"Although ignorance of the local language thwarts exchanges of ideas, it's unimportant on a practical level. I've wandered around four continents using only English and a few courtesy phrases of Tibetan, Amharic, Quechua, Albanian, or whatever. Our basic needs -- sleeping, eating, drinking -- can always be indicated by signs or globally understood noises. Even...

Do words construct worlds? That's the idea behind this Wall Street Journal article: Lost in translation . Scientists and linguists have been doing some fascinating research into how languages affect cultures. Even the simple act of reading can be quite complex and revealing. English speakers read from right to left, but Hebrew speakers read from...

In a previous post here at Vagablogging , I wrote about what tools you can use to self-study a language. While your choice of tools will determine the success of your program, your approach to studying can make the learning process easier and more enriching. Here are some things you should keep in mind while...