Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Language Family Map
I absolutely love this language tree that shows which languages are related and how they are connected to one another. Click the Hyperlink for a full-sized, enlargeable image.
What Do Countries Call Themselves?
This topic often comes up when we learn the French names for different countries. "Why don't they just call it Germany?" I'm asked. Well... Why don't we all just call it Deutschland?
This map shows the names of countries as they're called in the dominant language of that country. The word for this concept is "endonym". What many English-speakers-- or perhaps users of the Roman/Latin alphabet in general-- may not realize is that spelling and pronunciation are not the only differences between our names for countries and their own endonyms.
If you like maps, geography, or are interested in other languages, this article is for you. Be sure to navigate to the original source as well.
This map shows the names of countries as they're called in the dominant language of that country. The word for this concept is "endonym". What many English-speakers-- or perhaps users of the Roman/Latin alphabet in general-- may not realize is that spelling and pronunciation are not the only differences between our names for countries and their own endonyms.
If you like maps, geography, or are interested in other languages, this article is for you. Be sure to navigate to the original source as well.
Ibeyi: French-Cuban Music
These Cuban twins were raised in France, sing in English (at least in this clip), and somehow manage to blend it all. Click the hyperlink to visit KEXP's brief article and watch a studio session with the duo. Definitely worth a listen.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Why is English Spelling so Weird?
This is a great explanation about why English spelling is so weird, some of which has to do with French.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhqr-GNNgGo
Friday, March 27, 2015
Magic System "Premiere Gaou" Music Video
This music video comes from Cote d'Ivoire. Thank you for sharing Emmanuel!
Monday, March 23, 2015
The Year 2000 According to the French Circa 1900
For some reason France in 1900 was the popular topic over the weekend. This article offers 20 illustrations, each showing what the artist imagined the world would look like a century later in the year 2000. The whimsical drawings are fantastic(al), and the modern-day commentary accompanying them is witty.
Paris, 1900
While I'm finding it hard to believe that this is actual footage from 1900 (obviously colored after the fact), it's still a neat video that shows what life in Paris was like in the early 1900's.
Une vidéo très rare de Paris à l'an 1900
Une vidéo très rare de Paris à l'an 1900
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