The Latest Breaking News from Languages

English is often described as a thief. It lurks in the dark alleys of history, stealing words from other languages like Latin, Greek, and German, and mashing them together. Consequently, the result is a vocabulary full of bizarre, lengthy monsters that look more like typos than actual language.

People are living longer than ever around the world. Longer lives bring new opportunities, but they also introduce challenges, especially the risk of age-related decline.

Latin America is once again lighting up the global stage. From the Amazon to the Caribbean, twenty-one powerful women are carrying the dreams, languages, and cultures of an entire region to Bangkok, Thailand, for the 74th edition of Miss Universe.

Most of us have little trouble working out how many millilitres are in 2.4 litres of water (it’s 2,400). But the same can’t be said when we’re asked how many minutes are in 2.4 hours (it’s 144).

Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalía’s highly anticipated album LUX has been met with widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike. It’s a fusion of ideas drawn from diverse storytelling traditions, cultures and languages, offering a rich tapestry that rewards repeated listening.

When Zohran Mamdani campaigned for New York City mayor, he didn’t sound like a typical American politician, speaking only English at his rallies and public appearances.

Your host in Osaka, Japan, slips on a pair of headphones and suddenly hears your words transformed into flawless Kansai Japanese. Even better, their reply in their native tongue comes through perfectly clear to you.

Northern Irish hip hop trio Kneecap have been making waves, not just as musicians, but as language activists who rap in both English and their native Irish. In Belfast’s Gaeltacht Quarter, Irish is a living language. It is also a political statement – a form of resistance against British cultural…

Reading is a complex cognitive skill that predicts career prospects and social mobility throughout our lifetimes. For newcomers to a country, success often depends on learning to read fluently in a new language.