A drive up Milwaukee Avenue (or should we say a bike ride along the avenue’s seven-mile bike lane) from its downtown origin at Kinzie to the northwesternmost reaches of Chicago is a tour of the city’s rich linguistic history. The … Continue reading →

Some words make me cringe. Not necessarily words that have a negative meaning. Some are completely benign, but just sound off, like “moist” and “crisp.” Others drive me nuts when used incorrectly, like “literally” (the other day I read on … Continue reading →

There are many “driveway moments” for me when listening to NPR – times when I’ve long since arrived at my destination but I find myself still sitting in the car, listening to a news or special interest segment (though given … Continue reading →

Tracy Lopez, a blogger for SpanglishBaby, wants her son to speak Spanish so badly that she admits to employing bribery to get him to speak it. She wrote about how her son has now turned the tables on her own … Continue reading →

It’s possible you’ve heard examples of some mistakes companies have made when attempting to market their products internationally without first researching the linguistic and cultural implications in new markets. The classic example is the Chevy Nova, which flopped in Latin America. … Continue reading →

It’s no surprise in today’s increasingly global world that being bilingual has its advantages.  From a practical perspective, proficiency in a second language opens up a wealth of job opportunities.  Across virtually ever industry, there is a need for effectively … Continue reading →

This morning I had a quick chuckle when this popped up on my Facebook feed: Get it? Pan = bread, pantuflas = slippers. A silly little joke for the Spanish speakers out there. It got me thinking about a bookstore … Continue reading →

Smart phones are pretty smart. You can speak a simple instruction or question — “Create a reminder”; “What’s the weather like today?” — and the little handheld robot will respond swiftly to your command. Voice-activated virtual assistants like iPhone’s Siri … Continue reading →

You’re buying tickets online to a baseball game. You log into the website, pick your tickets and pay — but the transaction isn’t complete until you’ve correctly deciphered a wavy, nonsensical word like “exulatu” or “plicrom.” Those funky words are … Continue reading →

Dear clients, partners and friends: It’s all about connections.  For some, it’s about strengthening connections with their heritage.  For others, it’s about creating connections within the community where they live or work.  And for others still, it’s about reaching out … Continue reading →