There’s a new museum in town, and we can’t wait to see what Planet Word will have to offer. The immersive language experience is slated to open in Washington, D.C. in 2019 and is already picking up buzz in the community. We caught up with Planet Word Founder and CEO Ann Friedman to learn more. […]
Engage, Interact, Inspire: Interview with Ann Friedman Read More »
Text and cartoons by Linda Thompson The Philogelos, typically translated as “the joker” or “the one who loves laughter”, is an ancient Greek collection of approximately 265 jokes. Dating to the 4th or 5th century CE, it typically bears the title of the world’s oldest surviving collection of jokes. After reading Dan Crompton’s translation of
The Philogelos: Joke #55 – Self-Sufficient Idiot Read More »
The Western world owes many of its pithiest and most quotable aphorisms to the Judeo-Christian canon. Both the Old and New Testaments are replete with rich imagery, graceful language, and profound wisdoms. Here are 5 quintessential examples. GOOD SAMARITAN The term “good Samaritan” is used to refer to a charitable or kind-hearted person that offers
5 Wise and Witty Biblical Phrases to Ring in 2017 Read More »
Text and cartoons by Linda Thompson The Philogelos, typically translated as “the joker” or “the one who loves laughter”, is an ancient Greek collection of approximately 265 jokes. Dating to the 4th or 5th century CE, it typically bears the title of the world’s oldest surviving collection of jokes. After reading Dan Crompton’s translation of
The Philogelos: Joke #165 – Window Shopping Read More »
In today’s interview with a language expert, we had the exciting opportunity to hear from Dr. Neyooxet Greymorning. Dr. Greymorning, a political anthropologist, holds joint positions in Anthropology and Native American Studies at the University of Montana. His research among Indigenous peoples has spanned Australia, Canada, Colombia S.A., New Zealand, E. Timor and the United
Fighting For Indigenous Languages: Interview with Dr. Neyooxet Greymorning Read More »
The United States has long attracted many of the world’s brightest minds. While our universities and businesses benefit from such a dazzling array of experts, foreign professionals and students often find themselves careening headlong into cultural and linguistic barriers that divide them from their American counterparts. To ease the process for them and the American
Accent Reduction Training in the 21st Century Read More »
Linda Thompson is a philologist and longtime Executive Assistant of the National Museum of Language. In fact, we like to think she’s the “glue” that holds the Museum in place. Lately, she has also been the cartoonist for the Greek language Philogelos and Arthur the Rat/Dictionary of American English (DARE) comic strips on our homepage.
On Language and Illustration: Interview with Linda Thompson Read More »
To pay tribute to the talented interpreters who help deaf and mute individuals communicate, we’d like to give you a brief history of sign language interpretation. While ad hoc versions of sign language have existed throughout the course of human civilization, it was not until the 17th century that the Western world saw a systematic
A Brief History of Sign Language Interpretation Read More »
As part of the International Network of Language Museums, we’re in great company. The 11 member museums span 10 countries and 3 continents, and we thought you might like to hear about the fascinating work they do. Read on to learn about Mundolingua, a Parisian museum in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Mundolingua opened its doors
Museum Spotlight: Mundolingua Read More »
Read on to find out the fascinating and unexpected etymologies of 10 U.S. cities. Albuquerque Named for its founder, Francisco Fernandez de la Cueva, Duke of Albuquerque, the original word is derived from the Latin albus, meaning “white”, and quercus, meaning “oak.” Atlanta Having undergone numerous name-changes – from Terminus
The Stories Behind 10 U.S. Cities Read More »
