Small shops in Japan boosting customer service in English
More small businesses in Japan, including restaurants and stores along shopping streets, have been making efforts to improve the quality of their foreign-language customer services. The post Small...
View ArticleManga adopted in Indonesia as tool for teaching Japanese
SUMEDANG, Indonesia — “Astroboy” and other manga works have been incorporated into Japanese classes that began in Indonesia last month for university students hoping to work in Japan. The post Manga...
View ArticleNo mere matter of language
Some say it’s all political trick, something planned, part of some strategy, and they point to his poll numbers to make the point that the coarseness of his language is part of his mass appeal. But,...
View ArticleBaybayin: Ancient Philippine script revival spells debate
With deliberate golden strokes, artist Taipan Lucero proudly brings an ancient script back to life, in the hope of promoting an endangered but contentious part of the Philippines' heritage. The post...
View ArticleA step toward globalization: Accepting Korean spoken with a foreign accent
SEOUL — When K-pop girl band (G) I-dle member Shuhwa, who hails from Taiwan, appeared on JTBC’s “Knowing Bros” in January, she expressed hopes of appearing on a South Korean talk show someday. However,...
View ArticleJamie Oliver’s Cantonese draws giggles in Hong Kong
Hong Kong fans of British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver fell about laughing on Wednesday after he announced a new Italian restaurant for the city in Cantonese -- with a few slip-ups. The post Jamie...
View ArticleKWF, indigenous groups: Filipino is language of peace
The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) and 100 representatives of cultural communities nationwide have passed a resolution urging that every peace agreement and law be written in Filipino and the...
View ArticleWorld’s most-used word turns 175, OK?
Whatever you’re doing this Sunday, wherever you might be, take a moment to reflect on the most popular word in the English language, OK? The post World’s most-used word turns 175, OK? appeared first on...
View ArticleFinalists announced for best translated books
Poetry by the late Chilean author Roberto Bolano and fiction by best-selling Norwegian novelist Karl Ove Knausgaard are among the finalists for the Best Translated Book Awards. The post Finalists...
View ArticleTaking in the new technology with neither glee nor gloom
In this age of instant communication, I attract attention every time I attend a presscon with mostly young media people in attendance. The post Taking in the new technology with neither glee nor gloom...
View ArticleUniversity: Poet, author Maya Angelou dies at 86
Maya Angelou, who rose from poverty, segregation and the harshest of childhoods to become a force on stage, screen, the printed page and the inaugural dais, has died. She was 86. The post University:...
View ArticlePoet Maya Angelou remembered at memorial service
Maya Angelou liked to say that people will forget what you said or did in your life, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, first lady Michelle Obama and...
View ArticleBalagtas honored with literary pilgrimage
In celebration of the 226th birthday of Francisco Balagtas Baltazar last April 2, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) led writers, teachers and students on a literary pilgrimage to sites associated...
View ArticleKWF confab in Vigan tackles future of Ilocano language
Ilocanos have brought their language to different corners of the world, notably Hawaii where there’s an active branch of the Gunglo Dagiti Mannurat nga Ilokano iti Filipinas (Gumil) writers group. The...
View ArticleThe injustice to the cat
As exlained in the last episode, the cat is not included among the 12 animals in the zodiac. The rat had pushed the cat off the ox’s back on which they had both hitched a ride. And so the cat drowned....
View ArticleUST documents in ancient ‘baybayin’ script declared a National Cultural Treasure
Owing to their outstanding cultural value, two 17th-century baybayin documents from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Archives were recently declared National Cultural Treasure (NCT) by the National...
View ArticleKomisyon ng Wika embarks on ambitious publication program
In connection with the celebration of Buwan ng Wika (Language Month), Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) launched its publication series, Aklat ng Bayan, on Aug. 15 at the National Museum. The post...
View ArticleChina divided over the common language
Free-wheeling and business-oriented, the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou is a long way from Beijing physically, culturally and linguistically – and hackles have been raised by reports Communist...
View ArticleThe (unsuccessful) roasting of Gilda
I've never been to any “roasting,” literary or journalistic. I have no idea what goes on at occasions of that kind. The post The (unsuccessful) roasting of Gilda appeared first on Inquirer Lifestyle.
View ArticleDebut fiction writer wins $25,000 Bingham Prize
The author of the story collection "Godforsaken Idaho" has won a $25,000 prize. The post Debut fiction writer wins $25,000 Bingham Prize appeared first on Inquirer Lifestyle.
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