Author: 101translations

Many ancient mythologies recount stories about the origins of language. One of the most well-known is the story of the Tower of Babel from Judeo-Christian tradition, which provides a mythological explanation for the multiplicity of languages in the world. It relates a story about how people originally all spoke one language. When they decided to build a tower so high it reached the sky, God punished them for their arrogance by scattering them about the earth and giving them many different languages so that they would never again be able to communicate and cooperate to such a sophisticated degree

Image Source: https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths…/tower-babel-001751

Only human beings speak languages per se, but of course other animals also use vocalisations and body language to communicate. Mammals and birds with greater cognitive abilities can use relatively complex systems to get their message across. Whales, dolphins, and porpoises, for example, use a wide variety of sounds, and researchers have discovered that there are dialectal differences between particular pods or extended family groups.

In the Ubang community in Nigeria, women and men speak different – but related – languages. Until the age of about ten, children spend time primarily with their mothers, and girls and boys alike speak the “women’s language,” but after that age, boys move into the world of men, and learn a different lexicon. Although this language system is threatened today, as members of the community increasingly speak more dominant Nigerian languages, it has persisted because Ubang women and men tend to live and work in different spheres, with a lot of communication taking place in same-sex environments. 

Image Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-45262081

Today, people with severe hearing difficulties generally speak sign language, which enables them to communicate with other deaf people, and with anyone who knows how to sign. But because sign languages were developed autonomously in many separate places, there are actually over three hundred in use today. Some of these languages are closely related and at least somewhat mutually intelligible, but others are very different, so deaf people have the same issues with understanding people from diverse linguistic backgrounds as everybody else.

The Shavian Alphabet, also known as the Shaw alphabet, was funded by Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw and largely designed by Ronald Kingsley Read. Shaw was interested in replacing the standard English alphabet with an alternative that would remove all the ambiguities from English pronunciation. The new alphabet was based on phonemes and all the letters were distinct from the Roman alphabet. It consists of tall, deep, and short letters, each with a shape that can be written in a single movement. Aside from a small community of enthusiasts, the Shavian alphabet never really caught on, and English speakers continue to deal with remarkably inconsistent spelling norms. 

English has a large number of plural nouns, also known as “lexical plurals ”, where the noun almost always appears in a plural form and is practically never used in the singular. Can you think of some examples? Ones that you might use every day include “scissors”, “trousers” and “tights.” These objects are considered to be sets, in which more than one item (for example, two trouser legs) come together to form a whole.

The San people of southern Africa engage in a profound spiritual practice known as the trance dance. Participants, guided by experienced healers or shamans, enter a trance state through hours of rhythmic clapping, singing, and dancing. This tradition is believed to facilitate contact with the spirit world, where healers seek guidance, healing, and rain for their community.

Depicted in ancient rock art across the region, the trance dance symbolises the San’s deep connection to their ancestors and the natural world. It includes rituals like transformations into animal forms and encounters with mythical beings and ancestral spirits.

Image Source: Drawing of a painted trance dance scene made by members of the Rock Art Research Institute team at Wits University.

The tiny islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, with just over 6000 inhabitants, are a self-governing territory of France, located near the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The islanders speak French, and largely claim descent from French Basque and Breton settlers. Basque was still spoken by some families on the islands until the mid-twentieth century. The islands’ annual Basque Festival features traditional Basque sports.

Niue is a small island country in the South Pacific that has been self-governing since 1974. Although it is independent, Niueans are also considered citizens of New Zealand; about 70% of Niuean speakers actually live in New Zealand and Niue’s resident population has been declining steeply in recent decades. In 2003, Niue became the first country in the world to offer free WIFI to all of its residents.

Greeting customs vary greatly across cultures, influenced by context, relationships, age, and gender. In Europe, giving kisses is a common way to greet close relatives and friends, though men typically skip the kisses when greeting each other.

In Belgium, one kiss is customary, while in certain French regions, people greet with up to four kisses. Understanding these nuances can enhance our intercultural interactions and show respect for different traditions.
How do you greet people in your culture?