect? Eleanor Curtis 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: sport current affairs rugby culture debate Eleanor Curtis Categories: Global Culture 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

How to ace being a solo female traveller Chloe Brewster Thursday, 27 October 2022 Chloe, a French finalist, describes the advantages of travelling solo during the year abroad and how to do so successfully! Usually when we think of holidays abroad, we visualise being surrounded by friends, family, or partners, which corresponds to the social norms of travel. But what about travelling solo , particularly for women ? The world is sometimes seen as a ‘dangerous’ place for a woman, more so if she is alone, but there is something empowering and exciting about embracing yourself and evolving into a self-assured solo female traveller. And why not discover this side of yourself during your year abroad? The background Prior to my study placement in France last year, I had only embarked on a handful of solo day trips (who hasn’t treated themselves to a cosy afternoon in a chilled coffee shop?), so I threw myself somewhat blindly in the phenomenon of solo travel. My first big ‘trip’ took place during a freezing February weekend to Munich, which was just over five hours away by coach. I braved a rather long coach journey to the Bavarian capital which was perhaps not the most comfortable mode of transport, yet it only cost £15 per way from my departure point (Strasbourg). A win-win and proves that you can be both a brave and a savvy solo traveller! Since those exhilarating and magical forty-eight hours in Munich earlier this year, I have embraced my inner traveller and travelled solo several times for the sheer enjoyment of it. Is it always easy? Not at all, and it wouldn’t be fair to gloss over the difficult moments that you may experience once in a while (top tip – always bring a phone charger so that you never risk being cut off from Google Maps!). But it is those challenges and hurdles which strengthen and make you into the dynamic person that you are destined to be. Marienplatz, Munich (Germany). With some hard-fought wisdom and perspective, here are some top tips for successfully acing solo female travel: Be organised You have probably gritted your teeth many times when your head of year has implored everyone to be ‘organised’ and keep track of things, but I really can’t stress this point enough. Your future travelling self will be grateful if you make some plans in advance. For example, download maps of the key places that you will be visiting during your trip, such as the train/bus station or airport in case you lose internet access. Don’t panic if you can’t find the bus station twenty minutes before the final one leaves like I once did in Munich – being prepared will hopefully keep you cool (albeit not in a scorching Parisian heatwave!) come what may. The same also applies for accommodation (Airbnb, hotel, hostel) – prepare all documentation and check-in beforehand if necessary. Unlike in the UK, proof of ID is generally mandatory in European countries, so keep your passport/visa with you to check-in with ease (and in case you are stopped for proof of identity which can happen). Of course, the trip should be about having fun but sorting out the basics makes a difference so you can enjoy yourself without worry. Stay safe An obvious, yet undeniably important element of solo travel is ensuring your safety. Perhaps this factor is the most influential in discouraging more young women from travelling independently, but it needn’t be a barrier. Websites such as the Solo Female Travellers Club and numerous social media groups aimed at female travellers are really helpful for advice and support in planning and going about your travels. Certain countries are regarded as ‘safer’ for female travellers so it may boost your confidence if you visit those places first before adventuring further afield. So do your research but aware stereotypes and don’t automatically dismiss places which are deemed ‘dangerous.’ During my solo travels, I made sure to message a friend or family member every so often (usually to send some of the many pictures I had taken during my museum or cultural visits!) and carried an alarm just in case anything happened. These small measures can be very reassuring and are often part and parcel of women’s daily lives, whether we are going out with friends or travelling abroad. Musée des Beaux-Arts (Dijon) Meet other people! When you are travelling solo, there is no right or wrong way to do it. You should simply pursue the activities that interest you the most - otherwise, why go travelling?. But of course, the experience is even more enriching when you can meet and speak to other people which truly transforms you into a global citizen. For example, the below picture of myself in the Musée d’Orsay was taken by a fellow solo female traveller who I then pictured because, despite our linguistic and cultural differences, we shared a common aspiration: travelling and immersing ourselves in foreign cultures (and fabulous art!). It is those unexpected encounters which are usually the most poignant during a solo trip abroad because you probably wouldn’t meet these people – especially those who are alone – if you were travelling in a group, and so being a solo traveller broadens your perspective of the people surrounding you. If you are really keen to make friends during your trip, go on guided walking tours of cities or stay in a hostel (many have female-only dorms). After meeting a fellow Erasmus student in a tour of Munich, I subsequently visited a majestic palace with her and treasure those memories. Hostels can be hit-or-miss but you definitely have more opportunities to socialise and encounter fellow solo travellers than if you stay in accommodation alone. In my artistic element at the Musée d’Orsay (and gratefully escaping the 35c heatwave!) You do you! What often holds back young women from travelling alone is the fear of being stigmatised or judged for being ‘lonely’ and ‘friendless.’ Indeed, there have been awkward moments when I have asked for a ‘table for one’ in certain eateries, and yes the world really does need to evolve into being a more hospitable place for solo people, especially women. But don’t wait until that happens – go out there, do what you want, explore for as many hours as your feet can tolerate, eat your heart out in a restaurant even when surrounded by couples or groups. It takes a certain strength and audacity to be your authentic self , and you will discover more about yourself by taking the plunge and travelling. And who knows, your friends may want to follow suit, too! About the Author Chloe is a final year French student who has studied abroad in Strasbourg and wants to share her experiences of travelling - including as a solo female - in Europe. She is particularly interested in French culture (if there is a fine arts museum around, she will find it!), but living in Strasbourg has exposed her to other cultures (German, Swiss, Luxembourgish, you get the gist...). 24 Hours as an English Student in Paris: A Survival Guide Kit Sinclair Saving your centimes: How to do Paris on a Budget Francesca Wren YEAR ABROAD TALES: A Reflection on Being LGBTQIA Abroad Grace Whitaker Images provided by Chloe Brewster. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Chloe Brewster Solo Travel Abroad Germany France Categories: Travel Tips 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! LOAD MORE

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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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