Word for the Travel Wise (12/31/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

As promised I’m taking this one full year of language from across the globe and from the teeny tiny villages found in the Congo out with an explosive big bang! Okay, so you saw right through my attempt to hype it up, but really this is an exciting time. 2007 is only hours away for us and this completes a full year first year for the “Word for the Travel Wise” feature. I hope that the lessons have not only been helpful, but a little memorable. For the last time this year I just want to relay that while I do not have a degree as a linguist or speak fluently the mother tongue of several far more exotic places than my home digs in Florida, I appreciate the feedback and minor corrections that have been given and look forward to building a better world language feature in the new year.

Here is Happy New Year in various languages:

  • Yiddish – A git yor
  • Portuguese – Feliz ano novo
  • French – Bonne année
  • Italian – Buon anno
  • Persian – sal-e no mobarak
  • Japanese – Akemashite omedeto
  • Turkish – Mutlu yibasi
  • Catalan – Feliç any nou

Happy New Year everyone!

Word for the Travel Wise (12/30/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Since I started this whole word feature off with a word out of Iran I figured I’d end it in the same manner. Today isn’t the last day of the year, but tomorrow I’ll be bringing a language medley and so this day will act as the last day for any single country language lessons. Farsi gets first and last word only because it is the language I’m trying to continue learning the most. Sorry for any inconveniences.

Today’s word is a Farsi (Persian) word used in Iran:

khoda hafez – goodbye

Excellent sites for learning Persian online include a personal favorite called Easy Persian and Farhangsara. Both sites have an excellent beginner’s guide into the language and use images, sound and music to assist you in the process. Check out Lonely Planet’s Farsi (Persian) Phrasebook for a shorthand guide at the ancient lingo.

Past Farsi words: be salamati, toot farangee, kheyli golabi, tazeh, dovidan, khastam, safar kardan

Word for the Travel Wise (12/29/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Pulling a phrase off the list a good friend of mine sent me to help out with spreading the Somali language was no easy task. Most were crazy long and dizzying to look at to say the least. I took the shortest, easiest and most useful I think, but you’ll need to use it in Somalia to get a good or bad look of approval or the opposite.

Today’s word is a Somali word used in Somalia:

Igu celi? – Could you repeat that?

Since Somali isn’t spoken by a large population learning the language online for free will be a difficult task to accomplish. Start with this Fortunecity site. They offer a 600 word English to Somali dictionary and vice versa. You maybe able to find an exchange partner online at My Language Exchange, provided there are Somali speakers registered with the site. Your best bet would be travel within the country, finding a local tutor or purchasing language software from African Language dot com. Their CD-ROM is priced at $99 USD, so may wish to shop around before buying.

Past Somali words: maxaad shektay, qaalin, khapar, aabbe, waddan, magacaa

Word for the Travel Wise (12/28/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

It’s coming… The new year that is. As if you needed a daily reminder. Anyhow, here is a word you can cry out during those last hours if you should find Happy New Year a little too cliché.

Today’s word is a Maltese word used in Malta:

caw – so long

BBC Languages Quick Fix allows one to download essential holiday phrases like this to store in your mp3 player for the big trip ahead. You can hear audio of some very basic words on their site as well. For a full run down on the history and a thorough section on survival Maltese head over to aboutmalta.com. I’m not too certain how much the survival Maltese will be needed considering the country’s other official lang happens to be English and they happen to have around 40 English learning language schools.

Past Maltese words: Fejn huma t-tojlezz?, sahha, xorb, jien jisimni

Word for the Travel Wise (12/27/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

No rhyme or reason for selecting this word tonight. It is short and simple and shouldn’t be used loosely I’d imagine.

Today’s word is a Russian word used in Russia:

durak – fool

Ready to learn Russian? Check out Master Russian first. They have numerous excellent sound files and the text is clear and easy to read. Learning also goes beyond your Russian A, B, C’s at their site as they have crosswords, literature, proverbs, folk music, and homework help. Other good sites include Learning Russian and this Ectaco Translation Dictionary. Click here for two language book rec’s on Amazon. BBC has the basics to download and hear audio, while Wiki provides the in depth Russian lang back history.

Past Russian words: , shakzochniy, paka, spasiba, tuhmohzhmyah, tantsihvat