The Language Feed - December 17, 2004

[Harold F. Schiffman]

The Language Feed
December 17, 2004

This issue and archives can be read on the web at
http://mason.gmu.edu/~smorris2/feed
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Districts' results mixed for English-language learners
The Arizona Republic, December 16 (email: language at yahoo.com, password:
language)
Several high-achieving Valley school districts failed to pass the
state's latest school accountability measure - educating
English-language learners.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1216ell.html


Language barrier? Just deal with it
Boston Herald, December 15
No habla espanol? No problema, thanks to Communicards, the
conversation-free guide to getting good help.
http://theedge.bostonherald.com/lifeNews/view.bg?articleid=58888


Third Language Area in Brain Identified
Forbes, December 13
 British scientists say they've identified a third area of the brain
involved in language, a finding that seems to confirm previous theories.
http://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/health/feeds/hscout/2004/12/13/hscout522772.html


French eye imams for language course
The Washington Times, December 12
 France is intensifying efforts to integrate its large Muslim minority
by trying to create a generation of French-speaking imams equipped with
some knowledge of law and diplomas from Parisian universities, including
the Sorbonne.
http://washingtontimes.com/world/20041211-114116-1908r.htm

Cooing of mothers to babies may explain origin of language, research
suggests
Kansas City Star, December 16
(email: language at yahoo.com, password: language)
Every parent is familiar with "motherese," that slow, high-pitched,
singsong tone that mothers all over the world use to talk to their babies.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/10433310.htm


UV light might color tribes' languages
Baltimore Sun, December 17, 2004 (username: langfeed, password: language)
Dozens of tropical cultures have no word for the color we know as blue,
and two researchers say they've discovered why: The people who live in
those areas can't see it.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-hs.color17dec17,1,7375745.story?coll=bal-health-headlines


Care in Their Own Language
The Connection, December 16
Korean students will soon graduate with a license to be personal care
assistants, thanks to a Northern Virginia Community College program.
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=44104&paper=73&cat=104


Traditional Bhutan becoming multilingual:
New Kerala, December 17
Bhutan's national language Dzongkha continues to be the preferred spoken
language in the country but, as the tiny Himalayan kingdom opens out to
the world, English dominates as the language for reading and writing
among high school students and educators.
http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=48436

Committee to chart future course for foreign language
Brookline Tab, December 16
Although mindful of the town's projected fiscal constraints, Brookline
parents and teachers are hopeful that the elementary world language
program will be restored.
http://www2.townonline.com/brookline/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=147199


Bad news dominates in coining year's new phrases
London Free Press, December 16
This was the year of the wardrobe malfunction, a televised breast-baring
event of such phenomenal interest that everyone talked about it -- and
the English language was enriched by it.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/12/16/784846-sun.html

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