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Packing flashcards, Pandas and Polyglotty Olympics

By Patrick Cox ⋅ March 4, 2010 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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Our top five language stories this month: why the disappearance of the Bo language is a big deal; the Olympics are being broadcast for the first time in, among other languages, Cree; when pandas move from the U.S. to China, do they have to learn a new language?; lawsuits concerning Arabic flashcards in hand baggage and speaking Spanish in English-only school; and the Pentagon’s latest attempts to equip soldiers with real-time speaking translator-bots.
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A Chinese Valentine’s pod

By Patrick Cox ⋅ February 15, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Hundreds of language programs at public schools have become victims of shrinking budgets. Not Chinese. We visit an inner city high school where 400 students are learning Chinese. Also, don’t be fooled: the language of love is not universal, not unless you keep you mouth shut. That’s the view of an American woman who endlessly misunderstands the amorous words of her German-speaking lover. Plus, bodice-ripping our way out of the recession: romance novels are more popular than ever.Download MP3

China’s dirty water problem

By The World ⋅ February 11, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Dr. Peter Gleick about China’s massive water pollution problems. The Chinese government reported this week that levels of common water pollutants were twice as high as they had previously thought.

Obama’s new words, Avatar in the Amazon and a Chinese satire

By Patrick Cox ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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As Obama enters the second year of his presidency, he’s dropped some expressions — “war on terror”, “Af-Pak”, even “Middle East”. His administration has invented a few too: “remotedly piloted aircraft” (drones) and “overseas contingency operations” (wars). Also, a special screening of Avatar in Ecuador for indigenous groups. What did these Shuar and Achuar speakers think of Avatar’s invented language, Na’vi? Finally, a new online satirical movie is all the rage in China. It features a Chinese double-entendre phrase aimed at avoiding government censorship. The movie also includes a fantastic “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” rant.
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World Books Review: Perils of the Pansexual

By World Books ⋅ January 23, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

This novel about a young woman who wakes up to find that her big toe has become a penis was a major bestseller in Japan, and it’s easy to see why. The book is titillating, disturbing without being disgusting, and reads like a self-help guide on the subjects of sex and love.

Confucius versus Avatar

By The World ⋅ January 22, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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James Cameron’s sci-fi spectacular ‘Avatar’ is hugely popular in China, but the government has been pulling it out of various theaters to replace it with the new epic about the life of Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher, starring Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-fat. Mary Kay Magistad went to the movies to find out what people in China make of this. Download MP3

BBC coverage
Confucius movie trailer

Japan’s “foreigners”

By The World ⋅ January 21, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Japan’s parliament is considering letting “permanent foreign residents” vote in local elections. That basically means people of Korean descent, some of whom were born in Japan and have lived there their whole lives. It’s a politically sensitive issue and, as Akiko Fujita reports, the bill has sparked a fierce public debate. Download MP3

Koreans in Japan

Chinese dissident on trial for subversion

By The World ⋅ December 23, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo (pictured with his wife Liu Xia in 2002) has gone on trial in Beijing on charges of “inciting subversion of state power”. Liu, a prominent government critic and veteran of the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy protests, could be jailed for 15 years if convicted. He has been in jail since 2008, after being arrested for writing a document calling for political reform in China. The US, EU, and human rights groups say the trial is politically motivated and have called on Beijing to release Liu. China has dismissed criticism of the trial as an “unacceptable” attempt to interfere in its internal affairs. Mary Kay Magistad reports.

Philippine volcano ‘may erupt within days’

By The World ⋅ December 23, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Scientists in the Philippines have raised the alert level for the volatile volcano Mount Mayon, amid fears of an imminent eruption. The cone-shaped volcano has already been emitting lava and ash for days. About 40,000 people who live near Mount Mayon have been moved to temporary shelters. Marco Werman gets the latest from reporter Sunshine DeLeon in Manilla. Download MP3

BBC coverage
In pictures: Filipinos flee volcano

China in Copenhagen

By The World ⋅ December 17, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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China has resisted calls for it to agree to binding verifiable targets for reducing emissions. But people in China say their government should be willing to make a commitment in Copenhagen. The World’s Mary Kay Magistad reports from Beijing.

World Books: International Reads for the Holidays

By World Books ⋅ December 13, 2009 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

“Your Face Tomorrow, Volume Three: Poison, Shadow, and Farewell”: the final volume in Javier Marías’s trio of spy novels extraordinaire is part of World Book’s idiosyncratic round-up of first-rate international literary stocking stuffers.

North Korea’s strategic arsenal

By Michael Rass ⋅ December 11, 2009 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

kim150 North Korea says it will continue to co-operate with the United States on ending its nuclear program and agrees that stalled talks need to resume. The country’s foreign ministry said Pyongyang would work with Washington to “narrow remaining differences”. In June, the UN Security Council voted to impose tougher sanctions on communist North Korea, following a nuclear test carried by the North Koreans in defiance of previous UN resolutions.

Windows 7 in African languages, unfortunate baby names, and the new Klingon

By Patrick Cox ⋅ December 7, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Our top five language stories this month: African languages get their versions of Windows; the government of Moldova changes the name of the country’s official language; South Korean birthing centers go multilingual; unfortunate foreign meanings of baby names and how you can protect yourself; and Na’vi, invented for the silver screen, hopes to emulate Klingon.

Tokyo Vice

By The World ⋅ November 30, 2009 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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Tokyo Vice

Marco Werman talks with “Tokyo Vice” author Jake Adelstein. Adelstein’s new book chronicles his years covering Japanese organized crime and vice as a reporter for Japan’s Yomiuri Shinbun newspaper. Download MP3

Jake Adelstein reads an excerpt:

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Book information: Tokyo Vice
www.japansubculture.com

Words your grandmother taught you in Chinese, Dutch and Yiddish

By Patrick Cox ⋅ November 30, 2009 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Many people learned their first foreign words from their grandmothers. Marco Werman learned a Dutch curse. Nina Porzucki learned a Yiddish word that speaks to a certain Jewish mindset. Marilyn Chin learned insults, puns and tongue twisters, many of which later found their way into Chin’s poetry and fiction.
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