A Thing For Wor(l)ds | Life translated by travel

Homage to BCN: My Perfect (Semi-Hypothetical) Day in Barcelona

Jenny Marshall Barcelona and Cataluña October 13, 2014

My friend Rob of the website Homage to BCN asked me to describe my perfect day in Barcelona. The full article is up on his site, but here’s a little teaser: I’m no newbie to Spain, but I’m a fresh arrival to Barcelona. After ...Read More

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Let’s Talk Castellano (that’s Spanish from Spain)

Jenny Marshall Let's Talk, Words October 9, 2014

Each week on the Let’s Talk series, I’ll be featuring a language learner who will share their heroic process of mastering a foreign tongue. Next up, Ellie talks Spanish. Botellón. /bo.te.ˈʎon/. n. Language: Spanish. Meaning: Cheap, outdoor drinking in parks or on beaches. Blurry nights of red ...Read More

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Road Trip Through France (Kind of like a Medieval Route 66)

Jenny Marshall France, Worlds October 6, 2014

La Voiture. /vwäˈtu̇(ə)r/ n. Language: French. Meaning: The Car. A 4-wheel vehicle, typically powered by internal combustion, that’s the essential component to any road trip. And the French word makes even a minivan sound sexy. I’m no fan of the automobile. I’d be happy if I ...Read More

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Let’s Talk 한국말 (That’s Korean for “Korean”)

Jenny Marshall Let's Talk, Words October 2, 2014

Each week on the Let’s Talk series, I’ll be featuring a language learner who will share their heroic process of mastering a foreign tongue. Next up, Adam talks Korean. 깜놀 (g/kam nol) n. (slang). Language: Korean. Meaning: Surprise, a shock. My time in Korea has provided ...Read More

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The Internet Offers Us Hilarious Linguistic Comedy

Jenny Marshall Just for Laughs, Words September 29, 2014

Risas. /ˈri.sas/ n. Language: Spanish. Meaning: Laughter. Medically proven to cure Pink Eye, when used in conjunction with antibiotic cream. Last week, my toddlers gave me pink eye. This week, a fever. So instead of taking advantage of cloudless skies and enjoying Barcelona’s wonderful ...Read More

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Let’s Talk Svenska (That’s Swedish for “Swedish”)

Jenny Marshall Let's Talk, Words September 25, 2014

Each week on the Let’s Talk series, I’ll be featuring a language learner who will share their heroic process of mastering a foreign tongue. Next up, Alana talks Swedish. Systembolaget [syˇsteːmbuˈlɑːɡet] n. Language: Swedish. Meaning: An essential word which literally translates to “the system company” but ...Read More

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Ushering in Motherhood at a Spanish Daycare

Jenny Marshall Just for Laughs, Teaching September 22, 2014

Cállate. /ˈka.ʎa.te/ v (command form). Language: Spanish. Meaning: SHUT UP. Not the nicest of phrases, but it sort of just slips out after fruitlessly comforting a screaming baby for an hour. I paid close attention in middle school sex education. I take my birth control ...Read More

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Let’s Talk Deutsch (that’s German for “German”)

Jenny Marshall German, Let's Talk, Words September 18, 2014

Each week on the Let’s Talk series, I’ll be featuring a language learner who will share their heroic process of mastering a foreign tongue. Next up, Alex talks German. Unglaublich /ʊnˈɡlau̯plɪç/ adj. Language: German. Meaning: 1. Unbelievable. 2. Incredible. 3. Epic. This pretty much sums up my time in Germany ...Read More

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That Time I Witnessed a Game of Thrones Episode

Jenny Marshall Barcelona and Cataluña, Spain, Worlds September 15, 2014

Juego de Tronos. /ˈxue.ɣo de ˈtɾo.nos/ Proper n. Language: Spanish. Meaning: Game of Thrones, a violently bloody and outrageously popular semi-porno TV series based in the Middle Ages. If I even had to define this for you, you’re living under a rock. The young ...Read More

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Let’s Talk Latinitas (and you thought it was dead!)

Jenny Marshall Let's Talk, Words September 11, 2014

Each week on the Let’s Talk series, I’ll be featuring a language learner who will share their heroic process of mastering a foreign tongue. Next up, Kara talks Latin. Animus /ˈa.ni.məs/ n. Language: Latin. Meaning: The rational soul, the part of the “soul” in the modern sense ...Read More

9 Comments