Language News

Ramadan begins at Sunset on March 23, 2023. To all of our Muslim friends, we wish for you a blessed Ramadan.

Ramadan (Arabic: رَمَضَان, romanized: Ramaḍān [ra.ma.dˤaːn]; is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm), prayer, reflection and community. A commemoration of Muhammad’s first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts twenty-nine to thirty days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.

Fasting from dawn to sunset is fard (obligatory) for all adult Muslims who are not acutely or chronically ill, traveling, elderly, breastfeeding, diabetic, or menstruating. The predawn meal is referred to as suhur, and the nightly feast that breaks the fast is called iftar. Although fatwas have been issued declaring that Muslims who live in regions with a midnight sun or polar night should follow the timetable of Mecca, it is common practice to follow the timetable of the closest country in which night can be distinguished from day.

The spiritual rewards (thawab) of fasting are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan. Accordingly, during the hours of fasting Muslims refrain not only from food and drink, but also tobacco products, sexual relations, and sinful behavior, devoting themselves instead to salat (prayer) and study of the Quran.

-Wikipedia

The Complete Ramadan Guide: The Comprehensive Guide For Making Most Out Of The Holy Month Of Ramadan by Abdullah Sulaimon

Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam (Ramadan Books That Inspire the Heart) by A. Helwa

The Gift of Ramadan  by Rabiah York Lumbard 

Happy Holi! Holi festival (also known as the Festival of Colours, the Festival of Spring, or the Festival of Love) is one of the most important holidays in Hinduism. The festival marks the beginning of spring while celebrating the love between the Hindu gods Radha and Krishna. Holi also signifies triumph of good over evil . The festival is primarily celebrated in India, but is also celebrated in certain parts of asia and around the world as the Indian diaspora has spread throughout. Colored pigment powder is thrown and smeared onto celebrants to commemorate when Krishna invited Radha to color his face any color she wanted, as he was ashamed of his dark skin compared to her fair complexion. Radha did so and the two became a couple. Will you be celebrating Holi today?

March is women’s history Month and we would like to share and acknowledge some of the women who have changed history! 

Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman in space beginning in 1993, when she spent 9 days on the space Shuttle Discovery. She logged nearly 1,000 hours in space over the course of 4 missions between 1999 and 2002. Ochoa went on to become the first Hispanic Woman to be head of the Johnson Space Center. Ellen has recently accepted a position on the Board of Directors with SRI International, a non profit independent research institution, serving the government and industry with innovative solutions to the world’s most important problems. 

Ellen also wrote a bilingual children’s book We Are All Scientists / Todos somos científicos. 

Ellen Ochoa is a name that will go down in history as one of the most influential women in the field of space exploration. Not only was she the first Latin American astronaut to go to space, but she also served as the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, making her the first Hispanic woman to lead a NASA center. Ellen Ochoa’s career and contributions to NASA have left a lasting impact on the field of space exploration and continue to inspire young women and minorities to pursue careers in STEM fields.

Ellen Ochoa was born on May 10, 1958, in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in a family of immigrants, and her parents instilled in her a strong work ethic and a belief that education was the key to success. Ochoa was a gifted student and excelled in math and science. She went on to study physics at San Diego State University and earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

In 1990, Ochoa was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA. She completed her training and went on her first space mission in 1993 aboard the space shuttle Discovery. Ochoa’s primary role on the mission was to use the shuttle’s robotic arm to deploy a tracking and data relay satellite. She went on to participate in three more space missions, logging a total of 978 hours in space.

Ochoa’s accomplishments as an astronaut are impressive, but it is her leadership as the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center that sets her apart. She served as the director from 2013 to 2018 and was responsible for the management of the center, which includes over 10,000 civil servants and contractors. During her tenure, Ochoa oversaw the development of new technologies and programs, including the Orion spacecraft, which is designed to take astronauts to Mars.

Ochoa’s contributions to NASA have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including induction into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2017. She has also been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, using her platform to encourage young people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in science and engineering.

Ellen Ochoa’s legacy at NASA will continue to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers. Her groundbreaking achievements as an astronaut and her leadership as the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center have left a lasting impact on the field of space exploration. Ochoa’s story serves as a reminder that with hard work, determination, and a passion for learning, anyone can achieve their dreams and make a significant contribution to society.

Thank you Ellen Ochoas for your contribution to space, STEM, literature and women’s history.

We Are All Scientists /Todos somos científicos 

Astronaut Ellen Ochoa (STEM Trailblazer Bios) 

The Astronaut With a Song for the Stars: The Story of Dr. Ellen Ochoa (Amazing Scientists, 4) Hardcover – Picture Book, September 24, 2019

Of the 45 persons who have served as presidents of the United States, at least half have displayed proficiency in speaking or writing a language other than English. Of these, only one, Martin Van Buren, learned English as his second language; his first language was Dutch. Four of the earliest presidents were multilingual, with John Quincy Adams and Thomas Jefferson demonstrating proficiency in a number of foreign languages.

James A. Garfield and his successor Chester A. Arthur knew Ancient Greek and Latin, but it was Garfield’s ambidexterity that would lead to rumors that he could write both at the same time. Both Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke French, and Woodrow Wilson and Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke German. As for Asian languages, James Madison studied Hebrew, Herbert Hoover spoke some Mandarin Chinese, while Barack Obama speaks Indonesian at a conversational level.

DID YOU KNOW?

Yes, Thomas Jefferson was a polyglot and had knowledge of several other languages in addition to English. He was known to be fluent in French and had a good understanding of Italian, Spanish, and Latin.

Jefferson began studying French when he was young, and his proficiency in the language improved significantly when he spent several years in France as an American diplomat. While in France, he also learned Italian and had a chance to practice his Spanish. Additionally, Jefferson was knowledgeable in Latin, which was an important language in his education and in the study of classical literature and political philosophy.

Jefferson’s knowledge of foreign languages was important to his work as a diplomat and in shaping American foreign policy. He used his language skills to communicate with diplomats and political leaders from other countries and to read and translate important political documents. His ability to speak and read other languages also allowed him to keep up with the latest ideas and developments in Europe, which he then incorporated into his own political thinking and writing.

Books you may find fascinating:

Obama

Martin Van Buren FREE AUDIO BOOK

Thomas Jefferson
    

Roosevelt

We also selected a few free audiobook versions to the busy linguists out there.

Amazon audiobooks offers busy linguists a convenient way to continue learning on-the-go, amplifying the power of words beyond the confines of a desk.

FREE AUDIOBOOK

Novelty T-shirts are one of the world’s favorite souvenirs. But if you’re visiting somewhere you don’t speak the language and want to buy one of them, you better be careful. Because as the designs below show, mistranslated t-shirts can be hilariously nonsensical.

Here are 12 examples of mistranslated English t-shirts that are sure to get you laughing.

Few Money

Although you may agree with the sentiment, this one probably isn’t a t-shirt that you’ll want to put on unless you’re around people you know will find it funny.

Leg So Hot

Here’s another strange English mistranslation that made us chuckle. Maybe the poem makes more sense in another language. But if you wore this in an English-speaking country, someone might ask you if you need help.

Strangs?

Oof. If you’re going to make a fake t-shirt to appeal to fans of a major TV show, at least make sure you know the name of the show next time.

Good Die

This isn’t exactly the kind of thing you want to wear on a shirt. I mean, sure, all of us have to go someday, and it’s a nice sentiment, but it may be just a touch too dark for an average day in town.

The Little Fat Man

This one actually sort of makes sense if you think about it. He’s a fat guy, and she looks delicious. It may be the strangest possible way to say I love you, and it probably sounds better in its original language. But we can at least understand the sentiment, unlike some of the other shirts on our list.

Crumble and Disappear

Speaking of shirts that don’t make any sense, here’s a prime example. We’re not even going to try to describe this one. We just wouldn’t be able to do it justice.

Buy a Man

So close, yet so far. You can see where they were going with it, and if it made sense, it would be a profound, thought-provoking statement. But it’s a reminder that close isn’t good enough in the world of translation.

I didn’t Do It

This shirt starts strange and gets stranger. (Talk about Thinger Strangs). What didn’t the wearer do? Why do they want to speak to their grandma about it? And why is the whole thing an ad for San Antonio? I guess we’ll never know.

No More Trust

You can feel the pain in this one. They trusted “u”. But no more. That’s something we can all relate to. (Side note: did they not have spell check?).

Unemployed

This one is a work of art. From addressing it to “my boss” to asking for confirmation and signing off as “Challenger” there’s a lot going on here.

Dreams…

The setup is excellent, but the follow-through is lacking. For the record, we do think you can do it.

Wherever

“Where I Went, Tere I was.” It’s factually accurate, at least. And isn’t that the real goal of every novelty T-shirt? Also, we’re not sure why she’s drinking or what it’s in the glass, so just use your imagination.

wherever