Devils, Seasons and Queens: What’s in an Italian Pizza Name? (Corrected!) Posted by Malachi Rempen on Jul 4, 2016 in Archived Posts
There’s pizza, and then there’s la pizza. From the simple margherita to the robust quattro stagioni, there’s more than meets the eye – or taste buds – in the names of Italy’s favorite children. Update: I’ve been schooled! Our resident Italian bloggers, Geoff and Serena, read this post and have a few choice corrections to make. I’ve updated this…
Of Polyglots and Multilinguals Posted by Malachi Rempen on Jun 29, 2016 in Archived Posts
You’ve heard this word “polyglot,” no doubt, being thrown around a lot. What the heck does it mean? And what’s the difference between polyglots and multilinguals? And is a “dodecalingual” really a thing? “Polyglot” is kind of a funny word. It sounds more like some kind of insect larva (“after metamorphosis, the squirming polyglot will transform into…
Ch-ch-ch-changes on the Language and Culture Blogs Posted by meaghan on Jun 27, 2016 in Archived Posts
Welcome to the new Language and Culture blogs. If you’ve perused any of our two dozen+ language and culture blogs in the past few days, you’ve probably noticed a few changes. We’ve redesigned our blog experience with you in mind. Experience it on the big screen… or the small screen. Read on your desktop, tablet…
The Value in Learning Less Commonly Taught Languages Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Jun 22, 2016 in Archived Posts
Let’s be clear about one thing: while many folks behind finance blogs and money magazines continue to debate whether or not it’s “worth it” to learn a language, the entire rest of the world knows that this question has been conclusively answered for decades. Science, government, and the good old free market all agree that…
Whose Language Are You Learning? Posted by Malachi Rempen on Jun 20, 2016 in Archived Posts
When learning a new language, it will at some point become important to know which language you’re learning. What? Here’s the thing. There’s no such thing as a single language; meaning, there’s no objective object we can point to as “the German language,” or any language for that matter. It’s all in our collective heads. It’s not…
Welcome to Transparent Language Online 1.11 Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 15, 2016 in For Learners, Learning Feature Updates
Last year, we launched a new version of Transparent Language Online, featuring a more intuitive design, customizable learning path, and support on more mobile platforms, among other upgrades. We’ve enjoyed reviewing feedback from the many teachers, librarians, and individuals using the new system. While much of it was positive, there’s always room for improvement. In…
Learn a Bit Before You Go Posted by Malachi Rempen on Jun 13, 2016 in Archived Posts
When I travel to a country with a culture that’s different from my own by a considerable margin, I like to learn a bit of the language before going. I should do it with everywhere I travel, but I don’t. I just got back from a week in Madrid and Lisbon, but I just didn’t feel…