Freelang's blog...

New e-Book Reader - ECTACO jetBook

2008-04-20T11:09:00.003+07:00

The jetBook e-Book Reader is the world slimmest, lightest, and most portable library. Able to read and store thousands of books in over 20 languages (any .txt and .pdf file), mp3 audio files and image pictures, it takes up less space than even a single printed-paper book. Preloaded with English, Russian and other dictionaries, jetBook lets you enjoy a good book, improve your vocabulary, listen to your favorite audio files and look at photos - all in the same compact device.

Click here to get the jetBook now!

Happy New Year from Thailand

2008-04-14T10:07:00.003+07:00

If you are visiting Thailand as a tourist these days, you already know that the Songkran festival, the Buddhist new year, is in full swing. Crammed at the back of pick-ups and armed with water guns supplied by huge water tanks, their faces turned white with talcum powder, the happy fighters won't give you a chance! So prepare yourself to get wet, very wet and soaked to the skin! Fortunately the weather is very hot, and this is all for good luck, so you will also get blessed in the process. Don't even think of getting out with your mobile phone or your camera, leave any valuables in your hotel safe, go buy yourself one of those nice Hawaiian shirts and join in the fun. Happy New Year!

Our First Prize Winner

2008-04-05T20:19:00.003+07:00

He is known as iubito on the Lokanova and Freelang forum, and he is also the happy winner of our photography competition. The idea was simple: buy a product from Freelang and take an original picture of it. Iubito created a nice setting and stroke a pause to imitate the Freelang logo (a little man stepping over the Earth while juggling with red balls). We found that original (and there was no other serious contestant, let us be honest), so iubito won our first prize, a PDA from HP (iPAQ series hx2100, worth 295 euros).

The competition is over but the sale of souvenirs from Freelang is still going on. In our online shop you will find t-shirts of all sizes and colours, and also mugs, steins, mousepads and bags, all bearing the Freelang logo. More than a souvenir from our site, it is also a way to help children who lack a family, as the profit will be given to an orphanage here in Thailand.

Mr. Rude is French

2008-03-26T11:36:00.001+07:00

He's got body odour, he breaks wind and is definitely not an example to follow as far as politeness is concerned. His name is Mr. Rude, and he is one of the new characters in the English TV show Mr. Men, which already features Mr. Messy, Mr. Stubborn or Little Miss Daredevil. Nothing striking so far, but the thing is, Mr. Rude speaks with a strong French accent! Shocking! I have always wondered how come France could be perceived as the capital of the world for fashion, perfumes, great food, good taste and whatever else is luxurious or elegant, while the French themselves have such a bad reputation of uncleanliness and rudeness. But rather than feigning shock or surprise, what about the French made more efforts to appear friendly and engaging to the rest of the world? Come on French people, give the lie to your nasty reputation... ;-)

The International Year of Languages

2008-03-19T16:20:00.002+07:00

Did you know that 2008 had been proclaimed the International Year of Languages? Sonka, one of our forum member, found this information on the website of UNESCO. So in 2008 everyone is invited to increase their own activities to promote and protect all languages, particularly endangered languages, in all individual and collective contexts.

UNESCO will promote projects on "cultural diversity, dialogue and exchange, protecting cultural heritage, safeguarding endangered languages (i.e. through translations and publications for instance)" or "communication and information initiatives that concentrate on building knowledge societies in which everyone can participate and benefit; promoting universal access to information and wider access to ICTs by ensuring the use of a greater number of languages; promoting cultural and linguistic diversity in the media and international information networks."

That description fits well with what Freelang has been doing for more than 10 years, don't you think so? That's why we submitted the form to register our project. Let's wait and hope that UNESCO will take an interest in Freelang!

I gotta a job to do and I'm gonna do it!

2008-03-16T09:47:00.002+07:00

We had already written about US airports about to fingerprint all 10 fingers of foreign passengers. Now another story shows again how far the so-called "security agents" can abuse their power.

A teenage boy from Orlando (Florida, USA), said that a TSA (Transportation Security Administration) agent endangered his life by opening (and there-by contaminating) his backup sterile feeding tube that he carries with him in case of an emergency. He reportedly said: "Please don't open it" and the TSA agent replied: "I have to open it whether you like it or not. If I can't open it, I can't let you on the plane."

So it looks like another good example of the "I gotta a job to do and I'm gonna do it whether you like it or not" American mentality. But of course it could also be another good example of the "I found a mouse in my cheeseburger and I'm gonna sue you for 10 million dollars" American mentality... ;-)

Freelang has a new home

2008-03-14T21:36:00.000+07:00

I have finally moved! I spent a few days sorting out my stuff, throwing away some of it, carefully packing the rest (carefully at the beginning, then you end up just dropping everything in the cardboard boxes), and finally the truck came and took it all away to its new destination. I won't tell you precisely where it is, but the new home of Freelang, that is the place where the site is being managed, is somewhere along the south coast of Thailand. I haven't even been to the beach, though, as I'm still busy unpacking (it's amazing to see all the stuff you can pile up in just a few years), and tidying up the new place.

Some furniture got scratched in the process, but fortunately my computers arrived in good shape (probably because I took care of them myself in my own car). So the activity of the website will resume as usual, but only little by little, as I still have a lot of work to catch up with.

I'm moving!

2008-02-27T18:50:00.003+07:00

Your humble webmaster is going to move house in a very near future, so unfortunately I won't have much time for Freelang. It means that some emails will probably be left unanswered, and that this blog won't be updated for some time. I apologize for any inconvenience!

AISHITEMASU!!!

2008-02-15T22:25:00.002+07:00

This is "I love you" in Japanese, in case you wonder, and this is to follow up on our post yesterday. In Japan there is an organization called "Devoted Husband", which encourages men to express their love to their wives. They even organize events in which the men stand and shout their love to their wives who stand listening, some of them in tears.

In Japan, expressing love and appreciation is uncommon, especially among men. Even Valentine's Day is a time for women to give men gifts (isn't that great? ;-)). As a Japanese man put it: "If I said to my wife, 'I love you,' she would think I'm crazy."

So the goal of the organization is to teach men to appreciate their wives and express their feelings. They declared January 31 "Beloved Wives Day," a day during which a man is supposed to tell his wife how much he appreciates her for all that she does every day for him and their family. The date, read as "1-3-1" in Japanese, sounds like "aisai," which means "beloved wife."

And the organization has greater social goals in mind: "Husbands who take great care of their wife seem to care about those around them. So if there are more devoted husbands on earth, the world would become more peaceful."

So, if you are a married man, you know what you have to do to make the world a better place: stop reading this blog, go to your wife and shout AISHITEMASU!!!

Happy Valentine!

2008-02-14T13:41:00.004+07:00

Freelang wishes you a happy Valentine day! And don't forget, we have ahuge collection of "I love you" in many languages.

Click here to say I love you in all languages!

Happy New Year once again!

2008-02-07T23:56:00.000+07:00

This Thursday, February 7, Chinese New Year will be celebrated around the world. Freelang wishes you a happy and prosperous Year of the Rat!

Chinese people see the new year as a fresh start. They clean their homes to sweep away the bad luck of the preceding year, they purchase new clothing or receive a hair-cut. So, even if you were among those who celebrated the new year last January, why not seize the opportunity and make a fresh start too? You can even catch up on your New Year's resolutions... ;-)

Big Nose and Pretty Face

2008-02-03T15:36:00.000+07:00

Samak Sundaravej is the current Prime Minister of Thailand and leader of the People Power Party (PPP). Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, is his principal opponent. Deaf people refer to the former by touching their nose, and to the latter by moving their hand around their face and giving a thumbs up. So you could say that in Thai sign language, Abhisit is called Pretty Face (he is indeed good looking) and Samak Big Nose (his nose being indeed a prominent feature of his face). This doesn't please everybody, and a PPP member even asked if deaf people could change the way they refer to their leader.

"This is not to mock or to humiliate him. It's just the sign that deaf people can understand," said the chairman of the Council of Disabled People of Thailand. He also urged the party of the Prime Minister not to interfer in the way deaf people construct and communicate their sign language. But he said that the PPP was welcome to pay for the cost of holding a seminar attended by hundreds of people in a bid to determine how best to refer to Samak with another sign.

Are there any specialists of sign language among our readers? Did this kind of debate already take place in other countries? I can already think of a few signs I could do to refer to some politicians... ;-)

Lego still playing well

2008-01-29T14:57:00.001+07:00

Maybe you wondered why Google used a special logo made of Lego bricks until yesterday. Well, it was to celebrate Lego's 50th anniversary last Monday! In spite of fierce competition from high-tech computer games, kids still love to play Lego! I think that it is some very good news, as games that help children developing their imagination should not be replaced by computer games where all it matters is killing enemies or driving fast.

Anyway, in case you're also wondering, the name Lego comes from the first two letters of the Danish words "Leg godt" or "play well" in English.

All US airports to fingerprint foreigners

2008-01-29T14:56:00.000+07:00

Since 2004, nonresidents traveling internationally have been required to allow airport personnel to scan their two index fingers at airports as part of a program called US-VISIT. But now, foreign travelers will be asked to scan all 10 fingers, an enhancement the U.S. Department of Homeland Security hopes will help officials more closely monitor watch lists of suspected terrorists, criminals and immigration violators. By the end of the year, the devices are expected to be up and running in all of the nation's international airports, as well as seaports and border points.

Wow, travelling by plane is already becoming more and more of a hassle, especially with all the stupid regulations concerning liquids, but USA is now really treating anyone entering their country like a potential criminal. But surely this will help make the world a better place...

Buy a souvenir from Freelang and help an orphanage in Thailand

2008-01-23T16:45:00.000+07:00

The souvenirs you can buy from our online shop are all nice and quality products. There are t-shirts of all sizes and colours, and also mugs, steins, mousepads and bags, all bearing the Freelang logo. More than a souvenir from our site, it is also a way to help children who lack a family, as the profit will be given to an orphanage here in Thailand.

Please visit our online shop and learn more about the operation, which is done in total transparency.

A dog-human translator?

2008-01-17T15:09:00.001+07:00

Seen in the news this morning: "Hungarian scientists are working on computer software analyzing dog barks that could allow people to better recognize dogs' basic emotions. A possible commercial application could be a device for dog-human communication."

Well, don't they have anything better to do? People should rather learn again how to communicate between each other, don't you think?

England, Kenya or Colombia?

2008-01-14T19:36:00.000+07:00

If you still don't know where to spend your next holidays, we have some exciting ideas for you: get yourself kidnapped in Colombia or try a riot safari in Kenya! If you are not on the adventurous side, then Liverpool in England is also doing his best to attract tourists.

Colombia is officially safe, according to... officials. It is now the "former kidnapping capital of the world" (so which is the current one, does anyone know?), and it received nearly 1.3 million tourists in 2007, twice as more as in 2002. I would also love to visit "Colombia's Caribbean beaches, cosmopolitan cities and Andean peaks", but maybe I'll get myself kidnapped somewhere else.

So what about Kenya? It used to be one of the most prosperous and tourist-friendly countries in Africa, but since the riots and ethnic violence erupted after the December 27 vote, travel warnings have been issued by most western countires and more than 5,000 tourists canceled trips at the last minute. Jake Grieves-Cook, spokesman for the tourism federation, said: The image of Kenya has changed from "giraffes, welcoming people and stability" to "the lunatic with a machete sharpening it on the road," he said. "So we have a lot of work to counter that image." Indeed!

If you prefer to stay safely in Europe, we can also recommend Liverpool, who is European Capital of Culture for 2008. A huge outdoor concert will launch the event, with Ringo Starr and Dave Stewart as presenters. Quoting the new item: "To give tourists a better impression, rundown buildings - including rows of dilapidated houses near downtown Liverpool - have been hidden behind billboards covered with paintings and poetry."

As for me, I might just choose one of the safest countries of the world, Singapore, just to see the new airport terminal they have just finished building, which has an indoor garden and waterfalls.

"Subprime" voted 2007 Word of the Year by the American Dialect Society

2008-01-07T10:21:00.000+07:00

In its 18th annual words of the year vote, the American Dialect Society voted "subprime" as the word of the year. Subprime is an adjective used to describe a risky or less than ideal loan, mortgage, or investment. Subprime was also winner of a brand-new 2007 category for real estate words, a category which reflects the preoccupation of the press and public for the past year with a deepening mortgage crisis.

The word of the year does not have to be brand-new, but it has to be newly prominent or notable in the past year, in the manner of Time magazine’s Person of the Year.

The runners-up were "Facebook", "green", "waterboarding" and "Googleganger". Do you know what a Googleganger is? It's a person with your name who shows up when you google yourself!

Founded in 1889, the American Dialect Society is dedicated to the study of the English language in North America, and of other languages, or dialects of other languages, influencing it or influenced by it. Its members are linguists, lexicographers, etymologists, historians, grammarians, academics, editors, writers, and independent scholars in the fields of English, foreign languages, and other disciplines. The society began choosing words of the year in 1990 for fun, not in an official capacity to induct words into the English language.

So, do you agree with this choice? What would be the word of the year according to you? Or what would it be in other languages?

Spanish language on American TV

2008-01-03T11:56:00.001+07:00

As Hispanics have grown into the largest U.S. minority, it's now very common to hear Spanish being spoken in American TV series, for the sake of authenticity. But not all actors are fluent in Spanish, and sometimes words are horribly mispronounced, or the grammar is mangled.

Just an example: in a recent episode of Showtime's "Dexter," detectives Angel Batista (David Zayas) and Maria Laguerta (Lauren Velez) expressed their condolences to the family of a victim. But the way the actors pronounced "perdida" (loss), emphasizing the second syllable instead of the first, sent the wrong message. Instead of "I'm sorry for your loss," they told the grieving mother that they were "sorry that you got lost."

So Maria Elena Fernandez, journalist at the Los Angeles Times, asks the question: "Que pasa, TV networks? Is it that challenging to hire some tutors? In the same way that shows hire consultants to get medical or crime investigation procedures right, can't you hire some native speakers to work with your actors?"

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T10:55:00.000+07:00

We wish you all a very happy new year :-) May this new year bring you good health, love, happiness and success, to you and your loved ones...

Happy New Year!

2007-12-25T14:54:00.000+07:00

Your humble webmaster will be on holidays from Wednesday 26 to Monday 31. Not exactly holidays, in fact, but days off anyway. I'm going south, south of Thailand that is, where there is no Internet connection and mobile phones have no signal. Only my GPS will work (it will at least display this desperate error message: Route Calculation Error! No roads near starting point).

During this time, I won't be able to update the site, reply to emails or validate translators' profiles. Thank you for your understanding, I wish you a Happy New Year!

Happy Exotic Christmas!

2007-12-23T10:53:00.001+07:00

Merry Christmas everyone! Wherever you are in the world, we hope you have a wonderful time with your loved ones.

If Santa Klaus came to Thailand, I guess reindeers would instead be buffalos, and the presents could be found under coconut trees! Viewed from here, you could even say that Christmas is very exotic, with the cold, the snow...

A grammatical error in Indonesia's slogan to promote tourism

2007-12-21T18:50:00.000+07:00

The new slogan of Indonesia's new tourist campaign, which reads "Celebrating 100 years of nation's awakening", should instead be written as "national awakening" and not "nation's awakening". Unfortunately the slogan has already been painted on airplanes and published on billboards and television, but officials say the error will be fixed.

Indonesia received only 4 million tourists in 2006, when Thailand got 15 million and Malaysia 20 million.

Well, this blog is probably full of grammatical errors as well, English not being our mother tongue. By the way, if you find any mistakes, please kindly report them and we will fix them immediately. Thank you!

Merry Christmas in all languages

2007-12-19T10:12:00.000+07:00

Merry Christmas, Joyeux Noël, Feliz Natal, Vrolijk Kerstfeest... That was in English, French, Portuguese and Dutch! What about Nollaig Chridheil, Glædelig Jul, Selamat Natal... Can you guess the language?

So Christmas is coming, and you will probably write some cards to your loved ones. Why not send your wishes in all languages? Thanks to Freelang you can write "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year" in more than a hundred languages! Click here to see our collection.

We wish you a Merry Christmas!!

Drink your coffe in a Freelang mug and help an orphanage in Thailand!

2007-12-06T13:41:00.000+07:00

I'm very happy to announce the opening of our online Souvenir shop! You can buy not only mugs, but also steins, mousepads, bags, a large variety of t-shirts, and even the world famous Freelang thong!

Why did we open that shop? Just for fun! It's not to earn money. Of course the products are not free, but all profits will go to an orphanage, and Freelang won't pocket any cent. So it's just for you to enjoy your products, as souvenirs from our website, and also an opportunity to do a good deed.

We also launched this special event as a way to celebrate Freelang's tenth anniversary. And who knows? One day, in the streets of London, Oslo or Bangkok, you might encounter a fellow member with a Freelang t-shirt!

The operation is explained and described in details here:
>> www.freelang.org/operation_logo

You can see a presentation of all products, place an order, read our commitments and check the accounts of the operation (everything is done in total transparency). Those who have bought a product are also invited to join a photo competition, you can find the details at the address mentioned above.

I hope you will like the idea, as well as the products. Many thanks in advance!