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Schlumps and schleppers
When it comes to insults, few languages can compete with Yiddish. In this wonderfully evocative language, even something as simple as the English equivalent 'fool' can be said to be a shmutte, a...
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The unspeakable…
Cursing and swearing are practised worldwide, and they generally involve using the local version of a small set of words describing an even smaller set of taboos that surround God, family, sex and the...
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Executive Essentials
Conclusions cannot always be drawn about historical connections. Some words are similar in numerous languages. Linguistic research has led to the theory of an Ur-language (Indo-European) spoken some...
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Spelling bee controversy
A Yiddish word has caused controversy at America's annual spelling contest, Scripp's National Spelling Bee. Thirteen year old Arvind Mahankali spelled the word "knaidel" to beat 11 other contestants...
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A festival for the world’s rarest languages (and Welsh is included!)
Did you know there's a festival for the world's rarest languages? Neither did I! This festival is called the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and it's held in Washington D.C. This year's events begin on...
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