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The Problem with Pronouns Niamh Woodhouse Tuesday 15 February 2022 Niamh delves into the issue of neutral pronouns in gendered language and how different language speakers tackle the problem. As our global society more widely accepts the broad spectrum of gender and sexual identities, an issue arises for both language learners and native speakers alike: how to adapt their language to welcome this. Some languages already have gender-neutral nouns, or simply don’t assign gender within their grammar rules. However, others have grammar systems traditionally based on gender. These languages have several approaches to tackle the issue of how to address queer, non-binary, or gender-nonconforming people. Using existing pronouns To start exploring this topic, I first looked at my native language – English. The grammar we use doesn’t distinguish between genders except when using a masculine or feminine singular pronoun. Therefore, the pronoun ‘they’ has emerged to describe anyone who doesn’t come under ‘she’ or ‘he’. This move has been accepted by both everyday speakers as well as English language institutions, such as the Merriam-Webster dictionary , which added ‘they’ as the pronoun for a ‘single person whose gender identity is nonbinary’. However, this has met some criticism with claims that using the pronoun for both singular and plural uses can confuse and disrupt the meaning of the sentence. Another language that uses a pronoun already in use is Russian. However, unlike English, Russian grammar is heavily gendered. To get around this, Russian speakers have a few different approaches to pronouns. First is that some choose to take the masculine ‘он’ as it goes along with other terms that are more neutral. Some within the feminist community use the female option (‘она’) as the default gender. Other options include switching between both female and male pronouns and using the neutral ‘оно’, which is not usually used to refer to people. Changing case endings Another way languages are resolving the question around gender is by changing word endings. For example, some speakers of Spanish, a language where traditionally all nouns have a masculine or feminine gender, have adapted their vocabulary to become more neutral. However, as Spanish is a global language with many dialects and communities, there are many variations on how this is accomplished and no set standard for a gender-neutral ending. For hispanophones in the US, replacing the ‘o’ or ‘a’ ending with an ‘x’ is becoming a popular choice – such as in the term ‘Latinx’. Whereas in Peninsular Spanish, the symbol ‘@’ is commonly used as a substitute. Despite their attempts, both these solutions address more written language rather than spoken. One answer could stem from a group of Argentinian teenagers , who in 2017 started to replace endings with ‘e’ with the aim of eliminating gender from the Spanish language. Using both gender cases Hebrew, like Spanish, assigns a gender to verbs, nouns, and adjectives based on the noun. This has led LGBTQ and feminist groups to seek ways of expressing their language in a gender-neutral way. One solution is by using a ‘mixed’ gender and referring to the same person with both feminine and masculine endings. In Israel, a similar approach is to put both the male and female cases on nouns and verbs, sometimes with a full stop in between, so that all are fluidly included. For example, “I write” — “kotev” (כותב) in the masculine and “kotevet” (כותבת) in the feminine — alternatively could be written as כותב.ת in this form. The Nonbinary Hebrew Project draws on references in Jewish texts in order to argue that the male Rabbis writing the Mishna, a third-century book of Jewish commentary, recognized several gender categories, so modern-day Hebrew speakers can too. Inventing new pronouns Some languages invent completely new pronouns for a neutral gender – you may have heard of ‘zie’ used in English. Swedish has also followed this tactic: in 2015, they added the word ‘hen’ to its official dictionary . ‘Hen’ arose from linguists who suggested the term as an alternative to the male ‘han’ and female ‘hon’. The pronoun has been adopted by LGBTQ groups as well as in early years education, where it is argued that the pronoun allows children to grow up without feeling the impact of gender biases. About the Author Related Articles Translation and the Untranslatable Aidan Cross The Problem with Pronouns Niamh Woodhouse 5 podcasts to help you improve your French Niamh Woodhouse Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Niamh Woodhouse Current Affairs Russian Spanish Hebrew Swedish Categories: Language and Linguistics Language Study Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Hangeul: A Scientific Alphabet Aidan Cross Monday 9 October 2023 Find out the history behind the creation of the Korean alphabet and why it is so incredible to celebrate Hangeul Day (9th October). Hangeul Day (9th October) in South Korea is a celebration of the Korean alphabet (한글), its creation by King Sejong the Great in 1443 CE and its proclamation in 1446 CE in The Proper Sounds for the Instruction of the People (훈민정음, Hunminjeongeum). The name Hangeul was coined in 1912 by Ju Sigyeong, a Korean linguist, with “han” (한) meaning “great”, as well as referring to Korea (한국), and “geul” (글) meaning “script”. The Korean language was originally written using the Chinese characters called Hanja (한자), but, due to the differences between the two languages and the number of characters that had to be learned, only the most educated could read or write. King Sejong, therefore, created Hangeul to improve literacy amongst his people. However, the Korean elite saw this as a threat to their status and continued to see Hanja as the only true way to write Korean, referring to Hangeul disparagingly as Eonmun (언문), or “vernacular/vulgar script”. It was also created as a way to allow the lower classes to express their grievances against those in power, and its use become a revolutionary act. So much so that, in 1504, King Yeonsangun banned the study of Hangeul after commoners wrote documents criticising him. Its use was even more revolutionary during Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945), as Japanese was made the official language in Korea, and the teaching of the Korean language was banned in schools in 1938. After Korea regained its independence in 1945, Hangeul became, and continues to be, a symbol of national pride and identity. Nowadays, South Korea is one of the most literate countries in the world, with a literacy rate of almost 98%. The reason that Hangeul is so easy to learn is that it is a logical and scientific alphabet. Hangeul is a featural writing system (a term that was introduced by linguist Geoffrey Sampson to describe the Korean alphabet), meaning that the design of the letters is not arbitrary. Rather, it conveys the phonological features of the phonemes (sounds) that they represent. The shape of the consonants is based on articulatory phonetics. This mean that the consonants reflect the vocal organs used to make the sounds that they correspond to, as follows: · ㄱ & ㄴ tongue · ㅁ mouth · ㅅ teeth · ㅇ throat Meanwhile, the shape of each vowel is based on the three basic elements in traditional East Asian philosophy, as below: · ㅣ Person · ㅇ Sky · ㅡ Earth In Hangeul, there are 24 basic letters made up of 14 consonants (ㄱ, ㄷ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㄴ, ㅂ, ㅅ, ㅇ, ㅈ, ㅊ, ㅋ, ㅌ, ㅍ, ㅎ) and 10 vowels (ㅏ, ㅑ, ㅓ, ㅕ, ㅗ, ㅛ, ㅜ, ㅠ, ㅡ, ㅣ), as well as 5 double (or tense) consonants (ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, ㅉ) and 11 complex vowels (ㅐ, ㅒ, ㅔ, ㅖ, ㅘ, ㅙ, ㅚ, ㅝ, ㅞ, ㅟ, ㅢ), which are formed by combining the basic letters. Now that you understand the history behind Hangeul and the importance of its creation, why not learn this incredible alphabet? About the Author Related Articles Translation and the Untranslatable Aidan Cross Portuguese loanwords in Japanese Aidan Cross What makes a language “easy” to learn? Aidan Cross Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Aidan Cross Language Korean Hangeul Alphabet Categories: Language and Linguistics Global Culture Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Japanese: One Language, Three Writing Systems Charlie Bodsworth Friday 12 April 2024 Japanese is one of the linguistically furthest languages from English, and its three writing systems are no exception. Let's take a quick walk through the history behind them and how they work harmoniously together. While there are a handful of languages out there that use more than one writing system, Japanese takes this idea to a whole new level. It uses THREE writing systems simultaneously, having been intricately woven together over the course of history. Take a look at this simple sentence, for example: Japanese 私 は ピザ を 食 べるのが 好 きです。 Romaji watashi wa piza wo ta beru no ga su ki desu. Translation I like eating pizza. The red parts are kanji . The blue parts are katakana . The rest are hiragana . So why are there three, and how do they all fit together like this? Kanji 漢字 Literally meaning “Chinese characters”, the kanji writing system is - as you can probably now guess - derived from the Chinese writing system. Japan had its first contact with Chinese in the 1st century, but continued to be a predominantly illiterate area until kanji ’s importation around the 5th century. Over time, there have been some adaptations to these characters, as well as several kanji that are unique to Japan, called kokuji (国字 - meaning “national characters”). While it is now estimated that there are around 50,000 kanji characters in total, only 2,000-3,000 are in common everyday usage. Kanji is used for writing nouns, verb stems, and other key semantic information. Due to the lack of spaces in Japanese sentences, kanji helps to make the key information stand out and speed up reading. Most kanji have two readings, dependant on context - a kun-yomi 訓読み and an on-yomi 音読み. The former is the original Japanese pronunciation, and the latter is derived from the Chinese pronunciation of the character. As for the writing itself, the characters are usually pictographic or ideographic - in some way visually representing its semantic meaning. For example, mountain 山 ( yama ) has a peak in the middle, kind of like a mountain itself. Similarly, some kanji are modular and expand on one another to show a connected meaning, such as tree 木 ( ki ) and forest 森 ( mori ). See how it basically contains three little trees! Hiragana ひらがな Next up are the kanas : hiragana and katakana . In the 6th century, Japanese poets developed a writing system called man’yōgana , which utilised kanji ’s phonetic values, rather than semantic values. This system evolved into today’s hiragana - a writing system that was first created and used by ladies in the Japanese imperial court during the Keian period by visually simplified man’yōgana . In hiragana , each symbol represents a sound - usually a consonant followed by a vowel (e.g. ka か, sa さ, ta た), with the sounds a , i , u , e , o , and n being exceptions. Hiragana is mostly used for grammatical indicators, such as particles and verb endings. It can also be used in place of kanji , where the specific kanji is unlikely to be known, such as in children’s books. While there are several nuances to this writing system, one important feature of note for the two kanas is what is called dakuten 濁点 and handakuten 半濁音. These are little marks that are placed in the top-right of certain kana characters to indicate slightly different voicings. For example, ひ (hi) has no mark, び (bi) has a dakuten , ぴ (pi) has a handakuten . This feature was first introduced in the 16th century by travelling Portuguese missionaries who wanted help differentiating these sounds. Katakana カタカナ Katakana is a further simplified phonetic alphabet, based on Man’yōgana and created by Buddist monks during the 9th century. It functions almost identically to hiragana , but is primarily used for foreign loanwords or names (so your name would be written in katakana !). It can also be used for things like onomatopoeia and emphasis. While Japanese is certainly complicated to wrap our English-speaking and Latin-writing heads around, there is so much culture and history to how its writing systems work together and complement each other. So if you want to learn more, don’t let it intimidate you, just enjoy the learning process! ありがとうございます！ Arigatō gozaimasu! About the Author Related Articles Portuguese loanwords in Japanese Aidan Cross Words of the Year 2023 Charlie Bodsworth The Language Taking Over the World: English as a Lingua Franca Emma Burnett Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Japanese language writing alphabet Charlie Bodsworth Categories: Language and Linguistics Language Study Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

An Intro to Taiwanese Music Chris Stankley Tuesday 29 November 2022 A brief introduction to the Taiwanese indie music scene from our resident Chinese music expert. Listening to music in a foreign language is a great way to pick up new vocab and improve your listening skills but listening to the soft piano ballad mandopop hits in the charts can get repetitive. Taiwan is making it big in the Chinese-language music scene. So, even if you’re not learning Chinese and are just interested in finding new music, hopefully, there’s something that takes your interest. イルカポリス 海豚刑警 (hǎitún xíngjǐng) (Dolphin Police) Song recommendation: 羽球少年 (yǔqiú shàonián) (Badminton Boy) Inspired by and named after a character from the manga KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops , this Taipei-based band’s music is influenced by Japanese rock and pop music. The band’s light-hearted and fun music has become the group’s signature style. Their album and EP covers, as well as their promotional materials, are upbeat and colourful, apparently reflecting the Dolphin Police manga character the band’s name is based on. Although it is hard to find a similar-sounding English-language band, the band’s drummer has said the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, among others, served as inspiration for some of their music. No Party For Cao Dong Song recommendation : 山海 (Shānhǎi) (Wayfarer) “Quiet. Loud. Honest” – this is how Taipei-based band No Party for Cao Dong describe their musical style. Formed in Taipei in 2012, No Party For Cao Dong has quickly become a popular name among fans of Taiwanese indie music. Their first album and only one to date, The Servile, is a story of sorrow, grief and anger which speaks to the frustrations many young people in Taiwan have about society, according to the band. Despite the political nature of their music, No Party for Cao Dong has found success outside of Taiwan, playing concerts in mainland China, South America and even featuring at Glastonbury in 2019. Fans of the band are still waiting for the release of their second album which has been delayed due to the pandemic but if the band can recapture the magic they found with their first album, you will be hearing a lot more about his band in the future. deca joins Song recommendation : 海浪 (hǎilàng) (Wave) Also formed in Taipei, deca joins can often be heard playing in Taiwan’s packed cafés and bubble tea shops. With a more relaxed, lo-fi-inspired sound than other indie-rock groups, deca joins’ music is perfect to listen to while studying. Their most recent album, 鳥鳥鳥 (Bird and Reflections), incorporates more jazz and hard-rock elements into their music, taking the band’s sound in a new and exciting direction. Bassist Xie Jun-Yan has said that the band’s music and message can be summed up as not giving up on your dreams, which is a great message for anyone who has had to learn how to use 把. 無妄合作社 (No-nonsense collective) Song recommendation : 開店歌 (kāidiàn gē) (Opening Shop Song) Another politically charged band, the group was started by members of a Marx reading group at National Taipei University. Their songs have been used by politicians at rallies as well as to celebrate election victories. Reminiscent of the Foo Fighters, No-nonsense Collective says that their music is inspired by “cigarette smoke, forest game, and city pollution”. In 2018, they won the Golden Music Award in Taiwan for best band, beating out favourites Eggplantegg and 告五人, putting the band on the map in the process. Following this success, the band has released an album and an EP and put on free shows across Taiwan to help promote Taiwanese culture and music. 告五人 (Accusefive) Song recommendation : 披星戴月的想你 (pīxīngdàiyuède xiǎngnǐ) (Missing you) Accusefive is another band that gained mainstream success after winning an award at the prestigious Golden Music Awards, making them one of the most popular bands in Taiwan right now. The group of three friends formed in Yilan in 2017, and after their song ‘披星戴月的想你’ was featured during an episode of the popular Taiwanese series Yong-Jiu Grocery Store , they quickly became a household name. Their first and most famous album, 我肯定在幾百年前就說過愛你 ( Somewhere in time, I love you ), incorporates psychedelic rock, retro disco and indie rock tracks into one project. The theme of the album is love, and every song touches on a different aspect of it, whether that be love between friends, family or lovers. Other bands you might like: Eggplantegg TRASH 老破麻Old Slut Distortion Wayne’s so sad 爱是唯一 (àishìwéiyī) Bremen Entertainment Inc. Check out Chris's curated playlist with all his top Taiwanese recommendations below. About the Author Related Articles European Music Festivals to Attend This Summer Niamh Woodhouse An Intro to Taiwanese Music Chris Stankley “Mother of God, banish Putin”: A Reflection on Pussy Riot’s performance in Nottingham Jess Henrys Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Chris Stankley Music Chinese Taiwan Indie Categories: Culture Cultural Guide Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Passing over Pesach Rachel Hoddes Friday 26 April 2024 Rachel discusses the traditions and history of Pesach (Passover) and shares her personal experiences growing up celebrating this religious holiday. What is Pesach ? Pesach (pronounced p-AI-s-aa-kh), known as Passover in the UK, is one of the main Jewish festivals. It is determined by the luna calendar, so can fall anywhere between March and May, commemorating the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt, as well as miracles like the splitting of the Red sea. It takes place over eight days, starting with two seders ’, meaning ‘order’. Jewish families across the globe get together to read about the miracles of Pesach , punctuated with a large meal and prayers. Throughout the seder , children are encouraged to ask questions about the events of the story and the history of the Jewish people and we celebrate the past year all together. Ashkenazi vs Sephardi – What Does This Mean? The two main types of Judaism are Ashkenazi and Sephardi. Ashkenazim mainly originate from Central and Eastern European countries, for example France, Russia and Poland; whilst Sephardim tend to come from Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, as well as Spain and North Africa. The main thing that divides these two branches of Judaism over Pesach specifically are their dietary requirements. During this festival, Jewish people don’t eat anything containing wheat, barley, oats, rye or spelt, however Ashkenazim also don’t eat beans, peas, rice, corn, soy, chickpeas or lentils. (Its basically my vegetarian nightmare!) The only form of wheat we eat at this time of year is a sort of cracker called matzah , which is prepared and baked in a specific way. This is because, the Jewish people didn’t have enough time to wait for their bread to rise when they left Egypt and took unleavened bread with them. We have come up with some weird and wacky ways to prepare food at Pesach , from making mina (lasagna made with soaked pieces of matzah ) to baking with almond flour (which really isn’t as nice as it sounds). Fun Traditions Pesach is full of fun traditions! It’s a genuine requirement to drink four cups of wine, or grape juice at a seder which always ends in a memorable evening. Here we highlight of a few fun Pesach traditions from Jewish people here at Nottingham! Plagued by Plagues Many families act out the 10 plagues to help the kids remember them. It’s our favourite part of the seder and we take it very seriously. We have a bag of plagues we take out each year complete with jumping frogs; fake blood and boil stickers; and my personal favourite, a bag of plastic cockroaches. These were banned in my family after I put one in my grandad’s soup and he almost ate it, so when I was 14, me and my cousins ordered another 50 more cockroaches and hid them round the house: to this day we are still finding them (and we got our stolen cockroaches back)! There’s a Leek! During ‘ Dayenu ’, a song which recites the miracles of the exodus of the Jewish people out of Egypt, many families hit each other with leeks. To this day, I don’t know why but we always end up having a sword fight with them across the table, often with one of my cousins singing a song from the prince of Egypt underneath. It gets very heated and the victor gets to have the first piece of matzah of the year! The Horseradish Challenge During the seder , we have to eat a bitter herb. Many families opt for horseradish due to its fiery taste and as a kid we used to compete to see who could eat the most without grimacing. Now if you’ve ever had the pleasure of eatinga whole, raw chunk of horseradish you will know that thing burns. But eight-year-old me decided that everyone at the table were wimps and that I could eat the whole thing… I got through two bites before my eyes were streaming so I grabbed the nearest water jug to down something to clear my throat. Little did I know it was the salt water to be used later in the meal with our eggs. Let's just say I didn’t drink water for a while after! Welcome to the Zoo By the end of the seder , everyone’s a little delirious. It can go long, as we can’t start until after sundown, and have long prayers and many cups of wine to get through. So by the final song, we are all more than done and ready to go to bed but, like all proper finales, we have to end on a high! We finish the night, as many families dowith an Aramaic-Hebrew song, ‘ Chad Gadya’ , which very much has ‘ There was an old lady who swallowed a fly ’ vibes with animals eating each other. We always do sound effects. This often ends in chaos with everyone mooing, barking and meowing at each other in fits of giggles: its honestly one of my favourite moments of the whole year! About the Author Related Articles A Complete Overview of Sikh Wedding Functions Jasmine Johal Passing over Pesach Rachel Hoddes Image provided by Rachel Hoddes. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Passover Judaism Rachel Hoddes Religion customs Categories: Experience Culture Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

American and Canadian Studies < Back Elodie McMinn Elodie is from a small village in Franche-Comté, France, where you have to journey down the mountain just to get to a bakery. She spent her childhood lurking around the foothills of the Vosges, painting, and reading. Elodie is on an endless quest to find traces of the weird, old America that can only be found in roadside attractions, the empty plains, and rock and roll records. Latest Articles by this Author In the middle of nowhere, but on the way to somewhere! 08/02/24

Students Protest the (Western) World Over Holly Cromwell Saturday 25 May 2024 Student protests in the US in support of Palestine have grabbed international media attention, both from traditional new outlets and through the slow seep of videos in the TikTok ecosystem. The role of student journalists and social media in local and global politics has never been quite so clear. Holly explores this and examines the ongoing events. Student protests in the US have gained international attention. Whether it be through traditional news or the slow seep of videos within the TikTok ecosystem, I’m sure almost everyone is aware of the ongoing situation. The role of student journalists and social media in local and global politics has never been quite so clear. What may not have been so clear, however, is that the students in Universities of Atlanta, Yale, Havard, New York, North Carolina, Columbia and Mississippi, as well as so many others, were not alone for very long – as students from all over the world have come together to protest in support of Palestine against the Israel-Hamas war. Student protests have sprung up across the globe: the famous Science Po and La Sorbonne in Paris, as well as Lyon, in France; Leipzig in Germany; Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich in Switzerland; and Trinity College in Dublin. And, since the 11th of May, our very own Nottingham Students for Palestine have set up camp outside of the Advanced Manufacturing Building on Jubilee campus, asking, like many other protesters, for their university to cease affiliations with Israel. Not all student protests take the form of encampments like the ones we have seen in the UK and US: some are occupations, sit-ins, marches, or simple demonstrations. Despite this variety, the protests all seem to be on the same intensity across the continent. Police have been involved across Europe, with 86 people arrested at La Sorbonne, Paris, and 169 in Amsterdam, where students created barricades out of university furniture around their encampments to push back against police. Students were arrested at many of these protests, but some countries have had more measured reactions than others. Where in the US, the police were seen using teargas and pepper balls on unarmed students (making the University of Arizona now infamous on social media), those in Amsterdam used batons to charge students and smash their tents. As a breath of fresh air, however, in Belgium, the prime minister Alexander de Croo, has said that if he were their age, he would have joined them. In the UK, Rishi Sunak has called vice-chancellors of British universities to an emergency meeting at Downing Street, to discuss these university encampments and alleged “rising anti-semitism” on campuses. His message to those protesting was: “The right to free speech does not include the right to harass people or incite violence.” Some of those same vice-chancellors have since accused him of inflaming the situation, although one took the opposite stance. Hundreds of staff members from Oxford, Cambridge and Edinburgh have signed open letters claiming solidarity with these students, echoing the chains of faculty members protecting student encampments at New York University. Something not highlighted enough in articles on the subject is that although these protests erupted through April and May, they are set to continue towards the end of June in some places. Whilst student activists protest, student journalists cover the events at the risk of their own safety, particularly in those campuses facing institutional violence. Many of those campuses that have seen these encampments have also experienced certain levels of police violence used to disperse them, though most not on the level of Arizona. Most countries have their own term calendar, but, given the relative ubiquity of the summer holidays, this is a universally anxiety-inducing time for students. With exam seasons and graduation periods looming, the protests have already caused significant impacts. Whilst there’s a long history of student protests, (protests at Oxford and Paris date back to 1209 and 1229 respectively, from before English even resembled English), any society committee knows that it is difficult to motivate students to do anything at this time of year. The fact that these protests are not only global, but are continuing despite the efforts of the institutions and the police, as well as the slow grind of grades and expectations, is pretty remarkable. An incomplete list of campus protests for Palestine in Europe alone: Austria: Vienna Belgium: Gand, Brussels, Liège, Anvers (the free university of Brussels and the Catholic university of Leuven) Denmark: Copenhagen Finland: Helsinki Germany: Berlin, La Freie Universität de Berlin, (the other large campus of the German Capital) Dresden, Leipzig and Brêmen. Greece: Athens Ireland: Trinity College Dublin Italy: La Sapienza, Milan, Naples, Turin, Bologne, Padoue Netherlands: Amsterdam, Maastricht, Nimègue, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Groningue, Leiden Norway: Bergen Portugal: Lisbon Spain: Valencia, Barcelona, Madrid, Pampelune, Bilbao, Séville. Sweden: Lund, Stockholm Switzerland: Geneva, Bâle, Berne, Fribourg, Zurich UK: Newcastle, Leeds, Lancaster, Cambridge, Oxford, Edinburgh, Goldsmith, Kings College London, Nottingham, Bristol, Warwick, York, London School of Economics, Queen Mary School of London. About the Author Related Articles 'A Victory for Feminism': How France Made the Right to Abortion Part of its Constitution Charlie Bodsworth Cannabis Legalisation in Germany Olivia Marshall Ladies Lounge: The Story of One Man’s Entitlement and Why That’s The Point Holly Cromwell Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: protest student international global affairs Holly Cromwell Categories: Global Affairs Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Valentine’s Day Traditions Around the World Vicki Mileson Tuesday 15 February 2022 Every culture has their unique way of celebrating Valentine’s Day – a day loved and hated by many. Vicki explores some sweet and strange Valentine's customs from across the globe. Valentine’s Day itself has unclear origins but some people say it came from Rome , and today it is one of the most commercialised days of the year. The story of Valentine’s Day goes that Emperor Claudius II executed two men on 14 February, although different years, who were both called Valentine. According to Roman legend, one of these men healed his guard’s daughter’s blindness and left a note signed, ‘From your Valentine’. While in the UK, we may know Valentine’s Day as the day that couples go out for dinner and exchange cards and gifts, each country has their own way of marking the special day. Japan – cryptic chocolate and white gifts It’s traditional for women to gift men chocolates on Valentine’s Day. Giri choco is 'obligation chocolate' for friends and colleagues and honmei choco , ‘true feeling chocolate’ is for someone she has romantic feelings for. In return, on White Day, 14 March, men gift women anything ranging from white chocolates to white jewellery. South Korea – singletons unite As in Japan, women in South Korea give gifts to men on Valentine’s Day and the men then celebrate White Day. However, South Koreans celebrate a third day, known as Black Day . On 14 April, single friends gather to eat noodles and celebrate their singlehood. The day’s name originates from the noodles they eat that come in a black bean sauce. Denmark – guess your secret admirer Since the 18th century, the Danes have been sending gaekkebrev to their crushes (paper snowflakes featuring a poem) and then signing their name in dots to preserve an air of mystery. If the recipient manages to guess the sender’s identity, the sender must buy them an Easter egg. South Africa – wear your heart on your sleeve In South Africa, they literally wear their hearts on their sleeves and pin the name of their sweethearts to their clothes. It’s believed that the tradition came from the ancient festival of Lupercalia, where men would wear the name of their Valentine in a similar way. Guatemala – Valentine’s for everyone Over in Guatemala, Valentine’s Day isn’t just for romance. The focus is also on family, friends and colleagues and the day is more generally named ‘El Día del Cariño’ (The Day of Affection). There’s also an Old Love Parade in Guatemala City which celebrates the country’s senior citizens. The Philippines – government-funded celebrations for the world to see On Valentine’s Day in the Philippines, hundreds of couples come together to get married in public places . Often, the celebrations are government-sponsored, giving less privileged couples the opportunity to tie the knot and covering the cost of the wedding cake, flowers and even rings. France – bonfires in the name of love France is known as one of the most romantic countries in the world, with Paris as the city of love. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, they used to have ‘ une loterie d’amour ’, where hopeful singles would line up on either side of the street and call to each other until they were all paired up. The women left without a partner would then build a large bonfire and burn pictures of the men who had rejected them. The French government later banned this bizarre practice and Valentine’s Day is now more what you’d expect in France. Lots of croissants, champagne, and chocolate! Italy – love at first sight and Shakespearean romance Italy used to have the tradition of young, unmarried girls waking up before dawn to spot their future husbands. Legend said that the first man they saw on Valentine’s Day would be the man they would marry. Today, this is less common and one of the more popular traditions is to exchange ‘ Baci Perugina ’ – small, chocolate-covered hazelnuts wrapped in a romantic quote that is printed in four different languages. In Verona, there is a four-day festival to celebrate love with heart-shaped lanterns and a letter-writing competition to Juliet from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Ghana – for the love of chocolate Valentine’s Day in Ghana has been dubbed ‘ National Chocolate Day ’ to promote tourism and cocoa products, the backbone of their economy. They use the day to get the most out of chocolate-themed menus and exhibitions around the country. Taiwan – communicating with flowers Valentine’s Day in Taiwan looks a lot like Valentine’s Day in Western countries – giving flowers to your loved ones. However, in Taiwan, the colour and number of flowers carry a secret message . Red roses mean ‘you’re my one and only’ and 99 roses mean ‘I will love you forever’, while 108 roses mean ‘will you marry me?’ About the Author Related Articles Southern Spain’s Architectural Gems Vicki Mileson Valentine’s Day Traditions Around the World Vicki Mileson What’s On in Nottingham: November Vicki Mileson Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Valentine's Day Traditions Love Around the World Vicki Mileson Categories: Culture Global Culture Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

How did the Convicted Felon Donald Trump Manage to Win the US Elections? Caitlin Morrell Monday 9 December 2024 While the 2024 U.S. Elections were expected to be close between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Trump won by a landslide of 291 electoral votes to 222, becoming the first convicted felon to be elected president. Donald Trump’s shock victory in the 2024 U.S. Elections has divided the country into two reactions: excitement and dread for what will come in his administration's next four years. This article analyses some reasons for Trump's victory and what happens now. Donald Trump, the candidate representing the Republican party, was criminally convicted in May and found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business record to commit election fraud. And yet, the convicted felon won the election just weeks ago. The two candidates, former prosecutor and democrat Kamala Harris against the former defendant and republican Donald Trump were expected to be neck and neck according to many journalists and political analysts. Yet, in a turn of events, the republican won with over 76 million votes. The outcry from democrats has flooded social media, warning those of minority groups to do whatever is necessary to stay safe. On the other hand, there’s delight from Republicans who believe that Trump will lead America into a better condition than its last administration. Regardless of your thoughts, the revelation of this landslide win is still surprising, considering Trump’s controversial policies, sexual misconduct allegations and criminal charges- an issue of particular importance due to their severity. It makes many question: exactly how did a criminal win the presidential election? Many reasons are primarily based on what went wrong in Kamala Harris’s campaign. For example, Harris lamented the position of the United States regarding minor demographic groups such as LGBTQ+ groups and ethnic minorities rather than focusing on general issues that affect everyday lives of all Americans, such as the economy, crime rates and immigration. One could argue that the threat which some of Trump’s policies and views hold for civil rights in the United States, and Harris’ advocation for equality amongst the American people, including female healthcare and legalisation of abortion nationwide, may explain the demographics for Harris voters. Furthermore, Joe Biden, the current president, dropped out of the presidential race in July rather than earlier after blunders in debates that eroded confidence in the Democratic party. Many analysts and supporters believe that Harris may have stood a chance if given more time to campaign. Further out of Harris’s control as a black woman, is the historical gender and racial bias of presidential candidates where many previous candidates were white and/or male. While she did win over most voters from ethnic minority groups, these groups only make up a small chunk of the United States. Ethnic minorities make up only 72 million of the population compared to over 252 million white Americans according to 2023 statistics, and Trump won over half of the votes from both white men and women. That is not to say that Trump was fortunate based on the opponent’s misfortune. For example, Trump was right to focus on the United States’ economy. 45% of all voters said they were worse off financially than they were four years ago. One Trump voter talking to LBC stated : “We’re tired of being stomped down, we’re tired of high gas prices, we’re tired of being bullied - and we stood up for the first time.” A lot of Trump voters stated economy to be a driving point of their decision, but the attempted assassination of Trump in July could very well be a contributing factor too. Demonstrating resilience he made a public appearance less than two days later. By this point, Trump was dominating polls, leaving Biden behind and Democrats reeling from the defeat that had yet to be confirmed. Trump’s success in the US election is something that could be debated for days for many reasons, but the results have stated its official victor without complaint. While Haris and Biden has peacefully conceded and ensured “smooth transition” for the now President-Elect, it has not stopped them from working. The Biden Administration’s green light for Ukraine to use US-supplied missiles to strike Russia on Sunday (17th) and usage of landmines on Wednesday (20th) indicates rapidly rising tensions for the world. This is a major policy shift from the democrats promise in 2022 to limit anti-personnel landmines. How Trump will proceed in January with the Ukraine-Russia conflict as well as the fate of the United States is something that the world will sure be watching. About the Author Related Articles Copyright free images via Pexels. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Elections Categories: I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

International Media and Communications < Back Emma Burnett Editor in Chief Emma is our Editor in Chief for 2024-25. She is a third year International Media and Communications student and aspiring journalist. She loves being a part of Lingo as it allows her to combine her passion for arts, cultures and languages with writing articles. aqyeb11@nottingham.ac.uk Latest Articles by this Author New Nosh: Six Fresh Food Spots Landing in Nottingham 26/09/24 The Beeston Film Festival: Highlighting the Truths of Womanhood in Film 08/05/24

Translation MA < Back Aidan Cross Treasurer Aidan is one of the founding members of Lingo Magazine and has a passion for languages – never studying less than three at once, hoping to become a polyglot! – as well as the histories and cultures of the peoples and places that use them. They are especially interested in translation and the connections between different languages and cultures across the world. They are looking forward to being Lingo's Treasurer this year and making the magazine and society as inclusive, informative, and interesting as possible. As for languages, Aidan is in their final year of Hispanic Studies & History at the University of Nottingham, studying Spanish and Portuguese, and in their free time also studies Korean - and has recently started learning Italian! ulyac1@nottingham.ac.uk Latest Articles by this Author Exploring the history of the Vikings in Scandinavia, Part 2 – Stockholm & Copenhagen 11/04/24 The Influence of Arabic on the Spanish Language 11/04/24

Study in Style: Nottingham’s Best Study Spots for Meeting Those Deadlines Holly Philpott Tuesday 24 September 2024 Holly takes us all over Nottingham, on a quest to seek out the safest study spots in the city. Another academic year, a new welcome week. If you’re a new student, reading all that Lingo Magazine’s Freshers’ series has to offer, welcome to Nottingham! While your first few weeks will be centred around navigating the hills of University Park Campus and finding out where your lectures are, why not also try discovering some of the stellar study spaces Nottingham has to offer? Hallward Library and George Green are the most popular libraries on campus, but if you’re anything like me, or any other student who craves caffeine and a comfy space to work in, then you should definitely consider making the extra journeys to find coffee shops to catch up on those lectures. Not only does travelling to somewhere new mean you can have a brief moment of exercise to break up a day of work, but a change of scenery can do wonders for focus and concentration. That, and the chance to have a barista-style coffee of your choice- it’s a mocha for me, please! Whilst there are so many wonderful cafes I’ve found over my four years at Nottingham, I’m sure there are plenty more to explore this year. That being said, here are some of my top choices for places to study! Blend (Various Locations) Blend at East West NG1 5FS Blend in Sneinton Market NG1 1DW Blend at Nottingham Contemporary NG1 2GB So many Blends, so many chances to enjoy some of the finest coffee the city centre has to offer! Each different Blend location can guarantee a lovely atmosphere, delicious coffees and lunchtime food (not to mention pastries!). It’s the perfect place to catch up with friends or make a start on your next essay. One of my favourites is Blend at East West, which is set inside a series of offices - but don’t let that dissuade you! The cafe holds plenty of space and plug sockets for laptops, and floor-to-ceiling windows which allow for lots of daylight. Waterstones Cafe 1-5 Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham, NG1 2GR Now this is my number one place to be, a five-storey gem located in the heart of the city centre. Everyone knows what Waterstones is, but have you ever been in one with five floors full of books and stationary, with chairs to sit and peruse the latest reads, and with a cafe on the fourth floor ?! When I discovered the cafe during my second year at Nottingham, I felt relieved as a bookworm, that I could purchase new books, study and drink coffee in one building. Waterstones’ cafe is spacious and light, with the windows overlooking the town square. There is often a great selection of pastries, hot food and snacks on offer. The coffee itself is also incredible, and did I mention that you can get a discount in the cafe when you have a Waterstones student loyalty card? I can’t say anything else other than try it for yourself: Waterstones truly is the place to be . Public and Plants 11 Low Pavement, Nottingham, NG1 7DQ What. A. Showstopper! On one sunny September morning, I decided to pay a visit to a new hub of activity: located in a beautifully kept building just a stone’s throw away from the Old Market Square tram stop. Public and Plants has something special to offer for everyone. Want a deliciously crafted coffee? Sorted. Want something to eat? Look no further than the many kinds of croissants on offer including almond, raspberry and Nutella. Maybe even buy a new house plant? There’s a selection near the windows, ready to be taken home! As I enjoyed my new book and devoured what can only be described as the most decadent almond croissant known to mankind, I couldn’t help but be swept up in the lively and welcoming atmosphere, and lit up by daylight flooding through the windows. This beauty is brand new to Nottingham but is set to become a staple place for any student. Homemade Cafe (at the Pavillion) Forest Recreation Ground, Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG5 2BU This treasure trove of a cafe is set on the Forest Rec Ground, a large green space only a stone’s throw away from the Victoria Shopping Centre. Sure, this cafe may be a bit further from campus, but if you take your books and laptop with you for an adventure, you won’t be disappointed! This cafe does not only cater to all your coffee/hot drink needs, but they have an incredible selection of lunchtime foods and cakes made on site daily. And, if you happen to go on a sunny day, why not take a walk around the park before heading back home? It’ll be sure to give you some well needed rest from studying, and make the trip one you’ll be grateful for taking. 200 Degrees (Various Locations) 200 Degrees at 16 Flying Horse Walk, Nottingham NG1 2HN 200 Degrees at 7-9 Milton Street Nottingham NG1 3EP 200 Degrees is the ultimate trendy coffee shop, with a vast selection of hot drinks and smoothies, and a mouthwatering counter of pastries. I will never say no to an almond croissant there, that’s for sure - what better way to wake up in the morning? 200 Degrees is kitted out for us students too, with lots of seating and power sockets; if you’re worried about your laptop dying in the crucial moments of writing an essay, they’ve got your back. They also have a loyalty app, too, so you can get your tenth coffee free! Nottingham Central Library 1 Carrington Street, Nottingham NG1 7FH Why hello brand new city library! The Nottingham Central Library has been in the works since I started at UoN (so a good three years now!). When I was visiting Nottingham on a day trip during some time back home from my year abroad , I couldn’t resist having a peek inside… and wow was this space worth the wait! Registering for this library is a must; there is plenty of natural light flooding into the space, with an array of places to study and rooms to book out. There is also a small cafe downstairs, so you never have to worry about packing your things up and going elsewhere for a snack. Not only that, but why not register just to borrow some fiction books? The majority of reading we’ll do in our time at university is academic, so giving our brains the chance to escape with a new read is always valuable. Will I possibly be here more than Hallward? Time can only tell… And there we have it! Several places, both already cherished and brand new, for you to take a look around this year. If there’s anything else I can say here, it’s that there are plenty more places than this to find in Nottingham, both around campus and in the city centre. But who am I to spoil all the exploring? I’ve put some ideas onto the map, and it’s up to you to find the rest… have fun cafe-hopping! About the Author Related Articles Copyright free images via Pexels. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Student life Categories: I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE