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With a few minor exceptions, there are really only two ways to say “tea” in the world. One is like the English term—té in Spanish and tee in Afrikaans are two examples. The other is some variation of cha, like chay in Hindi. Both versions come from China. How they spread around the world offers a clear picture of how globalization […]

COVID-19 – Para ACTUALIZAÇÃO das comunidades de expressão Portuguesa sobre a forma de gerir a pandemia da COVID-19. As recomendações da COVID-19 estão sujeitas a rápidas alterações. Orientação para Profissionais de Saúde (enfermeiros, médicos) em Unidades de Cuidados de Saúde Primários. Recursos para a Gestão da Primeira Linha de COVID-19 para (Cabo Ocidental, África do […]

Lexicographers observe an exponential rise in usage of a single word in a very short period of time, and for that word to come overwhelmingly to dominate global discourse, even to the exclusion of most other topics. Covid-19 short for corona virus 2019, has done just that. As the spread of the disease has altered the […]

but they can still die. Why languages are the way they are? Why are there so many in some places and so few in others? How did languages develop so many different ways of fulfilling the same kinds of communicative tasks?  What is uniquely human about language, and how do the human mind and language shape […]

(Albatroz) – The word “albatross” comes from the Portuguese “albatroz“, which in turn has its origin in the Latin word “albus”, which means “white”. (Baroque) – The origin of this word that designates an artistic style is really the Portuguese term “baroque“. In French, this expression has also served to designate a pearl of irregular […]

(Actually) – No, it doesn’t mean “currently.” Actually, it means “as a matter of fact.” Really… (Cigar) – A “cigar” is not a cigarette, but you also can smoke it: it’s a cigar “charuto” in Portuguese. (Excited) – An “excited” American won’t be the same as an excited (excitado) Portuguese. He’ll be “entusiasmado” instead. (Library) […]