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language

An illustration of Spanish books and lessons.
First Person

Grief Struck Me Speechless. Learning a New Language Helped Me Open Up

April 7, 2022April 7, 2022 - by Shawn Hitchins

An impulsive decision to take Spanish classes became a turning point after the deaths of loved ones

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A chalkboard featuring many words in different languages
Arts & Culture / Language

What Is the Point of Literary Translation?

July 20, 2021April 30, 2022 - by Katia Grubisic

Translators may alter the composition of a line, a paragraph, or a stanza. But when do their choices overstep, and where do the changes stop?

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Three cartoon faces speaking. One in the middle with a closed mouth appears worried
Language

Accents, Dialects, and Discrimination

February 22, 2021February 22, 2021 - by John Colapinto

From surfer-dude drawls to Valley-girl upspeak, how we talk still defines how we’re seen

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An illustration, in different shades of purple, of people through the windows of their apartment buildings, all doing solitary activities.
Language

What Does “Lockdown” Even Mean Anymore?

February 15, 2021June 8, 2021 - by Jonah Brunet

One year into COVID-19, our definitions are constantly changing. But, when politics distort our language, people can die

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A girl lays on her back pointing up at clouds in the shapes of letters.
Language / October 2019

Why Language Is Cool

October 7, 2019March 27, 2020 - by Yann Martel

Words are as close to immortality as you’ll ever get

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Illustration by Brandon Celi
Language / March 2016

Why Do We Find Nonsense Words Funny?

December 18, 2015May 7, 2020 - by Michael Hingston

Certain nonsense words consistently made patients smile and sometimes even laugh out loud. Especially ‘Skunkoople’

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A woman sitting at a desk, petting her cat
September 2014 / Theatre

Finding the Words

September 9, 2014April 13, 2020 - by Eric Andrew-Gee

Linda Gaboriau’s struggle to translate a hit Quebec play

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Illustration of Rob Ford on the front page of the Toronto Star
Books / March 2014

Speaking in Tongues

February 17, 2014April 14, 2020 - by Emily M. Keeler

A bold first novel reshapes language for the surveillance era

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Arts & Culture / October 2006

Dictation-bound

October 12, 2006February 29, 2020 - by Greg Gransden

Forget spelling bees – for a real challenge, try the Dictée des Amériques

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April/May 2004 / Language

For Want of a Comma

April 12, 2004May 14, 2022 - by Paul Wilson

Exploring the two sides of a punctuation debate

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Our Summer Reading double issue, featuring fiction from Ian Williams, Sarah Totton, and Jay Teitel and poetry from Rhiannon Ng Cheng Hin, Susan Musgrave, and Terese Mason Pierre.

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