Language of the Month

Every year, millions of children write their letters to Santa Claus, and address their envelopes to the North Pole. While many countries have designated “North Poles,” including a town in Alaska for the US, have you ever wondered what would happen if the letter actually reached the North Pole? What language would Santa or his

Growing up, many of our American readers learned about the first Thanksgiving in elementary school. While we learned varying accounts, with a varying accuracy, depending on what generation we are, most of us were made familiar with Squanto, the first “Indian” to make contact with the Pilgrims of the Mayflower. We now know more of

As someone who frequently consumes news about languages and language learning, it’s always interesting to see what language will suddenly be put to the forefront of the public conscience, either because of its direct use, such as Kamala Harris casually using Tamil words in campaign speeches, or indirectly by bringing a country or people to

Late last month, Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris (D-CA) was a minor sensation in India for her use of the word “chithis,” or auntie. Harris, who has visited Chenani, a town in the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, before to learn more about her mother’s side of her family, with her father’s side

We are extremely fortunate to be “based” out of Maryland as a Museum, as we always have a wide variety of voices and languages surrounding us every day. Recently, we had a linguist, Dr. Chelsea McCracken, reach out to us, and through her connection I learned about a wonderful language named Belep.  While the word

Due to the various government mandates, and several cancelled travel plans, I have taken time this summer to explore our great nation, and its even greater outdoors. From the Shenandoah Valley to the Great Smoky Mountains, there is plenty of beauty to explore without even needing a passport. One of my many adventures has been

At the Museum, we respect those from backgrounds, races, and cultures all over the globe. Recent events have shown that the American ideals of liberty and justice for all have not yet been fully achieved.  We are sharing this message to show our support for the massive movement for justice and equality that these events