Do you know how the month of May got its name? It may (pun intended) seem a simple word, but the origin is actually fairly complex and interesting. We could say the same about several articles listed here in the May 2020 round-up of this month’s most popular stories about language, translation and interpreting.
was Maia a Greek or Roman goddess?
- Colleague Judy Jenner blogged about interpreting depositions via Zoom. Is it possible, and how does it work?
- US/UK language specialist Lynne Murphy took a look at the different ways – linguistically speaking – that Americans and Brits are talking about COVID19/the coronavirus. She also looked at whether we “stay home” or “stay at home”. (Incidentally France’s Académie Française have decided that COVID is preferably feminine in gender).
- When we’re forced to stay (at) home, how do we talk about how we spend our time? Also, what are some of the current expressions people use to talk about health?
Off-colour and on the mend
- In times past, when frustrating circumstances demanded new ways of expressing what it means to be alive, it was often female writers who sculpted the fresh coinages that kept language rippling with poignancy and power.
- Colleague Nikki Graham helpfully shared her templates for purchase order checklists. There are different ones for translation, revision, edition, and localisation.
- If you’re an etymology buff you’ll love the fascinating infographics at The Etymology Nerd.
- The first-ever state-sanctioned North Korean novel has been published in English. The subject matter is quite surprising.
Esther Kim interviews the translator of “Friend”, Immanuel Kim
- The French government has unveiled 18 new official translations for tech-related words. (Here’s an article in French on the same subject).
- En français : Quelles sont les leçons linguistiques de la crise du coronavirus ?
- Lastly, a nod to the island where I live and its (food) culture: for week 41 of her ongoing #ThatTranslatorCanCook challenge, colleague Hannah Lawrence cooked “rougail saucisse” and discussed the meaning of rougail, Creole, and Creole sausages in her blog article.
#ThatTranslatorCanCook week 41: Sausage Rougail
Further reading:
A Smart Translator's Reunion 