Can Emotions Go Beyond Language?

According to a new study from MPI, one doesn’t need to understand a foreigner’s language to communicate with him or her.  One can percieve meaning from emotions alone.  It appears that expressions, which display our emotions, are universal after all.  Yet, it also found that language may or may not limit the labeling of specific emotional signals seen in the face or body language.  It all depends on if there is a word or meaning for the expression/emotion being protrayed in the language.

see source for more information: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111102093045.htm

Bilingual Babies have more flexibility in the Brain

“…bilingual babies learn that objects and events in the world have two names, and [the] flexibly [to] switch between these labels, giv[e] the brain…good exercise”

“When the brain is exposed to two languages rather than only one, the most adaptive response is to stay open longer before showing the perceptual narrowing that monolingual infants typically show at the end of the first year of life”

“ Early exposure to language also made a difference….the size of the bilingual children’s vocabulary was associated with the strength of their brain responses in discriminating languages at 10-12 months of age.”

source:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110829070559.htm

Brains – getting wiser not duller with age

Studies find an older brain can function and perform in equal ways as a younger one.  More experiences, ability to use resources, and confidence from learning led older brains to out perform younger ones.   Youth doesn’t always get the benefits in life!!

 

Study done in Montreal and published in the Cerebral Cortex.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110825102253.htm

Conferences Worldwide

If you are interested in attending a conference about language, linguistics, theory, speech/hearing therapy, etc, try clicking here and find one nearest you: http://www.conferencealerts.com/language.htm

Pig Latin

Ever wonder how we came to have this so called secret language called Pig Latin?  Interested in why there is no Latin in this language?  Thought about the reasons only the youth speak it?

Some of your possible answers are here:

http://www.ask.com/wiki/Pig_Latin

http://blue1.emerson.u98.k12.me.us/gt/discuss/msgReader$17 ( careful! not color friendly…)

http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/4219/whats-the-origin-of-pig-latin

http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/74528

http://www.museumofconceptualart.com/ible-bay.html ( just for kicks )

Not Lost in Translation

Langugage Translation Software markets is expected rise within the next 6 years, according to a study by WinterGreen Research.  World wide presence is targeted to reach $3 billion from $575.5 million.   This is a great opportunity for those interested in the language field to capitalize on this trend.

Source: http://www.marketresearch.com/product/display.asp?productid=6076633&xs=r&SID=54766898-499457219-512143857

9 Ways a Rapper and an Interpreter are alike

1. they need to stay up on current events to stay sharp

2. they have a good command of the language vocabulary they are working in

3. they should be studying various topics, even at a surface level, to be well-rounded

4. they need to have a clear delivery

5. their thought processes should be quick

6. they need to constantly read and gain new vocabulary

7. they should understand the ways things operate to manipulate the language

8. they have captive audiences & are given a stage

9. they are professionals that are usually paid for their work

Chinese Studies on the rise…

These past few years, students & their families have been requesting more Chinese Language studies, probably due to the rise in awareness that US-China relations in the future will be important, according to the Chinese Language and Culture Initiative program at College Board and the Chinese language initiatives at the Asia Society.  This interest spans from Kindergarten to College level.  If you live in NY & can teach Chinese, the NYU’s Developing Chinese Language Teachers program has been accepting applications.  We could have used a studies program like this while growing up on all of the Chinese Martial Arts films we loved!

source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u_ZW1AQ988

New Language Discovered

 A couple of years ago, researchers from National Geographic, discovered a new language, called Koro, in a northeastern state in India.  Although more than 120 languages are spoken there, the younger generations are learning mostly English & Hindi in schools.  This language, within a century, as well as others in the world, are expected to pass when its 800th fluent speaker of Koro dies.

Read full article here:

source:http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703843804575534122591921594.html

Arabic may be Difficult for your Brain to Read

Israeli scientists at the University of Haifa conducted a study recently that may give insight in why Arabic has been difficult to learn in reading.  Its understood that when one learns most languages, both hemisperes of the brain are used.  Yet when studying the details of the Arabic characters, students should use only the left part of the brain.  This is because of the intricacies of the placements of dots on the characters as well as remembering which sounds go with which letter.  The differences in distinguishing character from character is not without mental work.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11181457