Photo Credit: citizenswaine Latin, Spanish, French, and a host of Native American languages – the names of the states paint a robust picture of our country’s roots. Here they are, in alphabetical order. Alabama: From the Choctaw language albah amo, meaning “plant-cutters.” Alaska: From the Aleut language alaxsxaq, meaning “mainland.” Arizona: From the Basque arizonak, meaning […]
The United States of Etymology 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 Dr Johnson’s House, the museum housed in a 300-year old building where Samuel Johnson compiled the
Museum Spotlight: Dr Johnson’s House Read More »
The history of architecture furnishes the lover of language with a robust supply of unusual and enlightening etymologies. The term itself was initially popularized in English in the 1550s from the Greek arkhitekton, meaning “master builder.” Here you’ll find 5 etymologies from the field of architecture, from the ancient Greeks to modern times. Cantilever: A popular structure of
Dogs, Butterflies, and Buildings: 5 Architectural Etymologies 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 #197 Read More »
Is it possible to begin studying a foreign language in college, only to become a professional linguist, published author, and Army interpreter? If you’re NML Vice President Gregory Nedved, the answer is a resounding yes. Greg started learning Mandarin Chinese while studying in Taiwan. Since then, he has worked for more than 30 years in the Army
On Leadership and Languages: Interview with Gregory J. Nedved 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 #177 Read More »
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – When author and NML vice president Gregory J. Nedved realized that there were no trivia books pertaining to presidents and their foreign language experiences, he set out to change that. From his background as a professional Chinese-Mandarin linguist and published author, Nedved brings us Presidential Foreign Language Trivia. Presented in a trivia book format, Nedved’s
National Museum of Language VP Announces Release of Latest Book Read More »
Ready to put your language skills to the test? Try the devilishly difficult second installment of the popular word game. Follow the clues to find the “odd man out” in each set.
Language Olympics: Round 2 Read More »
