Archive for June, 2017
Portuguese in Hindi (Part 3): A Tale of Trade, Travel and Cultural Tension Posted by Rachael on Jun 26, 2017
Welcome back/आपका स्वागत है (Aapka svaagat hai)/Bem vindo de volta! Parts 1 and 2 of this blog series were devoted to the history of Portuguese rule and presence in India; however, the end goal of this series was to discuss the Portuguese language’s influence on Hindi, which will be addressed in this entry. Although the…
Professions Posted by Nitya on Jun 16, 2017
When you are in a new place, exchanging pleasantries and sharing a few things about yourself always serve as great ice-breakers. For example, when I was traveling in a colectivo in Mexico one summer, an elderly gentleman struck up a conversation with me. When he found out that I am a teacher, the conversation took…
Portuguese in Hindi (Part 2): A Tale of Trade, Travel and Cultural Tension Posted by Rachael on Jun 7, 2017
Hello again, everyone! फिर से नमस्ते सब लोग/phir se namaste sab log or, as my Portuguese-speaking friends would say it, Olá de novo gente! That’s right, this week’s blog will be a continuation of where we left off last time: a discussion of the history and legacy of the Portuguese in India. If you missed…
Slangs and Colloquialisms Posted by Nitya on Jun 3, 2017
Language, life, and culture are inextricably entwined in a way that they can be exprienced in their richest forms when one is immersed in them, all at once. The point I’m trying to make is that learning a language is never as simple as grammar, syntax, vocabulary, or literature. The culture and locals often infuse…