Tell me a little bit about this recording I made in a taxi in the UAE. I think it's in Urdu.
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posted by mykescipark
on Sep 28, 2012 -
9 answers
Attention, language types of MetaFilter: The Russian word
poshlost' is roughly equivalent to the English "banality" or "self-satisfied mediocrity." Vladimir Nabokov wittily rendered it as
poshlust ("posh" + "lust"), and described it as "not only the obviously trashy but mainly the falsely important, the falsely beautiful, the falsely clever, the falsely attractive."
Is there a specific term for this kind of word play?
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posted by easy, lucky, free
on Sep 27, 2012 -
4 answers
French tv & movie recs for someone who wants to be entertained but also get used to the language?
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posted by Mizu
on Sep 26, 2012 -
27 answers
Are there any famous English catchphrases in foreign language television and cinema? Think of this as the Foreign language equivalent to "Hasta la vista, baby!"
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posted by Nanukthedog
on Sep 26, 2012 -
11 answers
I'm trying to revive my rather rusty Spanish. One of the green's favourite tips for language learning seems to be to immerse yourself in TV programmes/films/music in the target language. So I want to start listening to Spanish-language music, and I need some recommendations.
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posted by badmoonrising
on Sep 24, 2012 -
13 answers
Is there any way of adding new dictionaries to the system dictionary app for Mac OSX? I am learning russian and would love to be able to highlight a word and receive an english-to-russian or even just russian definition.
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posted by 221bbs
on Sep 24, 2012 -
5 answers
What are some phrases in Italian that convey "goodbye" in a not-so-casual, but rather sentimental if not hopeful way?
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posted by chloe.gelsomino
on Sep 20, 2012 -
5 answers
I recently found myself in the middle class with none of the financial acumen needed to handle money on this scale. To be specific, my most complicated financial transaction to date has been handing someone two hundred dollars in cash and riding off on his bike. I'd like to talk to someone knowledgeable about money about my financial goals and be told my options for achieving those goals. Do you know such a person in New York City or the nearby suburbs? The two specific goals I have in mind right now are saving for retirement and paying off a bunch of debts. A possible complication is that all of the debt is in my parents' name, so it might be nontrivial to structure the repayment so that, from a tax perspective, it doesn't look like I've just started giving my parents lots of money every year. Also, it would be better, though not strictly necessary, if this person could speak Chinese to my parents.
posted by anonymous
on Sep 19, 2012 -
11 answers
I have never used "Jew" as a verb. I no longer "welsh" on debts, and I haven't used "gyp" since I was educated on the racism behind that term. Do I also need to stop using terms like "Mexican standoff", "Chinese firedrill", and "kabuki dance" if I intentionally don't want to create offense to a reasonable person in another cultural group? I grew up in very homogeneous
territory and so I'm still learning. Please school me.
I love words, I love colorful language and descriptors, but I don't want to be an ass. Words matter.
posted by availablelight
on Sep 17, 2012 -
58 answers
I'm taking a beginning Thai language class, with an emphasis on oral communication. Is it vital to learn the tones/alphabet first?
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posted by elisse
on Sep 16, 2012 -
6 answers
What are some non-religious words or phrases for expressing good wishes/thoughts for the future, besides "hopefully?"
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posted by raztaj
on Sep 13, 2012 -
24 answers
I'm looking for a song I heard on the radio a couple of times about 6 or 7 years ago. The music was interspersed with a Spanish language lesson in it that started out seeming normal and got kinkier as it went on. Ring any bells?
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posted by ninazer0
on Sep 11, 2012 -
2 answers
WTH? Message in a bottle, secret admirer, or random gibberish?
A friend's mom took her car to the shop (SW US) and left a whiteboard (which she uses to communicate) inside. After she picked the car up she noticed the following written on it. Any ideas as to what language it is or what it says? Thanks in advance.
Mysterious message here
posted by subajestad
on Sep 5, 2012 -
11 answers
What is the best way to teach a child a foreign language that you yourself don't know very well, if immersion is not an option and you are limited to what you can do in your home?
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posted by Alexander Hatchell
on Sep 5, 2012 -
18 answers
Can anyone figure out the language/writing on the
bottom of this teapot? If it helps, it was probably purchased in the NYC area between 1940 - 1970.
posted by mikepop
on Aug 27, 2012 -
8 answers
Making friends in a second language: Can you explain to me why it doesn't matter?
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posted by colfax
on Aug 16, 2012 -
52 answers
Have you ever used
Mechanical Turk to validate, classify, and clean data sets that would otherwise be mind numbingly impossible for someone to do? If so, were the results useful? What are some tips to make sure one's Mechanical Turk experience goes off without a hitch? How do i best check their work.
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posted by Nanukthedog
on Aug 12, 2012 -
7 answers
Somewhere earlier this year? there was a link to a language learning site which started you off on basic vocabulary. On answering questions a plant grew or shrivelled accordingly. I need to find that site again.
Obrigado.
posted by adamvasco
on Aug 9, 2012 -
4 answers
In the movie
Brave, the character Young MacGuffin spoke the Doric dialect. Does anybody know what he was
actually saying?
posted by micketymoc
on Aug 5, 2012 -
10 answers
I'm interested in learning about types of codes and signals that people use to translate language in various circumstances.
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posted by Sreiny
on Aug 2, 2012 -
10 answers
Can anyone recommend blogs about cooking, crafting written in French or German?
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posted by peacrow
on Jul 31, 2012 -
5 answers
Does anyone remember a site featuring a hilarious made up language that mashed up various European languages? (Not Esperanto!) The texts were, I believe, poking fun at the EU.
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posted by ClarissaWAM
on Jul 23, 2012 -
5 answers
Is there a word or term for not being able to understand a word of a language, but still being able to correctly
recognize it if you hear it? For example, if I hear someone speaking German, Italian, Portuguese, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, or Mongolian, I can probably correctly identify that they’re speaking said language they’re speaking EVEN THOUGH I can’t understand a thing they’re saying. Has this been studied before?
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posted by huxham
on Jul 19, 2012 -
12 answers
I'm thinking of applying for a Fulbright - how well do I REALLY need to know the language?
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posted by lxs
on Jul 19, 2012 -
9 answers
Is there a term for, or linguistic function fulfilled by, the phrases "no yeah" and/or "yeah no" when used for the purpose of agreeing?
posted by CitrusFreak12
on Jul 18, 2012 -
12 answers
What would be the best way for someone to develop / re-learn Spanish in four months or so of part-time study?
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posted by Lame_username
on Jul 17, 2012 -
9 answers
I've always assumed that "no rest for the wicked" was a bastardization of the phrase "no rest for the weary". But is it?
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posted by facetious
on Jul 13, 2012 -
7 answers
I'm moving to Hong Kong for at least two years, starting at the end of August. Help me pick a feasible strategy for
learning some Cantonese.
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posted by mdonley
on Jul 11, 2012 -
13 answers
Bilinguals and polyglots of AskMefi please hope me. I understand a lot of words and grammar in Japanese but don't seem able to use them. How do you make the leap from "knowing" a word or grammar pattern to actually being able to use it in conversation?
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posted by ultrabuff
on Jul 5, 2012 -
13 answers
Is there a compendium of language used to refer to processes/scenarios that were once accomplished/facilitated/created by now-obsolete technology? I'm thinking stuff like "dial", "rewind", "above the fold", etc.
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posted by tehloki
on Jul 3, 2012 -
5 answers
I have done some java but I am still a novice programmer and would need to start from a beginner's level. Could anyone please give recommendations for suitable good books. I will also try the official python tutorial as well, but I don't find online resources on their own to be as good as having a book to supplement helpful online materials.
posted by conrad101
on Jun 27, 2012 -
9 answers
I'm learning sign language, and I thought it'd be fun to practice by making music videos. I'm hearing, but I'd like my videos to be interesting even without sound. Know any suitable songs for this?
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posted by Yma
on Jun 26, 2012 -
6 answers
Are there any very basic resources to introduce spoken Japanese to young English speakers?
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posted by fizban
on Jun 20, 2012 -
5 answers
I was taught French through to Grade 10; however, have been far removed from it since then. I am too shy to try to converse in French with others; but would like to build the confidence to be able to. What are some good strategies for relearning a language and becoming more confident conversing in it at the same time?
posted by jamincan
on Jun 18, 2012 -
5 answers
I have several identical Bonds written entirely in ?Cyrillic/Russian and would much appreciate their headings translated for me. (No need for a full translation!)
Here is a picture.
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posted by lungtaworld
on Jun 16, 2012 -
3 answers
Getting a 2nd Bachelor's in a European country "as a local" - no courses in English. Please share any and all of your experiences! More details inside.
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posted by Pieprz
on Jun 16, 2012 -
6 answers
