Archive for May, 2008
Podcast: Asking for and Giving Directions Posted by Transparent Language on May 29, 2008
Click to hear the Podcast! Today we’re going to learn how to ask for and how to give directions. Com licença, estou perdido. Estou procurando a Rua Vinícius de Moraes. Siga por esta rua aqui, direto. Vire à esquerda no próximo sinal. Depois, vire à direita. Irá ver o supermercado Sendas. Então vire à…
Translating Idiomatic Expressions: Part I Posted by Transparent Language on May 28, 2008
Conquering idiomatic expressions is an important hurdle when learning a language. That’s because these expressions do not literally translate and you have to understand what they actually mean. There are dozens in Portuguese, and when translated directly to English they sound very silly, so let’s take a look at the real meanings. 1. Chá comigo…
Jerusalem in Rio Posted by Transparent Language on May 27, 2008
This month, a new cultural center opened in Rio de Janeiro which features a 730 square-foot replica of Jerusalem from the era of the Second Temple. It is only the second of its kind, since the only other replica is housed at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem itself. The center is funded and run by…
Brazilian City Spotlight: Manaus, Amazonas Posted by Transparent Language on May 26, 2008
Manaus is the capital city of Amazonas state and has a fascinating history. The city was settled in 1669, and was named Manaus in 1832, which means “mother of the gods” in the indigenous language of the Manaos tribe. It became a major urban center during the rubber boom in the 1900s. Today, it has…
American Idol Comes to Brazil with Ídolos Posted by Transparent Language on May 25, 2008
Many American TV shows have been adopted for Brazilian television, and American Idol is one of them. Auditions are underway in four cities to search for the next Brazilian idol, on Ídolos. This past weekend, auditions were held in Rio de Janeiro at the famous Sambodrome, home of Rio’s Carnival. Over 8,000 people came to…
Corpus Christi Tradition: Street Carpets Posted by Transparent Language on May 22, 2008
Today is Corpus Christi, a Catholic holiday that is also a national celebration in Brazil. It is a tradition to create tapetes (carpets) in the streets made of different organic materials like salt, flowers, and wood chips, usually with religious themes. They are often kilometers long, extremely intricate, and are along procession routes. The creations…
Brazilian Profile: Jorge Amado Posted by Transparent Language on May 21, 2008
Jorge Amado is one of Brazil’s most famous and beloved novelists. Born in 1912 on a cocoa plantation in the state of Bahia, he grew up in the coastal town of Ilhéus, where he set many of his novels. He went to high school in Salvador and begin his career in writing. He published his…