The World in Words focuses on language. We cover everything from bilingual education to the globalization of English to untranslatable foreign phrases. You’ll learn how to insult someone in Icelandic, among other things. Hosted by The World’s Patrick Cox.
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The World in Words
The Many Historical Twists and Turns of Spanish
A conversation with writer Julie Barlow. Barlow and Jean-Benoit Nadeau are co-authors of “The Story of Spanish,” their follow-up to “The Story of French.” Though linguistically similar to French, Spanish has evolved with more freedom and variation, and is now far more widely spoken than French.
Penmanship and Personality: An Ode to the Handwritten Note
From a loved one’s hasty scrawl to Jack Lew’s “manufactured” signature, how much do people reveal about themselves in their handwriting? Author Philip Hensher says quite a bit, though not as much as handwriting experts sometimes claim. Hensher argues that digital communications deprive us of the intimacy of handwriting
How to Fake an Accent and Get Away With It
“Matilda,” now a Broadway hit, has a cast full of Americans doing British accents. We usually think of actors as carrying off the best fake accents. But others do it, sometimes with great success. What’s the secret?
Northern Ireland’s Past Through a Father’s Lens and Son’s Songs
The melding of photographs and songs help tell the story of Northern Ireland’s recent violent history. The photos were taken in the 1970s and 80s by award winning photojournalist Bobbie Hanvey. The songs are by Bobbie’s son, Steafán Hanvey.
A New Protestant Beginning for the Irish Language in Belfast
The Irish language used to be a symbol of Catholic nationalism. But it’s gradually becoming de-politicized, morphing into just another minority language in need of saving. You can see evidence of that change in community halls in Belfast, where a few Protestants are learning Irish.
Will New Words Change How We Think About Illegal Immigration?
The Associated Press is dropping the term, ‘illegal immigrant.’ Why? And what term to use in its place? We offer some suggestions from some non-English language media.
A New Beginning for the Kurdish Language in Turkey?
The Turkish government is loosening restrictions on teaching Kurdish in public schools. The question is whether it’s a political ploy, or a real attempt at making peace with Turkey’s Kurds.
Sugar Sammy: Quebec’s Multilingual Court Jester
Samir Khullar aka Sugar Sammy is the son of Indian immigrants who at home spoke Punjabi and Hindi, at school studied in French, and learned to tell jokes in English. He’s now taking his native Quebec by storm with stand-up comedy delivered in four languages.
‘Amnesty’: Sensitive Word in the Immigration Debate
A key sticking point to passing an immigration reform package in Congress will be how to handle the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US. It’ll be tough to sort out, especially since many can’t even agree on a proper term for the process.
Hamas Puts Hebrew in the Curriculum
Hamas rejects Israel’s right to exist. So, it might come as a surprise to hear that Hamas-run schools in Gaza have started offering Hebrew language classes. Government-run schools in Gaza put the main language of the Jewish State on the curriculum at the start of the school year.
Is French Still Vulnerable in Quebec?
A new round of skirmishes in Quebec’s war over language has broken out. The province’s largest party wants to further protect French, but some say “Non!” if that comes at the expense of English.
What Beatboxing Tells Us About Language Acquisition
Beatboxers make sounds most of us think we can’t make. Sounds that native English speakers usually have trouble making. Sounds sometimes borrowed from other languages. So say researchers at the University of Southern California.
Five Foreign Language Films You Might’ve Missed
Aaron Schachter talks with KCRW film critic Matt Holzman about some of his favorite foreign language films that didn’t make the cut to the Oscars this year.
Obama’s Simple Rhetoric, and Rubio’s Spanish Reply
Was President Obama’s rhetoric “dumber” than that of George Washington, as The Guardian claimed after analyzing State of the Union speeches over the years? Also, was Senator Marco Rubio’s Spanish language response effective in turning Latino heads and attitudes?
The Pope’s Big News Came in … Latin
He speaks Latin, he tweets in Latin, he even brought back the Latin mass. Now Pope Benedict has resigned in Latin, and not everyone understood what he was saying.
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