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Spanish and Portuguese < Back Jessamy Guest Jessamy is a languages student learning Portuguese and Spanish. She was drawn to Lingo Magazine because it seemed like a great combination of appreciation of languages and cultures and an opportunity to write specifically about current events. She is particularly interested in the goings-on in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries but also global issues and international relations. The workings of the world endlessly fascinate and bemuse her. Latest Articles by this Author A Reflection on Tensions in Ukraine 15/02/22

A Complete Overview of Sikh Wedding Functions Jasmine Johal Saturday 23 December 2023 Jasmine delves into all the functions of a traditional Sikh wedding. Sikh weddings embrace culture and tradition to celebrate the union of two individuals and their families. Each ceremony carries its own unique significance. The journey of a Sikh wedding commences with the Roka . This is an informal engagement ceremony. Both families meet and agree upon the marriage, which is very important, as it symbolises the coming together of not just two people, but also their families. This is followed by the Chunni ceremony. Here, the groom’s family present the bride with a chunni (a scarf) as a gesture of acceptance into their family, again demonstrating how Sikh marriage connects two families together. The chunni ceremony marks the beginning of the bride’s transition into her new household. Religious ceremonies form the spiritual core of Sikh weddings, which is why a Paath is usually held either at a Gurdwara (place of worship) or at one of the couple’s house. The Paath involves the recitation of prayers and hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book) to bless the couple with a prosperous and harmonious future together. Before the wedding, the bride and groom participate in separate pre-wedding celebrations. These usually start with a Sangeet . Family members and friends come together to sing traditional songs and dance. The Mehendi ceremony is where intricate henna designs are applied to the bride’s hands and feet. It is also time for the bride and her female companions to bond and celebrate the impending wedding. As the wedding day draws closer, the Jago takes place. Family members and friends take it in turn to hold a ghara (a brass pot) over their heads and dance. The purpose of the Jago is to spread happiness and inform the neighbourhood about the upcoming wedding, whilst singing jago songs. The Mayian is another significant ceremony. The couple’s friends and family cleanse the bride and groom with turmeric paste, purifying them before the embark on their journey together. The official engagement ceremony is the Kurmai . It solidifies the couple’s commitment and is marked by the exchange of gifts between the two families. The actual wedding ceremony, the Anand Karaj (“blissful union”) is next. The couple walk around the Guru Granth Sahib four times, with each circle representing a different aspect of spirituality. After the official wedding, comes the Doli , where the bride leaves her parental home to begin her new life with her husband. When the bride enters the groom’s house is the Paani Varna ritual. A jubilant Reception follows, where friends and family celebrate the newlyweds with dinner, speeches and partying. Last is the Phera , where the newlywed couple visit the bride’s parental home for dinner. It’s a gesture of love and acceptance, representing the bride’s connection to her birth family even after marriage. Even today, Sikh weddings encompass traditional, spiritual and cultural aspects. Sikh weddings, celebrating unity and love, create lifelong memories, bestowing blessings upon the newlyweds and their families. About the Author Related Articles Valentine’s Day Traditions Around the World Vicki Mileson Violeta by Isabel Allende: One Hundred Years on the South American Continent Mhairi MacLeod Athena: A French Film Review Holly Cromwell Images provided by Jasmine Johal. 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: Sikhism Weddings Religion Jasmine Johal Traditions Culture Categories: Cultural Guide 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

Impoliteness in Online Gaming: A Linguistic Analysis Kathrin Loithaler Monday 4 November 2024 Have you ever had the delightful experience of joining a discord-voice chat full of guys as an innocent girl just wanting to play some League of Legends? Maybe not, but I certainly have, and as a result of my culture shock, I have made some observations on the language used within this specific environment. Content warning: Discussion of insults relating to self-harm, suicide and violence. There are a couple of things that separate online gaming spaces from the real world. For one, the presumed anonymity leads to lessened pressure in upholding social norms . This also has an effect on politeness: the need to be polite in communication isn’t as prevalent as it is in face-to-face interaction. Our self-image, or, following Goffman’s linguistic theory, the ‘ face’ , has two basic needs in interpersonal communication: (1) the positive face, which strives for validation from others and (2) the negative face, which strives for freedom of inhibitions by others. Both faces can either be catered to or attacked by face-flattering actions or face-threatening actions respectively. The positive face can, for example, be flattered by praise or compliments, and threatened by insults of personality. The negative face can be flattered by consideration of the other’s space and time, for example, through the use of politeness particles like ‘ please’ when asking for something, or threatened by direct commands , like the use of the imperative. In my search to find out more about specific patterns in impoliteness, I turned to online gaming spaces as the perfect environment to observe ‘unfiltered’ impoliteness. So – what better game to find out about impoliteness than League of Legends (LoL)? Renowned among the gaming community as the most toxic game there is , I went on a mission to find out how exactly insults in LoL present themselves linguistically and how often they occur in the selected LoL games. The data looked promising, especially after a few particularly tilted* players unleashed their wrath upon their poor teammates. Here are some of the recurring patterns in the insults in my dataset: Firstly, the use of animal denominators for players seemed to be very common. Everything from the simple ‘dogs’ to ‘brainless apes’ to ‘u fat low iq pig’ was used to insult teammates. The use of animal insults positions the insulting player as biologically and therefore presumably intellectually above the victim. This secures the insulting player a position of superiority, intellect and power by threatening the ‘ face’ of the hearer. A more extreme version of an insult would be the life-threatening insults that occurred in 40% of the games I analysed. After all, most people would rather be a ‘fat low iq pig’ than, well, dead. Insults ranged from ‘end ur life bro’ or the shortened ‘kys’ (k*ll yourself), to more elaborate descriptions like ‘wastes of oxygen’ or the simple command ‘SHOOT URSELF IN THE HEAD’. Even more cruel than animal pejoratives, these insults target the most precious thing each one of us has: our lives. Due to the lack of spatial closeness among the players, insults related to self-harm are used much more often than direct threats of violence in comparison to real-world spaces. This signifies a lack of power that the insulter has over the target of their aggression, which is compensated for by the most power-asserting linguistic structure there is: the imperative. The command to end one’s own life is the closest LoL players can get to men punching each other at a bar after spit-shouting ‘what u lookin at me like that?’. In total, the insult culture of League of Legends is an interesting space to analyse power dynamics and relationships. Sometimes, it can bring out the most creative of insults to avoid chat restrictions and player bans, resulting in strategies of impoliteness that are definitely worth further study. So maybe, all you bisexual black cat girlfriends should check out your nerdy golden retriever boyfriends’ Discord servers before fully committing to that new relationship? [*State of intense frustration and anger, exacerbated by negative in-game experiences, resulting in poor in-game decision-making and a decline in performance.] Note on sources: The data discussed in the article is based on a university research paper by Kathrin Loithaler, titled “Von Beleidigungen bis zum Bann: Sprachliche Aggression, die Umsetzung von Unhöflichkeitsstrategien und Chatbann-Vermeidung im Spielerchat von League of Legends”. About the Author Related Articles Images provided by and credited to Kathrin Loithaler 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: Culture Clash Language Gaming Culture Gaming language 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

French Connection: An Interview with a True Parisian Part 1/2 : The City of Lights Jess Henrys Friday 19 August 2022 Welfare Secretary Jess turns to a born-and-bred Parisian to unravel the stereotypes about the French capital, and reveal the truth about pastries, politics, and everything in between. There is a lot we know about the French. At least, there is a lot that we think we know. Our closest neighbours just across the English Channel (or La Manche , as it is known in France) often get a bad rep for their abrupt, offhand, or so-called rude manner. It’s a stereotype that some Brits believe is firmly rooted in fact, but I have my doubts as I sit opposite Stella Cabaret in a bustling Crous cafeteria, her smile as bright as her red hair. She shows no signs of the dismissive attitude I had been warned about, and is cheerfully attentive as I press the record button on my Dictaphone app. Stella, a friend and classmate from my semester abroad at Université de Paris (now Université de Paris Cité ), has kindly agreed to shine her own light on the country she calls home. J: So, how about an introduction, who are you? S: I am Stella, I am twenty-one – for now - and I study language and literature at Université de Paris in Paris. J: How long have you lived in Paris? What are your credentials for talking about this city? S: I have lived in Paris since the day I was born! [laughs] This is very easy. After establishing her wealth of knowledge about the French capital, we settle in to talk about Paris and what it means to her, as a native to the City of Lights. J: When you think about Paris, what is the first word, in French or English, that comes into your head? S: [without hesitation] Home. Definitely, home. I have always lived in Paris; I do not see myself living long-term anywhere else. […] I think that Paris is, first of all, quite small - smaller than you expect. I know it by heart, and I find the city quite welcoming. The people… not necessarily... [laughs] But the city is very welcoming. So yeah, Paris is home. Definitely. J: And where is your favourite place in the city? S: That is a very hard question! Because- I have a few places. My favourite place in the city… [hesitates] Would I be cheating if I said ‘my own apartment’? [laughs] ‘My own bed’? I quite like some tourist-y stuff, like the Eiffel Tower, le Champ de Mars. Maybe where I spent my teenage years, which is L’Ésplanade des Invalides and L’Avenue de Breteuil, which are two very long streets with wide grass areas on them where I used to play football, have picnics and birthday parties, and then… get drunk as well. They are very specific to my district, which is the 7th. Otherwise, I would say - all the little streets next to Les Tuileries, le Louvre etc… with lots of little shops and Asian restaurants. That’s pretty great. That’s the place to be. Image taken from the Musée Rodin, with neat green topiary in the foreground and the dome of Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower in the background Put the map down and just walk. J: And for a tourist in Paris, where are the places they would just have to see? S: If you’re motivated about museums, take three days for the Louvre and just enjoy it. You don’t have to look at everything, just take a stroll, because it’s a beautiful place too. The Louvre Pyramid taken through an archway Also, it’s not exactly in Paris, but I would say, don’t miss Le Palais de Versailles and the gardens, because it’s beautiful even in winter. Otherwise, there are nice gardens in Paris… and lose yourself. Get lost. [laughs] No, no, I don’t mean it like ‘go away’, I mean, put the map down and just walk. Chandeliers in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles Stella lights up when she talks about her city. It is clear how she delights in it and loves to share this place with tourists and other visitors like me. I gather my courage to ask the question on my mind, and she gives me the French perspective I’d been after all along. J: I’m sure you’re aware, you’ve already mentioned it really, that there’s a stereotype that exists in the UK, in maybe America, in the rest of France as well, that people in Paris are typically very rude. What do you think about that? Is that just a stereotype? Is that based in fact? S: The issue is… I think it’s at least partly true. But it should not push you away from Paris. […] I think that the stereotypical idea comes from two things: It’s a busy city – the busiest in France. Even big cities like Marseille or Lyon are nothing compared to Paris. It’s very large and has lots of suburbs and enormous population. Everyone is rushing around, all the time. And because France is a country that is very centralised towards one point, everything is in Paris. This has, at times, left other parts of France quite destitute in terms of administration and hospitals. We have something called le desert medical, and le diagonal du vide (the empty diagonal). If you look at France, there is a slash going through it where there are very few doctors, very few comfortable ways of living. Everything is concentrated in Paris which makes it at times… yes, Parisians will think very highly of themselves because they’re living in the literal heart of France. It’s also… some people in Paris are also very rich. It’s an expensive city to live in, so that counts as well. J: Thank you for that, it’s great to have your input on a city and a people so close to your heart. I was hoping we could also have your input on the language. You speak English like a native: do you have any advice for your counterparts, for English people learning French or any other language? S: You have to watch movies, you have to listen to music in that language, and you have to read. Reading is great because with music, when you hear a word that you don’t recognise, it moves on too quickly. A movie too - you don’t always want to pause it. So reading is great. For me, I read a lot of Harry Potter fanfiction… [laughs] You can put that in the article, I don’t care. Obviously books would work too, but yes you need to read. A book has a wide range of vocabulary. And you can just look them up on a phone or on a liseuse (e-reader). So read! J: And my most important question before we move on to some heavier topics, what is your favourite French food? S: Oh! That’s so hard ! [pauses] Actually, it’s not. It’s a croissant. I do not like foods that are too strong. In Paris, you go into a good bakery, and you get yourself a plain, classic, butter croissant - you cannot beat it. It is my childhood food, the first thing I was allowed to go buy on my own. It’s my first memory. A good croissant, in a good bakery, is very important. Anyone else wanting a trip to the Viennoiserie now? A sign made of neon lights reading “Paris” with a symbol of a heart, taken on the top of the Montparnasse Tower [end of part one] The second part of Stella’s interview will focus primarily on French politics, and the recent presidential elections. Keep an eye out on our socials ! [all photos by Jessica Henrys unless stated otherwise] About the Author Related Articles Hungry in St Petersburg? My Top 5 Restaurants for Visitors Jess Henrys French Connection: An Interview with a True Parisian Part 1/2 : The City of Lights Jess Henrys French Connection: An Interview with a True Parisian Part 2/2 : The Long Five Years Jess Henrys Images provided by Jess Henrys. 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: Jess Henrys Paris France Tourist Stereotypes Categories: Culture Interview 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

Hygge: Danish cosiness, happiness and comfort Emily Dawson Thursday 23 February 2023 The Danish word hygge has taken over the world, transforming into a lifestyle that people strive to incorporate in their lives. But what does it actually mean? What is this lifestyle all about? The Danish noun hygge , pronounced hoo-guh, and adjective hyggelig , pronounced hoo-guh-lik, have spread across the world. But what do they actually mean? And how have people outside of Denmark integrated this word into their lives? A difficult word to define, hygge encapsulates the "quality of being warm and comfortable that gives a feeling of happiness" . However, the word connotes so much more than that. Imagine yourself in your favourite cosy pyjamas, hot chocolate in hand, sat in front of the fire in a room lit only with candles listening to the rain bouncing off the windowpanes. The feeling you get in this setting is the typical way to describe hygge . Originally used to describe a specific setting or atmosphere, hygge is now used in common every-day language. The term is related to all things positive, creating a misunderstanding about when to use the word. Typical Danish uses of the word includes “it was so hyggelig to see you” “what a hyggelig home you have!”. Explained to me by a Danish friend, the hygge lifestyle that has spread across the rest of the world, has not been reciprocated in Denmark. It remains just an extremely common word to describe positive aspects of life which are not sought out to be created in Denmark. It seems Danes simply often find themselves within hyggelig atmospheres. Interestingly though, the word seems to have been adopted by different cultures, creating a lifestyle that has taken the world by storm. Beyond Denmark, hygge has taken on its original meaning to describe a certain setting or atmosphere, which people now strive to achieve within their homes and their everyday life. Along with the spread of the lifestyle came books, games and even candles; all with the intention of informing you how to create that perfect hygge atmosphere. One of the most popular is The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way To Live Well , written by Meik Wiking, the CEO of The Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. The book includes photographs, recipes and ideas to help you develop a more hygge lifestyle. Some of the top tips to create a hyggelig home include surrounding yourself with friends and family, using a neutral colour scheme, having a comfortable and warm fire-lit atmosphere and lighting up your house with candles and fairy lights. Reports have shown that hygge reduces stress , improves emotional well-being and is beneficial for physical and emotional health. This explains why people are so drawn to the hygge way of life, the calming and relaxing nature of the atmospheres surrounding hygge mean that people can’t get enough. Perhaps this is the reason why the Danes are considered some of the happiest people in the world. Imagine a cosy night in with your friends, cooking dinner and watching films under blankets. Having a dinner out with family and friends, the room full of laughter and positive vibes. Or spending the day with family at the park with a BBQ sizzling and kids playing on the grass. All these things are hyggelig and are so much more common than we realise. With the knowledge of what it is, you will start to notice when you’ve had that hyggelig experience. Maybe you will even start to adopt this Danish-inspired way of life yourself. About the Author Related Articles Recipe of the Week: Shakshuka with Merguez Emily Dawson Recipe of the Week: Chicken Curry Emily Dawson Recipe of the Week: Vegan Pasta Bake Emily Dawson 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: Emily Dawson Denmark Cosiness Lifestyle Hygge Categories: Cultural Guide 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

Fashion Saturation: ‘Stockholm Style’ and the resurgence of Scandi-Minimalism Francesca Beaumont Friday 3 March 2023 Francesca offers a cultural analysis of the 'Scandinavian Capsule Wardrobe' and how it acts as a fissure in the foundations of Fast-Fashion With the post-pandemic cultural consciousness invariably speeding up the rate at which we navigate our way through ‘up to date’ attire, fast fashion is one of the most captivating aspects of contemporary culture. Yet, ‘Stockholm Style’ offers something different in this fast-paced frenzy of fashion cycles. Over the past months, there has been an interesting return to ‘the basics’ – an up-levelled basic. A basic that is timeless, luxurious, sustainable and synonymous with that of ‘Scandinavian Style’. The phrase ‘Scandinavian capsule wardrobe’ has been floating around fashion spaces for years, but it has recently incorporated itself into the mainstream cultural bias of what it takes to be effortlessly stylish. The Scandinavian capsule wardrobe consists of a simplistic colour wave; white, black and light-toned browns, with the occasional inclusion of navy and cream stripes. A pattern which, interestingly, has been mostly attributed to that quiet luxury aesthetic of old yachting money. Scandinavian menswear consists of tailored work pants, form-fitting shirts, cashmere or wool sweaters – usually draped over shoulders – and robust loafers. And the staples of the femme Scandi wardrobe include plain durable tank tops, a pair of mom jeans, high-neck woollen sweaters, usually paired with a black skirt, and Birkenstocks or plain black boots. As a trend, it is essentially the return of a high-quality basic. The Scandinavian style makes sure to ascertain a certain androgyny for the wearer and with its sleek, minimalist garment framings, it is not difficult to look important when adorned in a Scandinavian capsule wardrobe. However, every fashion trend eventually becomes saturated with the digital. And one of the most effective ways to ‘ruin’ a trend is by fast-fashion companies refining a trend and churning out cheap replicas. And thus, cheap consumer culture ingrains itself into every trend. But, because the message of sustainable minimalism is at the very epicentre of Scandinavian fashion, the capsule wardrobe interestingly manages to transcend this repackaging of consumerism and becomes one of the few fashion trends that can be considered genuinely sustainable. Scandinavian designer, Latimmier, in an interview at the 2023 Copenhagen Fashion Week argued that sustainable design is not enough: “ In the times of fast fashion and overconsumption, fashion needs a deeper purpose ”. This almost paradoxical emergence of a minimalist, sustainable fashion movement seems to be society's reaction to its own obsession with over-consumption. The trend itself is a rejection of TikTok maximalism. In an attempt to migrate ourselves away from the clunky Y2K revival, the 300-dollar Shein hauls and the bi-weekly pattern of microtrends, we will now see the world try to imitate the quiet, sustained luxury of Scandinavian style. For Latimmier, ecological sustainability goes along with social sustainability. So, the popularisation of the Scandi wardrobe will, most likely, act like a fissure in the fabric of the fashion system. This is not to say fashion-focused globalisation will halt, but it’s interesting, that in the age of fast fashion, this trend’s focal point is re-wearability and sustainability. About the Author Related Articles Fashion in Paris: Autumn Edition Aoife Grimes McTavish Foreign Film in the Face of Western Commercialism Francesca Beaumont Fashion Saturation: ‘Stockholm Style’ and the resurgence of Scandi-Minimalism Francesca Beaumont Copyright free images via Instagram. Header image sourced from Pinterest . 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: Francesca Beaumont Fashion Scandi Nordic Fast Fashion Categories: Culture Analysis 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

Culture Spotlight: Capoeira Society Aidan Cross Friday 5 April 2024 We sat down with Billy Nayani and Qaa’sim Uhuru, Capoeira Society’s President and Instructor, to find out more about one of the University of Nottingham’s newest societies and the incredible art of capoeira. Our newest print edition was inspired by the theme of rejuvenation and fostering community; on that theme, we’re revitalising our Culture Spotlight series! We sat down with Billy Nayani and Qaa’sim Uhuru, Capoeira Society’s President and Instructor, to find out more about one of the University of Nottingham’s newest societies and the incredible art of capoeira. What is the history and culture of capoeira? Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art with strong African roots that originated in Angola. Modern capoeira comes from north-eastern Brazil, particularly Bahia, due to the region’s involvement in the slave trade and over three hundred years of slavery. Capoeira developed amongst enslaved West African peoples and their descendants in Brazil as a way of maintaining their culture and traditions. In 2014, it was designated an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Describe capoeira for someone that has little to no knowledge of it Capoeira is a fusion of martial arts, acrobatics, dance, and music. It is typically performed in a roda – the circle in which the game is played. Everyone participates within the roda ,, whether as one of the two contestants, as a musician playing an instrument such as the pandeiro , a hand frame drum, or berimbau , a musical bow, to set the rhythm, or as a spectator, singing and clapping. There are three styles of capoeira: capoeira Angola – the traditional style; capoeira regional; and capoeira contemporânea. Traditional capoeira Angola leans more heavily into the playful game of capoeira (the dance and the music) whereas capoeira regional, which was founded in the 1930s by Mestre Bimba*, is more acrobatic and more of your typical martial art. The modern capoeira contemporânea is a combination of the two styles. *Mestre – a keen linguist might notice the similarity to Maestro or Master, a Mestre is a master practitioner of capoeira and Mestre Bimba, as you might guess, is a legend of the art. What do you enjoy most about capoeira? Qaa’sim: Capoeira maintains a strong link to African culture and is an active, holistic way to engage with and learn about Brazilian culture and history. Billy: The happiness of capoeira and the positive energy within the sessions. No matter how bad your day has been, capoeira is a way to bring positive energy back into the day. How can students get involved with capoeira? Capoeira Society run weekly one-hour sessions on Thursdays from 5-6pm in Monica Partridge, in room B02, which are taught by Qaa’sim. Aimed at beginners, the sessions don’t teach any specific style of capoeira. Instead they are focused on the music, movements and flow of capoeira, such as the ginga – the fundamental movement in capoeira, the sway, performed by placing both feet shoulder-width apart and moving one foot back and forth – as well as kicks, escapes, and sequences. Make sure to follow Capoeira Society on Instagram to find out more about the society and the art of capoeira and to keep up to date with their sessions! About the Author Related Articles Culture Spotlight: Capoeira Society 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: culture spotlight capoeira brazil Aidan Cross interview Categories: Cultural Spotlight 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

On Mange du Local Eleanor Curtis Friday 9 February 2024 French food culture benefits producers - how can we in Britain learn and start to back British farming once more. Having spent time in France as part of my degree, I was struck by one major difference between France and England. The French care about where their food comes from. I’m not talking about opinions I have heard on the echo-chamber that is my For You Page, or even about advertisements or opinion pieces in French news. The people around me cared about what they ate. Where I was living was in Limousin country , and anyone interested in commercial livestock knows what that means: beef. And the local people routinely bought beef from Limousin cattle raised within the old region that gave the breed its name. They even drank Limousin milk. Furthermore, the Saturday morning market was always bustling with locals wanting to buy fresh produce from local farmers that were known to the community. Every item was labelled with its town or commune of origin. Even in supermarkets eggs were labelled with the town in which they were laid – which was never more that 30km away. Growers and Éleveurs (livestock farmers) in France are afforded something very important – an engaged consumer. This leads to thriving rural communities where welfare and quality are prioritised. People are willing to pay what producers deserve – often aiming to buy directly from the farmer. This is in direct contrast with my general experience in the UK, where even in specialised greengrocers or ‘farm’ shops it is near impossible to work out where exactly your food comes from, or indeed if it’s even British. People here are trying; my social media feeds are full of producers aiming to sell locally and show people where their food comes from. But this is in face of a public conditioned to look for the cheapest produce possible – often at the detriment of quality, and always at the detriment of the rural economy. The market is flooded with cheaper imports – leaving British producers to fend for themselves, or take a price well below that which they deserve. But its not simply about locality or about money. The French eat with the seasons. They do not use summer veg all year round. Granted, France benefits from a warmer and drier climate than we have here, meaning food can have a longer season. However, recipes and food cultures are directly dictated by the time of year. This seasonality is missing from the way that we eat in the UK, which necessitates the import of ingredients that can’t be grown in the British winter, such as Peruvian mangetout or Spanish butternut squash. These are both items that can be grown here in the UK, but they are not year-round produce. One final aspect of the French Food Culture which requires examination is the importance of variety. The supermarkets even carried local delicacies which were different as I travelled around the country. Notably, local cheese varieties took pride of place on the shelves and were only available in the regions they were made. The diversity of food that existed across the country was fuelled by buyers looking for their local delicacy, allowing producers to sell for higher prices. My region was also famed for goat’s cheese – and producers of goat’s milk often sold direct to the consumer or cheesemaker at local markets. Contrastingly, here in the UK the market is dominated by cheddar types, which are mass produced and frankly not so good – leaving dairy producers no choice but to sell wholesale. We even import French cheese when we want something special, despite the UK being home to hundreds of delicious local varieties. Not only does the French food culture benefit health and reduce food miles, it also directly helps producers. The agriculteur (farmer) is an important figure in French society, whereas we have largely lost sight of the people who produce our food. Perhaps we should learn from the French and learn where our food comes from, back British farming, and start to love farmers again. About the Author Related Articles 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Hungry in St Petersburg? My Top 5 Restaurants for Visitors Jess Henrys A Taste of the Mediterranean in Nottingham: Review of Yamas Beth Walker 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: Agriculture Farming Food France French Categories: Cultural Guide 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

Recipe of the Week: Vegetable Soup Emily Dawson Thursday 24 November 2022 Recipe of the Week with @ems.homecooking will teach you a new dish from around the world. This week's recipe is a hearty vegetable soup, perfect to keep you warm and full as we enter winter. Serves: 4 Difficulty: 3/5 Time: 1 hour The use of ras el hanout in this recipe creates a plentiful and unique combination of flavours. This spice is a mixture of cumin, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, pepper and cardamom, native to North Africa. This dish is a perfect lunch served on its own or as a dinner with garlic bread or salad. As the days get darker and colder, soup is a perfect tummy warmer to come home to or to take to university with you! Ingredients 1 onion 3 cloves of garlic 1 potato 2 carrots 1 courgette 1 pepper 1 cup of peas ½ cup of lentils 1 tin of chopped tomatoes 1 tbsp tomato puree 1 chicken or vegetable stock cube in ¾ litre of water 2 tsp paprika 2 tsp ras el hanout 1 tsp cumin Salt and pepper Olive oil Method Chop all the vegetables into 1-inch cubes, place in bowls of water to keep them fresh. In a large pan on a medium heat, cook off the onions and garlic in the olive oil. Once the onions have softened, add in the paprika, ras el hanout and cumin and cook off for a couple of minutes. Add in the chicken stock, chopped tomatoes and tomato puree. Stir to combine everything together. After adding in the stock, chopped tomatoes and puree, add in the carrots and cook for about 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, add in all the other vegetables, including the lentils which should be soaked in boiling water for 2 minutes prior. Season the soup with salt and pepper. Cook on a low heat for 40 minutes until everything is soft. Leave the lid off for a thicker soup or leave the lid on for a thinner soup – this is personal preference. You can blend the soup once it is cooled, however I like to leave mine chunky. Again, this is personal preference. Enjoy! For more savoury and tasty treat recipes, follow @ems.homecooking on Instagram. About the Author Related Articles Recipe of the Week: Shakshuka with Merguez Emily Dawson Recipe of the Week: Chicken Curry Emily Dawson Recipe of the Week: Vegan Pasta Bake Emily Dawson Images provided by Emily Dawson. 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: Emily Dawson Cuisine Cooking World Food Soup Categories: Culture Recipe of the Week 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

Our top 5 tips for keeping on top of your Chinese Rosie Loyd Tuesday 22 March 2022 Whilst learning a language can often be rewarding and exciting, you will most likely find yourself struggling from time to time. They are a commitment, but the more you put in, the greater progress you’ll make. Our Current Affairs Editor, Rosie Loyd, a 3rd year Spanish and Mandarin Student, takes you through her top 5 tips for keeping on top of your Chinese knowledge – both the language and cultural-awareness. The Chairman’s Bao Launched in 2015 by three friends who all studied Chinese at UK universities, The Chairman’s Bao (TCB) is the perfect resource for students on the hunt for material to complement their Chinese language degree. Depending on your HSK level, you can adjust the difficulty to see what latest news stories have been hitting the headlines. Once on an article, you can listen, read, instantly learn new words with their in-article dictionary, and afterwards complete grammar and comprehension exercises. TCB also has an app, so it is great for studying on the go! They have also just begun a series called ‘Frank Talks’ in which articles are discussed in Mandarin and students can listen in to different opinions on certain topics. Most UK Universities should have a subscription, so check with them before you sign up. Coursera: Peking University Courses Looking for an online course to help you prepare for an upcoming HSK exam? Look no further than Coursera, a platform providing many courses covering a variety of topics. Peking University offers several brilliantly detailed and organised courses for a variety of different HSK levels. Split into several 10 minute videos targeting listening and reading skills, each week has a manageable work load for you to fit into your daily life. HSK 3: https://www.coursera.org/learn/hsk-3 HSK 4: https://www.coursera.org/learn/hsk-4 HSK 5: https://www.coursera.org/learn/chinese-for-hsk5 Chinese Ear Gym Whilst HSK exams can be tricky, they do not need to be! A huge part of passing these exams comes down to whether you know your vocab or not. A great way to get your ear in tune for the HSK 4 exam is with the podcast Chinese Ear Gym. Available on Spotify, host Zhini Zeng talks through 10 characters at a time and gives examples of sentences in which they might appear. Tandem Having discovered this during lockdown, it was useful to have some native Mandarin speakers with whom I could practise. Tandem is a language exchange platform, available in app and web app format. Begin chatting with language learners from all over the world, depending on where you search for, and soon enough you will find yourself deep in conversation with a new pen pal! Given there is a lot of freedom on this app to chat with whoever you want, it is a great way to make friends if you ever plan to travel and practice your language. Be warned, however, as you might find yourself bombarded with messages within minutes of opening an account – I certainly did! Chinese Whispers Hosted by The Spectator’s Broadcast Editor, Cindy Yu, Chinese Whispers is a brilliantly accessible podcast for anyone interested in the China of today. Focussing on a different topic each week that has recently reached the news, Cindy interviews specialists and professors, gaining different perspectives on current and interesting Chinese Affairs. I absolutely love how much she breaks down the issues into digestible and simple terms. From reviewing the history of China, to discussing why the Chinese like to drink so much, it is a brilliant and informative podcast that all students working towards a Chinese-related degree should access. Chinese Whispers is available on the Spectator website as well as on all the usual podcast providers. About the Author Related Articles 5 podcasts to help you improve your French Niamh Woodhouse The economic value to the UK of speaking other languages: realistic or idealistic? Rosie Loyd Our top 5 tips for keeping on top of your Chinese Rosie Loyd 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: Rosie Loyd Chinese Tips Language Learning Podcasts Culture Categories: Language Tips Language and Linguistics 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

Southern Spain’s Architectural Gems Vicki Mileson Tuesday 15 February 2022 Southern Spain is home to some of the world’s most enchanting architecture so we offered up some places to add to your travel bucket list. Andalucía is home to some of the most beautiful examples of Moorish architecture across the Iberian Peninsula... Between the 8th and 15th centuries, the Moors controlled most of Spain and their Islamic heritage is evident today across the southern regions of Spain. The Moorish buildings in Spain are some of the last few examples of Islamic architecture in Europe and although Moorish rule didn’t last forever, the monuments now attract tourists to Spain from across the globe. Here are just a few of southern Spain’s architectural gems to add to your travel bucket list. Granada Home to one of the most visited sites in Spain, La Alhambra in Granada has preserved its Moorish heritage. Meaning “the red” in Arabic , La Alhambra was used as a palace and fortress during the 14th century and its beautiful architecture has inspired other buildings all around the world. When Granada was later conquered in 1492, it was converted into the Royal Court of the Catholic Monarchs , Ferdinand and Isabella. The city has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and La Alhambra is one of the best-preserved Moorish structures in the world. Its walls are covered in Islamic carvings and mosaics and it overlooks the Albaicín quarter of Granada’s Moorish old city , with a backdrop of the Sierra Nevada. Albaicín, the origin city of Granada, boasts a rich heritage of Moorish town planning and architecture . With narrow streets and small plazas, the area is marked by its unique and well-preserved Andalusian heritage. Sevilla La Real Alcázar de Sevilla is a massive walled fortress with mosaic domes, beautiful green gardens, ancient baths, and complex stonework. Some of the same artists who worked on La Alhambra contributed to the ornate interiors of the Alcázar. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is used by the Spanish royal family as their official residence, making it the oldest European palace still in use. Sevilla is also home to La Giralda – a Moorish bell tower that is part of the Sevilla Cathedral. You can climb up to the top for beautiful views of the city by walking up a series of ramps – installed instead of stairs so that animals could walk up to the top with food and water too. The Cathedral is the largest in Spain and uses a Gothic style, brought to Spain from France . The Gothic style cemented itself in Andalusian architecture thanks to the Reconquista. Córdoba Córdoba was once the capital of Islamic Spain. In fact, the Cathedral of Córdoba was so influenced by Moorish culture that it is better known as Mezquita (mosque). Complete with red and white horseshoe arches, it was originally a Mosque and the centre of Islamic life for the city’s citizens. It has been used as a Christian place of worship since 1236, when Christian rule took over the city. Like many other examples of Moorish architecture, the architecture carries a spiritual meaning. For example, there are 365 arches which are said to mimic the expansive world around us . Also in Córdoba is the Medina Azahara, the ruins of a medieval Muslim fortress . Originally named ‘The Shining City’, the ruins feature classic Moorish geometric architecture, terraced gardens and evidence of a Roman aqueduct. Spain’s rich history has gifted it some of the world’s most beautiful and complex pieces of architecture and Andalucía is home to some of our favourites. About the Author Related Articles Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Southern Spain’s Architectural Gems 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: Architecture Spain Andalucia History Vicki Mileson 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

The Art of Fictional Languages: Deconstructing Dothraki and Klingon Kathrin Loithaler Monday 16 December 2024 Did you know that the act of creating fictional languages has its own name? Conlanging, short for the construction of languages, has become increasingly popular as the genres of science fiction and fantasy have taken TV and book audiences by storm. From Star Trek to Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings, constructed languages, so-called conlangs, have found their way into popular culture. We will closely examine two of these languages, Dothraki and Klingon, to truly learn what goes into creating and speaking these conlangs. Dothraki Dothraki is one of the languages in the Game of Thrones fantasy universe. Spoken by the Dothraki people, a nomadic horse warrior tribe living in the desert across the narrow sea, the language largely draws on Arabic and Spanish sounds. To expand the language for the series, linguist David Peterson took on the project, creating its grammar and a dictionary with 4,000 words . But how does he balance creative conlanging with the effort of training English-speaking actors to actually speak the language? For instance, Dothraki is an intonation language like English, meaning that pitch doesn’t affect the meaning of individual words, but is instead used as a conversational tool, for example, to signify a question with a rise in pitch at the end of sentences. This contrasts with languages like Mandarin or Cherokee, which are tonal languages where pitch changes the meaning of each word. Words in tonal languages can be very hard to pronounce correctly for actors who natively speak English, so David Peterson deliberately made Dothraki an intonation language. He also crafted Dothraki with a lot of attention to detail that might be unknown to most viewers. For example, he included loan words and borrowings from High Valyrian (another conlang created for the show) to name concepts the Dothraki people may not have their own words for, such as the Dothraki word timvir (book), which is borrowed from the High Valyrian tembyr. So, the meticulously and intelligently crafted Dothraki language is definitely worth learning before your next Game of Thrones marathon! Me nem nesa —it is known. Klingon Developed by linguist Marc Okrand for the Star Trek universe, Klingon is a language spoken by humanoid alien characters, the Klingons. This language is—arguably—the most famous conlang, and according to the Guinness Book of Records , it is actually the most spoken fictional language in the world. Klingon has been so popular with fan and linguistic communities that a Klingon Language Institute (KLI) was founded in 1992 by North American Star Trek fans. The KLI, still active today as a non-profit organization, offers Klingon language courses, linguistic research on Klingon, translations or original stories and regularly hosts Klingon events. The language itself is designed to be very dissimilar to English in order to pass as an alien language. So, although all of the sounds and grammar exist in natural human languages, the unusual combinations and pronunciations of sounds make Klingon truly unique, causing it to sound harsh, guttural, and forceful. The sentence pattern is also particularly intriguing, as the conlang follows an object-verb-subject pattern, unlike nearly all natural languages, including English, which use a subject-verb-object pattern. This makes Klingon a truly alienesque language that sounds quite strange to human ears. Additionally, what is special about Klingon is that it doesn’t only exist as a spoken language, but also includes a writing system with custom characters. This has enabled numerous Klingon translations, for example of Shakespeare's plays, and many other pieces of world literature. Star Trek ’s Klingon is regarded as one of the most researched and beloved conlangs — by fans and linguists alike. It truly amazes me how much heart has gone into creating and maintaining the language, even over thirty years after its creation. tlhIngan Hol Dajatlh'a'? —Do you speak Klingon? About the Author Related Articles Copyright free images courtesy of 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: Language 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