Students trying to learn English are right to complain it is a difficult language.  Spelling and pronunciation are all over the map: try explaining why rough and dough do not sound alike, or why "i before e except after c and in words sounding like neighbor and weigh".  Add to that the differences between US and UK pronunciation (why do we treat the ch in schedule as a k?) and you begin to have a whole new level of respect for people who stick with their ESL lessons.

Is English really that difficult compared with other languages?  The Economist has an interesting overview of the difficulties posed by many languages.  What language has been the hardest for you to learn?

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Or so says Daniel Cubias in an article on the Huffington Post.  He cites several reasons why we should study Spanish, some personal and some applicable to all Americans.  He comes from a Latino family but he's not fluent in Spanish, and this causes him some cultural confusion.

Why should the rest of us learn Spanish? Cubias says knowing Spanish willl give you a leg up when looking for a job.  He also says that because we live in a multicultural society, learning Spanish shows respect for other cultures. 

Isn't it possible to respect other Americans without learning their native language? Wouldn't learning French also be good exercise for our brains? Should all Americans learn Spanish?

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If you've never see "Lo que el viento se llevó", it's worth watching this clip just to hear how much the voice over actor sounds like Clark Gable.

Common Sense Advisory is conducting a survey on how language service providers give back during the year as part of their annual Holiday Mitzvahs Global Watchtower posting.

We offer all local nonprofits a free English to Spanish translation so that they can communicate with their Hispanic clients.   Some of the organizations P & L Translations has helped include a provider of legal services, animal shelters, a group promoting early childhod literacy, a nonprofit that helps victims of domestic abuse, and medical clinics. 

Helping Nashville nonprofits give Spanish speakers access to information in their language is important to us.  The nonprofits are thrilled that they can serve more members of the community, and that a local business values their service. 

What good works does your company do?

Image by Sam Ruaat under Creative Commons license.

George Bernard Shaw once observed that England and America are divided by a common language.  That observation holds true today.  The BBC online news magazine asks readers to submit their suggestions for the word that sums up the years 2000-2009.

Some of the words featured in the article are commonly used by Americans - green, bling, tsunami - but others will leave American readers scratching their heads.  When is the last time you heard someone in the States use the word "chav"?

What word do you think best describes the past 10 years?

Image by Ever Jean under Creative Commons license.