Podcast
Language Nerds Do Earth
Hosted by Language Nerds Do Earth · EN
The Linguist/Culture/Travel Podcast
11episodes
Episodes
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Episode 64: Natural Wonders of the World
Oct 6, 202200:54:51Tap to summarizeFor episode 64 on travel, we are diving into the 7 natural wonders of the world! Go on a journey with us to all corners of the globe. We talk about commonly known ones like Mount Everest, the Grand Canyon, and the Great Barrier Reef, but did you know about Parícutin, a cone volcano that just appeared one day in a corn farmer’s field in Mexico? There are some great stories behind the Northern Lights as well based on ancient cultures’ perceptions of them. For the nature lovers, take a listen to decide where your next vacation will take you and when the best time to go is! We got this list at Planetware. In language news, researchers are training AI to learn Cuneiform in order to translate an Akkadian tablet from about 4,000 years ago! Wonder what it said — was it trade rules and laws, or could it have been instructions on how to take care of someone’s cats while they were away on vacation? Thanks to ZME Science for this fascinating article! Interested in visiting Everest? Check out Patrice’s experience trekking to Poon Hill with Rewati at Mountain Magic Treks! Now, go leave us a review on iTunes! Thanks, love you bye.The post Episode 64: Natural Wonders of the World first appeared on Language Nerds Do Earth.
Transcribe →Episode 63: The Horrific Cultural Oppression of Women
Sep 17, 202200:54:15Tap to summarizeWhere to start? There are countless ways that society oppresses women on every corner of the globe. Today, look a little closer at only three: witch hunts, Chinese foot binding, and genital mutilation. Trigger warning: we discuss some difficult details. If you’re squeamish, proceed with caution. But learning about the horrors of history is important, so that we can keep an eye out for them in the future. Here are some links to our resources for this episode: An interesting article about witch huntsThe book I read about foot binding was called Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, by Lisa See. Check it out!Chinese foot binding from the SmithsonianInformation on female genital mutilation In language news: the word for “horse” in many American Indian languages translates to some variation of “dog.” How might this translation reflect the cultural perception of horses in the culture? Some claim that Europeans brought horses to the Americas. However, they actually originate there and are an essential part of Native culture. Finally, want to make a difference and help the UN work toward their goal of gender equality worldwide? Go to their website and see what you can do right now. Here are the links to the hit songs we found in other languages: “Hello” in Swahili“House of the Rising Sun” in Hebrew“Let it Go” in Russian“Wake me Up” in NorwegianThe post Episode 63: The Horrific Cultural Oppression of Women first appeared on Language Nerds Do Earth.
Transcribe →Episode 62: Amazing Language Isolates
Sep 11, 202201:00:40Tap to summarizeWelcome back to episode 62, everybody! It’s time to get REAL NERDY and examine some language isolates. Let’s go on a trip around the world to learn about Burushaski in Pakistan and India, Mapuche in Chile and Argentina, and — of course — Basque in Spain and a bit of France. We’ll explore the culture and a bit of grammar, and listen to some of the amazing sounds produced by the speakers of these unique languages! Next, of course it wouldn’t be a Language Nerds Do Earth episode without the BREAKING language news from the New York Times: as it turns out, parentese has universal qualities around the world. Linguists investigated the way parents talked to their infants in hundreds of languages and found similarities across all of them. Take part in the study to see how intuitive you are at identifying parentese! Check out the videos where we got the audioclips of these amazing language isolates: Burushaski chorus Mapuche group advocating for their language through musicBasque Bertsolari Finally, wanna learn more about Basque? We already did an episode all about it! Why did we cover it twice? We forgot! Oh well. The post Episode 62: Amazing Language Isolates first appeared on Language Nerds Do Earth.
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Episode 61: Travel Stereotypes
Jul 30, 202201:04:07Tap to summarizeIn language news this week, if you’ve ever noticed that it’s difficult to conjure up mental images in another languages, you’re not alone. Scientists have confirmed that it is harder to do this than in your home language. In other words, thinking in a second language hinders your imagination! Next, we learn about what people in the service industry say about tourists from different cultures. Do you have a travel stereotype? Do you agree with what they say about your culture? Where are you meant to go on your next vacation? If you get a different result from Hawaii, let us know.The post Episode 61: Travel Stereotypes first appeared on Language Nerds Do Earth.
Transcribe →Episode 60: The Culture of Fascism
Oct 27, 202000:43:58Tap to summarizeOh yeah. We’re going there. Have you ever wondered to yourself, “Maybe someday for funsies I’ll try living in a country run by a fascist government!”? Well today is your lucky day, because we’re making it easier for you to try and spot one. This week we answer your burning questions such as “What is the origin of the word ‘fascism,'” and “Who was the first fascist ever?” and “Aren’t fascism and socialism the same exact thing??” Yes, this hot topic has been on the tip of everyone’s tongue lately and today we are the ones with the answers! Here is a compilation of our resources for those of you who loved this episode so much and can’t wait to learn more! Yuval Noah Harari’s TED talk on fascism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHHb7R3kx40&ab_channel=TED14 common features of fasicm: http://www.openculture.com/2016/11/umberto-eco-makes-a-list-of-the-14-common-features-of-fascism.htmlTaking on fascism: https://wagingnonviolence.org/2018/12/how-to-take-on-fascism-without-getting-played/Yale Professor Jason Stanley’s video on Fascism in the New York TimesSome ways to resist Fascism from Waging Nonviolence In language news, find out how Spanish speakers in the US are getting their own special disinformation campaigns on Facebook and WhatsApp: https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/10/12/1010061/hispanic-voter-political-targeting-facebook-whatsapp/ Finally, Rachel lightens things up a bit with a nice Lost in Translation moment from her experience looking for a new apartment in Madrid! To submit your lost in translation moment, go to our contact/LIT section and shoot it our way via the voice recorder/submit in written form! The post Episode 60: The Culture of Fascism first appeared on Language Nerds Do Earth.
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Episode 59: Teaching English to Non-Native Speakers
Oct 12, 202000:47:59Tap to summarizeWe’ve talked a lot about learning other languages, but how about teaching them? This week, Patrice and Rachel are joined by special guest Saurabh Anand to discuss the path of teaching English to non-native speakers from our three very different experiences. In language news, do you have body language that betrays your cultural identity? The short answer is, of course, yes. Read on to get the long answer — it’s really cool stuff from facial expressions to the way we walk, and even down to how we count with our hands! If you’re interested in moving abroad to teach English as a foreign language, check out Patrice’s recruiter: https://www.teacheslkorea.com/. Or reach out to Rachel to see how you might be able to teach in Spain! A huge thanks to Saurabh for connecting with us and giving us some insight into his experience. And for his fabulous Lost in Translation experience at the end! For your Lost in Translation experience, leave us a voice note or an email here! To connect with Saurabh, check him out here: Facebook: @anandsaurabh20 Twitter: @saur_anand Instagram: saurabh_anand LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saurabhanand04111992 Happy teaching, stay safe, and wear your mask!The post Episode 59: Teaching English to Non-Native Speakers first appeared on Language Nerds Do Earth.
Transcribe →Episode 57: Beauty Across Culture
Apr 23, 202000:51:18Tap to summarizeWhat makes a person beautiful? Is it the eyes, the soul, a thin waist, full lips, glossy hair, a big butt? Well, this is a question that heavily relies on the culture you’re raised in. Each culture has an ideal of beauty that is enforced by its members, and also receives lots of influence from other cultures. While none of these “ideals” is constant, it is clear that they say a lot about the culture we live in. This week we examine some differences in what is considered beautiful, parts of “natural” beauty, and how we take care of ourselves. For Language News, we look at some updates (which are not among the regular quarterly ones!) to the Oxford English Dictionary to encompass phrases and terminology that has exploded in use due to COVID-19. Some are new, and some are drastic changes in meaning, but we can already see the enormous shift the pandemic is causing in language. Read more here. Since our main topic is a naturally visual one, take a moment to look at some of the sources we talked about in the episode. Having the images in front of you will really help to understand what we’re talking about. Unusual beauty standardsMale beauty around the worldWoman photoshopped by various countries reflects differing standards of beautyVarying ideals of “natural beauty”Beautiful women from around the world who have won beauty contestsSix women’s perspectives on their cultures’ beauty standards Thanks for listening, everyone. If you haven’t, make sure to send us your Lost in Translation in our contact section. Until next week!The post Episode 57: Beauty Across Culture first appeared on Language Nerds Do Earth.
Transcribe →Episode 56: Accents Within Languages
Apr 13, 202000:57:34Tap to summarizeIn this week’s episode, we take a look at native accents in English, German, and Chinese. There are so many varieties of languages, and this great diversity adds incredible depth to any language. While we could spend episodes for each language, this is an overview of some of the many varieties you may find in these three languages. For Language News, we’ll see the unexpected origins of the phrase “you guys,” and how this could also help fill the void of the plural “you” in English. This missing piece of grammar hasn’t always been that way, and we also talk about why this shifted over time. Take a look at the Time article here. Other resources we used this week: (Really take a look at the videos to hear native speakers of these accents, it’s worth it!) Dialects vs. accentsGerman varieties, plus the awesome song we mentionedBerlin vs. Standard German videoNewfoundland accent/dialect (worth a deep dive): Great video with an explanation, an older gentleman speaking with a very strong accent, and a younger Youtuber talking in his real accent50 Americans speaking in their home state’s accent hereA fantastic resource for more about UK accents, with a map that you can use to find recordings of native speakers from all over the UK and an explanation of what makes the accent uniqueUK accents quickly exemplified by Dialect Coach Andrew Jack, who sadly just passed away from COVID-19 at the end of MarchEnglish language in 67 accents and voicesChinese accentsCalifornia English and vowel shiftsOur Lost in Translation story, thanks to Queen Elizabeth II! Thanks for listening, everyone. If you haven’t, make sure to send us your Lost in Translation in our contact section. Until next week!The post Episode 56: Accents Within Languages first appeared on Language Nerds Do Earth.
Transcribe →55: Not Traveling in the Pandemic
Apr 5, 202000:36:50Tap to summarizeHello there, from our separate houses to yours! This week we are talking about the essential fact of staying home and social distancing while the pandemic rages on. We’ll not only talk about why that’s so important, but also some ways to make the most of your time at home. Had a fun trip planned that you had to cancel? Maybe you could take a virtual tour. Or maybe you’ve always wanted to visit some of the world’s most fantastic museums, galleries, aquariums, etc. Now many of these top tier organizations have granted free access to their treasure troves, that you can enjoy from your couch (most likely in the same pajamas you’ve been wearing for the past week…but not speaking from experience here…). For Language News, we take a look at the grammatical use of the word “like.” Like, I bet you never like thought about the fact that this word has like real ways it can be used. Read more about it here. Now, for some great resources: New York Times writer Reif Larsen’s advice on “traveling” with Google Street ViewMore things to do from USA TodayBillboard’s list of free livestreams and concertsChoirs and orchestras giving free concertsMore of the artsCirque du Soleil live streams Museums and Galleries: The Louvre, ParisMusée d’Orsay, ParisThe British Museum, LondonRijksmuseum, AmsterdamVan Gogh Museum, AmsterdamUffizi Gallery, FlorenceMASP (Museu de Arte de São Paulo)MoMA (Museum of Modern Art), New York CitySmithsonian Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico CityNational Palace Museum, Taipei CityPrado Museum, MadridPicasso Museum, BarcelonaThe Vatican, Vatican City We know this is a trying time for everyone, so try to make the most of your time if you find yourself with extra of it. Stay safe, pay attention to guidelines, and we’ll see you virtually very soon! Thanks for listening, everyone. If you haven’t, make sure to send us your Lost in Translation in our contact section. Until next week!The post 55: Not Traveling in the Pandemic first appeared on Language Nerds Do Earth.
Transcribe →Episode 54: Dragons!
Mar 29, 202000:31:09Tap to summarizeThis week we are coming at you with a mythological creature we all know and love: the dragon. When we say “all,” we mean that (pretty much) literally. It turns out that the dragon is one of the most universal creatures that exists in folklore, and so we will spend some time talking about why, as well as dive in deeper to some of our personal favorite legends of dragons. While dragons take different shapes and have varying perceptions in our cultures, they are widespread and have amazing staying power. Let’s talk about dragons, baby! For Language News, we discuss some fascinating research that has allowed geneticists to examine ancient genotypes from the steppes region, and compare this DNA to modern people. It turns out, people who speak Indo-European languages (including Farsi, Hindi-Urdu, Russian, French, English, etc.), the largest language group, have much more steppe DNA than other people in the nearby regions, such as speakers of non-Indo-European languages in Southern India. This leads researchers to conclude that people of the steppes spread West to Europe, and were separate populations with very different languages from their neighbors. Read the full article here: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ancient-dna-study-resolves-indo-european-language-origins-194722598.html More resources we used: Comparing the word for dragon in various languagesTheories about the widespread myth of dragonsMore about the story of BidaMore about Chinese dragonsMore about Welsh dragons here and hereMore about QuetzalcoatlWant to know about more dragon legends? Check out these lists: this one and this one Thanks for listening, everyone. If you haven’t, make sure to send us your Lost in Translation in our contact section. Until next week!The post Episode 54: Dragons! first appeared on Language Nerds Do Earth.
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