Columnist Claire Welch SC ‘27, a Chinese and Italian Foreign Languages major, writes about linguistic exile, Italian movies and making connections across language barriers.
Tag: Language
Word for Word: Dipping your toes into the stream of Clarice Lispector
Books translated into other languages are often described as being “lost in translation.” Literary columnist Anna R. Naigeborin PO ’28, a Brazilian herself, writes about the experience of reading the works of Brazilian author Clarice Lispector in English.
Say ‘hei’ to Oldenborg Dining Hall’s new Finnish language table
On Wednesday, March 20, Oldenborg hosted the first session of its new Finnish language table, an effort championed by Xuehuai He PO ‘25 and Rowan Norenberg PO ‘27.
OPINION: The Unspoken Importance of Unnecessary Language
Portrayed as unnecessary language, Frances Smith PZ `26 shows the ways that “like,” “um” and “y’know” are essential tools for many individuals.
John McWhorter on Wokeism and linguistic prescriptivism
John McWhorter, New York Times columnist and Columbia University linguistics professor, spoke at the Athenaeum on Jan. 26 about linguistic prescriptivism, a phenomenon in which people create terms like “Latinx” and “BIPOC.” He argued that such terms do not effectively produce social change.
Filipinx students revive Tagalog language table at Oldenborg
The Tagalog language table at Pomona College’s Oldenborg dining hall, which stopped operations in 2020, was revived in October following student organizing supported by the Filipinx-American Student Association (Kasama). Originally established in 2013, the language table provides a vital space for Filipinx students and staff to improve their Tagalog skills, connect and build community. Student leaders are advocating for the introduction of Tagalog courses and seeking to further improve Southeast Asian representation at the 7Cs.
OPINION: Not speaking your parents’ native language doesn’t make you a bad Asian American
Not speaking our parents’ native language fluently is not a result of our personal failures but rather the result of our circumstances and upbringing, argues Alexander Chao PO ‘25.
Assorted novelties: Ocean Vuong wants to let books live
Book columnist Anna Solomon PZ ’23 praises Ocean Vuong’s “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” for its regeneration of language.
OPINION: Unnecessary complexity is ruining academic writing; it’s up to us to save it
Academic writing is plagued by inaccessible language and jargon that raises up walls around academia, says Ryan Lillestrand PZ ’23.
OPINION: Speaking multiple languages should be a requirement, not a bonus
Speaking multiple languages opens doors to new experiences across the world and should be a requirement of education.