The Language Feed - January 23, 2005

Mon Jan 24 14:12:24 UTC 2005

Language lessons draw TV crew
Statesman Journal, January 22
Larry Conley's third-grade students tried to act normally Friday morning
as they discussed fire, based on pictures they saw in a book. But it was
a little hard sometimes with a boom microphone and a tiny camera
floating above their heads.
http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050122/NEWS/501220337/1001

Processing of emotions transcends language
Washington Times, January 21
A linguistic study finds little difference in the way residents of
Mexico City and Chicago process emotions.
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050121-040948-3797r.htm

A Language-Challenged U.S.
LA Times, January 22 (username: langfeed password: language)
Last year, leaders from business and government agencies met in Maryland
to address the extraordinary demand for employees who speak foreign
languages. You can bet they weren't looking for French or German
speakers. They need Mandarin, Korean and Arabic.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-language24jan22,1,1767471.story?coll=la-news-comment-editorials&ctrack=1&cset=true

Multiple language skills crucial for success
The Globe and Mail, January 19
Better brush up on those language skills. "The ability to speak more
than one language is critical to succeed in business in Europe,
Asia/Pacific and Latin America," executive recruiting firm Korn/Ferry
International said in a study released yesterday.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050119/CANOTE19-1/TPBusiness/General

Economy demands language skills
Arizona Republic, January 18
Of course, immigrants should learn the "official" language of the United
States. But it's foolish to ignore the fact that many are not fluent in
English.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0118tuelets184.html

Preserving the language
The Press-Enterprise, January 17 (email:language at yahoo.com, username:
language)
Anthropologists and linguists have been working on trying to preserve
indigenous American languages for decades. But there has been a surge of
interest in recent years, and the Inland Empire is seeing an increase in
the number of people involved in saving American Indian languages and
cultural history.
http://www.pe.com/lifestyles/stories/PE_Fea_Daily_languagetop17.57883.html

Language fight flares again in Belgium, but without the violence it once had
Canadian Press, January 16
Leafy Victor Mertens Street hardly looks like a front line, yet it's on
byways like this that Belgians are fighting their latest language battle.
http://www.canada.com/travel/story.html?id=82ee9570-624b-4dc1-b661-02f381a3cee9

You can't really 'talk to the animals'
San Francisco Chronicle, January 16
Alex, an African Grey parrot, knows what he wants and intends to get it.
"Want nut!" he squawks at his scientist owner, Irene Pepperberg.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/a/2005/01/16/RVGL1AM1P01.DTL&type=books

Sign language classes are on the rise
Boston Globe, January 23
Enrollments have soared in American Sign Language classes at colleges
around the United States, but many of the students are not planning to
become sign language interpreters or teachers for the deaf.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/01/23/sign_language_classes_are_on_the_rise/

Ho-Chunk study centers promote language, culture
La Crosse Tribune, January 23
In the first-floor conference room at the Ho-Chunk Nation Three Rivers
House in La Crosse, Chenoa Bruguier sits cross-legged in a chair. Her
ponytail bobbing, she quickly responds when the elder in front of her
holds up a card of common animals.
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2005/01/23/news/z05ho.txt

Language of Barams facing extinction
The Rising Nepal, January 22
The language of one of the most marginalised indigenous communities
‘Baram’ is on the verge of disappearing as the new generations does not
know the mother tongue.
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/pageloader.php?file=2005/01/23/topstories/main8a

Slips mark language development
UB Reporter, January 20
University of Buffalo researcher finds kids’ slips of the tongue reveal
what they know about language.
http://www.buffalo.edu/reporter/vol36/vol36n18/articles/Jaeger.html

Gay slang makes comeback
Reuters, January 23
How bona to vada your dolly old eek again! Polari, the gay slang used as
a secret underground language before the decriminalisation of
homosexuality in Britain back in the 1960s, is making a comeback.
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=658899

Huh? Is 'Please?' passé?
Cincinnati Enquirer, January 23
For years, Cincinnati sounded like the world's most polite city, the
place where "please" is passed around like hot sauce in a chili parlor.
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050123/LIFE/501230311

Does reading alter our reality?
Psychology Today, January 21
Summary: Focuses on a study which examined the association between the
familiarity with reverse alphabet characters and the ability to
distinguish mirror images among Tamil and English speakers in India.
http://cms.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20020101-000022.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are subscribed to the Language Feed. To unsubscribe, send and email
to smorris2 at gmu.edu. Feedback is always welcome. Send yours to
smorris2 at gmu.edu.