The Voice of Iran in Spanish

The Chinese and Russian government-run TV companies have fast-growing foreign language services. Now, Iran has got in on the act. It has launched Hispan TV, a Spanish language service aimed at Latin America.

Hadarat Nashim: The Exclusion of Women

A Hebrew expression that describes “the exclusion of women”, is a phrase that few Israelis would have heard a few months ago. Now, it’s become a household expression after Orthodox Jewish soldiers refused to attend events that involved women.

Hebrew Immersion Charter School in New York

A Hebrew immersion charter school in New York has attracted students from a diversity of backgrounds. But some educators worry that schools like this one are too narrow in their appeal.

How do you say refudiate in Belgian?

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In this week’s World in Words podcast: an Israeli-British study shows bilinguals respond differently depending on the language of the questions; Sarah Palin compares her coinage of new English words to Shakespeare’s; and Clark Boyd’s adventures in linguistically confused Belgium. Download MP3

Israelis mark National Hebrew Day

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A hundred-twenty years ago a scholar named Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, took a dead language and started adding words. Modern Hebrew is still a work in progress. The Academy of the Hebrew Language is constantly introducing new words to keep Israel’s national language up-to-date. Daniel Estrin reports. Download MP3

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Spanish prayers, Hebrew planet names and a Danish hangover

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We talk to the director and central figure in a PBS documentary about a Catholic church’s struggles with language. “Scenes From a Parish” follows the priests and parishioners of St Patrick’s in Lawrence, MA. The priests introduce more Spanish masses to cater to Lawrence’s predominantly Latino population. Some English-speaking parishioners are less than thrilled. Also, how do you say Neptune and Uranus in Hebrew? The answer used to be: Neptune and Uranus. Now the two planets have Hebrew names. Finally, a New Year’s Day hangover courtesy of the good people of Denmark
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Israel’s American weatherman

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One of Israel’s most popular weathermen retired last month after delivering weather updates on Hebrew-language radio for 39 years. Israelis loved listening to Robert Olinsky (pictured) for his most distinguishing feature: his thick American accent. Daniel Estrin has the story. Download MP3

• Jerusalem Post: The gift of gab

Your brain on language

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In this week’s World in Words podcast, a mom-and-pop effort to restore Arabic script to street signs in Israel. Also, author Katherine Russell Rich on learning Hindi at a language school in Rajasthan. Her book “Dreaming in Hindi” is also an investigation into what happens to our brains when we learn a learn a language. Plus, a somewhat shameful expression in Spanish.Download MP3

Israel’s road sign debate

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Last month, Israel’s new transport minister Israel Katz proposed an overhaul to his country’s road signs. Israeli signs are trilingual: Hebrew, Arabic and English. But Katz wants to remove Arabic and English city names and replace them with transliterations of the Hebrew names. Daniel Estrin reports from Jerusalem. >>> See more photos. (Photo credit: Daniel Estrin)