101translations

Categories
Interesting facts

Sign Language Diversity

Did you know there’s no universal sign language? Each country, like the U.S. with ASL and the U.K. with BSL, has its own. In fact, there are an estimated 300 sign languages that are currently in use worldwide.  

There is ‘International Sign’, which is not a full language but a cross-cultural communication method and is used globally at events like the Deaflympics. While more Western-friendly, it’s not as clear to those from Africa and Asia. Still, it shows how sign languages adapt for shared understanding.



Categories
Interesting facts

Rotokas and English: Phonemic Contrasts

Rotokas, spoken in the mountains of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, boasts one of the world’s smallest phonemic inventories with just 11 phonemes. 

 

For comparison, English has 44 phonemes. A phoneme is generally regarded as “a set of speech sounds that are seen as equivalent to each other in a given language”. So even if the “k” sounds in the English word “kill” and “skill” are not exactly identical, we see them as equivalent within the language, and that’s why we call it a phoneme.



Categories
Interesting facts

The document available in 500 languages

The Guinness World Record for the most translations of a single document goes to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Available in over 500 languages, this foundational document has been translated more widely than any other text, emphasising its global significance in promoting human rights and dignity.
Categories
Interesting facts

The lucky number 8

In Chinese culture, the number 8 (“bā”) is considered highly auspicious due to its phonetic resemblance to the words for ‘wealth’ or ‘prosperity’ (发 “fa”) in Mandarin. This belief influences various aspects of life, from choosing phone numbers to determining significant event dates. The symbol for the number 8 (八) is embraced as a powerful symbol of good fortune and prosperity.

Categories
Interesting facts

Blossom Bliss: Hanami in Japan

Hanami (花見) which translates to “flower viewing” in Japanese, is a traditional custom in Japan that involves appreciating the fleeting beauty of flowers. In this context, the term “flowers” (hana) typically denotes the blossoms of cherry (sakura) trees, and occasionally, plum (ume) trees.

Categories
Interesting facts

Te Reo Māori: A Linguistic Tapestry

‘Te Reo Māori’, the language of New Zealand’s indigenous Māori people, is an Eastern Polynesian language and part of the Austronesian family. The language has a rich oral tradition, with traditional stories and legends passed down through generations orally. A beautiful example of the poetic nature of Te Reo Māori is the word “Aotearoa,” meaning “land of the long white cloud,” which eloquently refers to New Zealand in Maori.

Categories
Interesting facts

A language on the brink of extinction

Ongota, also known as Birale, is a language spoken by a handful of individuals in Ethiopia’s Lower Omo Valley. Unfortunately, the language has now been largely superseded by Ts’amakko, a neighbouring East Cushitic language and is on the verge of extinction. The language is important for its significance in understanding the cultural heritage of the area, and for that reason it’s important to record it before it disappears.



Categories
Interesting facts

The term ‘Spoonerism’

A ‘Spoonerism’ occurs when sounds or letters in words are inadvertently switched. This term derives from Reverend William Archibald Spooner, a scholar who was known for making this kind of verbal slip. An example of this phenomenon is saying “Is the bean dizzy?” instead of “Is the dean busy?”.