On Languages

Here are some pieces from NPR which might interest you fellow amateur linguists.
These are audible by using Real Player.
There's a Past Show section on the programs' pages to navigate.


"Talk of the Nation" Feb.28, 2005,

Other Cultures `In Other Words`

The author of the book, by the name of Christopher J. Moore, who says he is a professional foreigner,
talks about untranslatable expressions from various languages.

More on the same book,
"Morning Edition" Jan. 19, 2005,

`Translating the Untranslatable`

A list of interesting expressions from various world languages appears here.


Also there's a list of liguistics related topics on this same page, which might interest ESL teachers.
There's one piece on the book, `the Power of Babel,` by John McWhorter.
I got curious about this book after learning about it in PBS Newshour.


*Personal recollection
I read this fascinating book on many aspects of languages at the library of McGill university, well air-conditioned,
during my sojourn there in summer of 2002.
While waiting for the time for me to head to the Olympic Stadium, I spent several mornings there reading the book.
Lovely view from the window, I might add.

Speaking of Montréal,
I saw a re-run of the Jazz Festival of 2004 on HDTV yesterday.
It was a concert by the Funk Brothers and the Motown singers.

The Four Tops, as well as Sam of `Sam & Dave,` made guest appearances
The Four Tops is my favorite male chorus group, so it was very, very enjoyable.
The other guests, notably Joan Osborne, and JackSoul, were pretty good.

I loved Motown songs a lot when I was listening to programs like Dick Clark's on the Far East Network.