Have you ever stopped to wonder why a rooster goes “cock-a-doodle-doo?” But seriously, have you ever actually heard a rooster crowing? It sounds nothing like our onomatopoeic rendering, and yet we all know that is the sound a rooster makes. However, that’s only what it says in English! Every different language has their own set of animal sounds that are the convention, and it’s seriously fascinating to compare. Language Nerds, get ready for an exploration of 15 animal sounds across 11 different languages! Invite a friend to listen with you, and you can see who guesses the animals first!
In Language News this week, we take a look at an article that points out an alarming new proposal in the US to weaken regulations that require insurers to state that they provide translation services. This would not change the service itself, but it is pretty hard to take advantage of services you might not know exist. We take a look at the serious problems this could cause for people who might not be proficient in English and dealing with medical issues.
Get ready for a new segment, That’s where it comes from! Taffy (@TaffyLogolept) has a Master’s in English and Foreign Languages/Linguistics, and she is going to take us through the origin and etymology (AKA the nitty gritty stuff) of a different word each time. This week, we have a fitting one: onomatopoeia!
Some resources we used this episode:
- Language News (and if you have concerns about this, make sure you contact your representative): https://khn.org/news/foreign-language-health-notices-non-english-speakers-trump-administration-rules/
- French onomatopoeia: https://www.talkinfrench.com/french-onomatopoeia/
- Japanese onomatopoeia: https://takelessons.com/blog/japanese-onomatopoeia-z05
- American vs. English onomatopoeia: https://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2008/10/some-onomatopoeia.html
As always, thanks for listening, and don’t forget to leave us your Lost in Translation moments in the contact section, leave us a review on iTunes, and tell your friends! See you next week, superstars!
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