10 Neologisms Caught in the Internets
A neologism (from Greek neo = “new” + logos = “word”) is a new word or expression. Neologisms usually pertain to something topical, and they can be some of the most playful and fun words in any language. Today, neologisms circulate faster than ever, catching-on with broader audiences through a few clicks of the mouse. […]
La Malinche: Translator or Traitor
La Malinche, Doña Marina, La Chingada. No matter what name you use, there is no doubt that she is one of the most influential interpreters in history. Doña Marina, who came to be known in Mexico as La Malinche, was born the daughter of a cacique during the rule of the Aztecs in the early […]
Recycling Around the World
Growing public awareness of environmental issues has led to much progress in recent years: Green recycling containers align along the neighborhood curbs, more college campuses are equipped with recycling bins, and reusable grocery bags are in fashion. Al Gore should be proud… But, not as proud as he would be of the progress other countries […]
Japanese Keirin ~ Sprinting Across Culture
There are many sporting events that bring cultures together: the Olympics, the World Cup, baseball, basketball, tennis and cycling to name a few. In each of these, the language of the sport’s originating country is spread to the other countries where the sport is adopted. Baseball, for instance, was born in the good old US […]
Etymology of Stockholder
As the financial crisis gains momentum and uncertainty reigns over the markets, we tend to look at stock market behavior as a barometer of the economic environment. After yet another stock roller-coaster day, stockholders are more uncertain about tomorrow. The origin of the word stockholder has an interesting history which dates back many centuries. The […]
Translating Obama and McCain: How the Candidates Reach Multilingual U.S Voters
With only a week left before the U.S. presidential election, and some poll margins beginning to narrow in, it has become increasingly important for the candidates to speak directly to a group of voters who may tip the final outcome: the nation’s more than 38 million foreign born, multilingual voters. Both candidates have made attempts […]
Dead Cat Bounce: How the Language we use Affects the Financial Environment
Words can be treacherous. They can have an effect that goes beyond their original meaning or intent. The terminology used during the current global financial crisis is particularly important because of the role some terms can play in reshaping and molding public opinion. Here are several headlines that appeared in major world publications over the […]
Translation and Film
When watching foreign films, I often wonder whether the translation is, in fact, accurate. Unless a viewer is a native speaker, he is at the mercy of an unknown translator. Inaccurate translation can lead to confusion, or even unintended laughter. In some cases, the trouble starts with a title. For example, in Portugal, Sofia Coppola’s […]
What is the Angoff Method?
The Angoff Method is a widely used standard-setting approach in test development. In plain English, it is a kind of study that test developers use to determine the passing percentage (cutscore) for a test. The passing grade of a test can’t be decided arbitrarily; it must be justified with empirical data. The Angoff method relies […]
Multiple-Choice Test Development 101
We’ve all had the experience of taking a multiple choice test — one is given a question, and then has to choose the correct answer from a group of choices, usually “a,” “b,” “c,” and “d.” From a test-taker’s perspective, these can sometimes be very intimidating. Does the following line of reasoning sound familiar? Okay, […]