Tanya Mozias
@tanyamozias.substack.com
Writer (@OprahDaily @WashingtonPost @Newsweek). Linguist. "Friends with Words" is my newsletter about learning languages in a divided world. Come follow along with my challenge to learn 12 languages in 12 months 📚 🌏
https://tanyamozias.substack.com/
https://tanyamozias.substack.com/
I have a feeling that when people say “X is such a rich language” they mean it has many words, possibly multiple words for each concept (synonyms).
Is that what makes a language ‘rich’? And is that true that some languages are richer than others?
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/are-some-l...
Is that what makes a language ‘rich’? And is that true that some languages are richer than others?
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/are-some-l...
Are some languages richer than others?
What does it mean to be rich when you’re a language?
tanyamozias.substack.com
December 26, 2024 at 1:50 PM
I have a feeling that when people say “X is such a rich language” they mean it has many words, possibly multiple words for each concept (synonyms).
Is that what makes a language ‘rich’? And is that true that some languages are richer than others?
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/are-some-l...
Is that what makes a language ‘rich’? And is that true that some languages are richer than others?
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/are-some-l...
Here is how to say Merry Christmas 🎄 in some of the languages I was learning this year:
1) Hyvää joulua! (Finnish)
2) Feliz Natal! (Portuguese)
3) Siku kuu ya Krismasi! (Swahili)
4) Meri Kirihimete! (Maori)
5) Nollick ghennal! (Manx)
6) عيد ميلاد مَجيد (3īd mīlād majīd) (Arabic)
1) Hyvää joulua! (Finnish)
2) Feliz Natal! (Portuguese)
3) Siku kuu ya Krismasi! (Swahili)
4) Meri Kirihimete! (Maori)
5) Nollick ghennal! (Manx)
6) عيد ميلاد مَجيد (3īd mīlād majīd) (Arabic)
December 26, 2024 at 1:49 PM
Here is how to say Merry Christmas 🎄 in some of the languages I was learning this year:
1) Hyvää joulua! (Finnish)
2) Feliz Natal! (Portuguese)
3) Siku kuu ya Krismasi! (Swahili)
4) Meri Kirihimete! (Maori)
5) Nollick ghennal! (Manx)
6) عيد ميلاد مَجيد (3īd mīlād majīd) (Arabic)
1) Hyvää joulua! (Finnish)
2) Feliz Natal! (Portuguese)
3) Siku kuu ya Krismasi! (Swahili)
4) Meri Kirihimete! (Maori)
5) Nollick ghennal! (Manx)
6) عيد ميلاد مَجيد (3īd mīlād majīd) (Arabic)
If you ever studied a foreign language, what inspired you to choose that particular language and not another?
Please tell me your inspiring language stories!!
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/tell-me-yo...
Please tell me your inspiring language stories!!
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/tell-me-yo...
Tell me your inspiring language stories
and help me choose the 12th language
tanyamozias.substack.com
December 6, 2024 at 2:15 PM
If you ever studied a foreign language, what inspired you to choose that particular language and not another?
Please tell me your inspiring language stories!!
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/tell-me-yo...
Please tell me your inspiring language stories!!
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/tell-me-yo...
Exciting times.
I'm trying to learn a little-known Austronesian language whose only written resources are 1) an old reference grammar 2) some Bible stories, and 3) a sewing machine instruction manual.
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/everything...
I'm trying to learn a little-known Austronesian language whose only written resources are 1) an old reference grammar 2) some Bible stories, and 3) a sewing machine instruction manual.
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/everything...
Everything you ever wanted to know about sewing machines (in Buru) but were afraid to ask
OK, there are so many exciting things I need to tell you about Buru — the Austronesian language spoken on the island of Buru in Eastern Indonesia that I started learning two weeks ago — that I don’t e...
tanyamozias.substack.com
November 20, 2024 at 2:34 PM
Exciting times.
I'm trying to learn a little-known Austronesian language whose only written resources are 1) an old reference grammar 2) some Bible stories, and 3) a sewing machine instruction manual.
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/everything...
I'm trying to learn a little-known Austronesian language whose only written resources are 1) an old reference grammar 2) some Bible stories, and 3) a sewing machine instruction manual.
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/everything...
What's the first word you ever said in a foreign language?
For me it was the word for 'iron' in Hungarian: vasaló.
Which is ironic because the one thing I never do is iron anything.
I was 11, in a summer camp in Hungary.
It was like magic. I said vasaló and voilá! I had an iron.
For me it was the word for 'iron' in Hungarian: vasaló.
Which is ironic because the one thing I never do is iron anything.
I was 11, in a summer camp in Hungary.
It was like magic. I said vasaló and voilá! I had an iron.
June 21, 2024 at 2:43 PM
What's the first word you ever said in a foreign language?
For me it was the word for 'iron' in Hungarian: vasaló.
Which is ironic because the one thing I never do is iron anything.
I was 11, in a summer camp in Hungary.
It was like magic. I said vasaló and voilá! I had an iron.
For me it was the word for 'iron' in Hungarian: vasaló.
Which is ironic because the one thing I never do is iron anything.
I was 11, in a summer camp in Hungary.
It was like magic. I said vasaló and voilá! I had an iron.
Took my kid to the playground so I could start learning a new mystery language…
June 13, 2024 at 1:29 PM
Took my kid to the playground so I could start learning a new mystery language…
I have been waiting for a sign from the universe as to what should be my next language. Until now, the universe kept sending me very reliable signs.
Maybe this is another one?
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/how-to-sta...
Maybe this is another one?
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/how-to-sta...
It's time to start learning a new language
I have been waiting for a sign from the universe as to what should be my next language. Until now, the universe kept sending me very reliable signs.Maybe this is another one?
tanyamozias.substack.com
June 13, 2024 at 1:07 PM
I have been waiting for a sign from the universe as to what should be my next language. Until now, the universe kept sending me very reliable signs.
Maybe this is another one?
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/how-to-sta...
Maybe this is another one?
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/how-to-sta...
COOL LANGUAGE FACT OF THE DAY
The word “Ipanema” which originally referred to a river in the state of São Paulo, comes from Tupi, an extinct indigenous language of Brazil, where it means ‘useless river’
Way to ruin everyone’s favorite song 😁 🌊
The word “Ipanema” which originally referred to a river in the state of São Paulo, comes from Tupi, an extinct indigenous language of Brazil, where it means ‘useless river’
Way to ruin everyone’s favorite song 😁 🌊
June 12, 2024 at 3:30 PM
COOL LANGUAGE FACT OF THE DAY
The word “Ipanema” which originally referred to a river in the state of São Paulo, comes from Tupi, an extinct indigenous language of Brazil, where it means ‘useless river’
Way to ruin everyone’s favorite song 😁 🌊
The word “Ipanema” which originally referred to a river in the state of São Paulo, comes from Tupi, an extinct indigenous language of Brazil, where it means ‘useless river’
Way to ruin everyone’s favorite song 😁 🌊
We only need so many words to start communicating in a new language. If you don't know the right word for something just use the wrong one. Pointing at things also counts as communication.
#Langsky #Linguisticlandscape
https://buff.ly/3KOgus5
#Langsky #Linguisticlandscape
https://buff.ly/3KOgus5
June 10, 2024 at 11:36 AM
We only need so many words to start communicating in a new language. If you don't know the right word for something just use the wrong one. Pointing at things also counts as communication.
#Langsky #Linguisticlandscape
https://buff.ly/3KOgus5
#Langsky #Linguisticlandscape
https://buff.ly/3KOgus5
I ordered my lunch in a foreign language and survived.
(Now I just need to get me a T-shirt that says that in large balloon letters)
https://tanyamozias.substack.com/p/dont-know-the-right-word-use-the
(Now I just need to get me a T-shirt that says that in large balloon letters)
https://tanyamozias.substack.com/p/dont-know-the-right-word-use-the
Don't know the right word? Use the wrong one
or stay hungry
tanyamozias.substack.com
June 5, 2024 at 12:43 PM
I ordered my lunch in a foreign language and survived.
(Now I just need to get me a T-shirt that says that in large balloon letters)
https://tanyamozias.substack.com/p/dont-know-the-right-word-use-the
(Now I just need to get me a T-shirt that says that in large balloon letters)
https://tanyamozias.substack.com/p/dont-know-the-right-word-use-the
Is language inseparable from culture?
It depends on what you mean by 'culture.'
Culture is not history or museums or mocassins.
Culture is the particular way that one group of people sees the world that is indescribably different from the way another group of people sees the world.
shorturl.at/YAvoi
It depends on what you mean by 'culture.'
Culture is not history or museums or mocassins.
Culture is the particular way that one group of people sees the world that is indescribably different from the way another group of people sees the world.
shorturl.at/YAvoi
Is Language Inseparable from Culture?
People often say you cannot learn a language without learning about the culture. Here I usually want to ask what they mean by “can’t”: that it would be impossible or that it would be immoral?
shorturl.at
May 28, 2024 at 12:16 PM
Is language inseparable from culture?
It depends on what you mean by 'culture.'
Culture is not history or museums or mocassins.
Culture is the particular way that one group of people sees the world that is indescribably different from the way another group of people sees the world.
shorturl.at/YAvoi
It depends on what you mean by 'culture.'
Culture is not history or museums or mocassins.
Culture is the particular way that one group of people sees the world that is indescribably different from the way another group of people sees the world.
shorturl.at/YAvoi
COOL LANGUAGE FACT OF THE DAY:
In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, to say 'we' you use A GENTE more than 'nos' (the latter is more formal.)
A GENTE literally means 'the people')
I imagine my kids saying "A gente quer gelato" 'We (i.e. the people) want ice cream.' i.e. The people have spoken 🤨.
In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, to say 'we' you use A GENTE more than 'nos' (the latter is more formal.)
A GENTE literally means 'the people')
I imagine my kids saying "A gente quer gelato" 'We (i.e. the people) want ice cream.' i.e. The people have spoken 🤨.
May 23, 2024 at 2:12 PM
COOL LANGUAGE FACT OF THE DAY:
In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, to say 'we' you use A GENTE more than 'nos' (the latter is more formal.)
A GENTE literally means 'the people')
I imagine my kids saying "A gente quer gelato" 'We (i.e. the people) want ice cream.' i.e. The people have spoken 🤨.
In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, to say 'we' you use A GENTE more than 'nos' (the latter is more formal.)
A GENTE literally means 'the people')
I imagine my kids saying "A gente quer gelato" 'We (i.e. the people) want ice cream.' i.e. The people have spoken 🤨.
4-year-olds live in the now and they want immediate gains.
Here is all you need to know about language learning. Inspired by a conversation with a 4-year-old
#Langsky #linguisticlandscape
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/all-you-ne...
Here is all you need to know about language learning. Inspired by a conversation with a 4-year-old
#Langsky #linguisticlandscape
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/all-you-ne...
All You Need To Know About Language Learning
...you can learn from talking to a 4-year-old on a playground
tanyamozias.substack.com
May 21, 2024 at 1:33 PM
4-year-olds live in the now and they want immediate gains.
Here is all you need to know about language learning. Inspired by a conversation with a 4-year-old
#Langsky #linguisticlandscape
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/all-you-ne...
Here is all you need to know about language learning. Inspired by a conversation with a 4-year-old
#Langsky #linguisticlandscape
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/all-you-ne...
The Spanish word legal means (surprise surprise) 'legal'. So does the same word in Italian, French, and Romanian (legale, légal, legale).
Well, it turns out that in Brazilian Portuguese 'legal' means 'cool' 😎
Language change is fascinating.
Well, it turns out that in Brazilian Portuguese 'legal' means 'cool' 😎
Language change is fascinating.
May 20, 2024 at 10:57 AM
The Spanish word legal means (surprise surprise) 'legal'. So does the same word in Italian, French, and Romanian (legale, légal, legale).
Well, it turns out that in Brazilian Portuguese 'legal' means 'cool' 😎
Language change is fascinating.
Well, it turns out that in Brazilian Portuguese 'legal' means 'cool' 😎
Language change is fascinating.
The better I know a language the lower my confidence level.
But maybe being (over)confident early on is not that bad because it makes you feel like you can move mountains when you only know 9 words and can form 4 sentences 😁
And then you go and try to move those mountains ⛰️
But maybe being (over)confident early on is not that bad because it makes you feel like you can move mountains when you only know 9 words and can form 4 sentences 😁
And then you go and try to move those mountains ⛰️
May 18, 2024 at 2:06 PM
The better I know a language the lower my confidence level.
But maybe being (over)confident early on is not that bad because it makes you feel like you can move mountains when you only know 9 words and can form 4 sentences 😁
And then you go and try to move those mountains ⛰️
But maybe being (over)confident early on is not that bad because it makes you feel like you can move mountains when you only know 9 words and can form 4 sentences 😁
And then you go and try to move those mountains ⛰️
Friday Thai writing practice. Just a story about my Friday.
#Langsky #LinguisticLandscape
#Langsky #LinguisticLandscape
May 17, 2024 at 2:09 PM
Friday Thai writing practice. Just a story about my Friday.
#Langsky #LinguisticLandscape
#Langsky #LinguisticLandscape
Portuguese writing practice.
I've (loosely!) translated one of my previous essays into Portuguese because porque não 😃 ?
https://tanyamozias.substack.com/p/20-seconds-of-mother-tongue
I've (loosely!) translated one of my previous essays into Portuguese because porque não 😃 ?
https://tanyamozias.substack.com/p/20-seconds-of-mother-tongue
May 16, 2024 at 10:05 AM
Portuguese writing practice.
I've (loosely!) translated one of my previous essays into Portuguese because porque não 😃 ?
https://tanyamozias.substack.com/p/20-seconds-of-mother-tongue
I've (loosely!) translated one of my previous essays into Portuguese because porque não 😃 ?
https://tanyamozias.substack.com/p/20-seconds-of-mother-tongue
I grew up completely monolingual until the age of 15. That means that, no matter how many other languages I learn and how well, I will only ever have one mother tongue.
#langsky #linguisticlandscape #bilingualism
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/20-seconds...
#langsky #linguisticlandscape #bilingualism
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/20-seconds...
20 Seconds of Mother Tongue
is all she can handle at this point
tanyamozias.substack.com
May 15, 2024 at 3:38 PM
I grew up completely monolingual until the age of 15. That means that, no matter how many other languages I learn and how well, I will only ever have one mother tongue.
#langsky #linguisticlandscape #bilingualism
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/20-seconds...
#langsky #linguisticlandscape #bilingualism
tanyamozias.substack.com/p/20-seconds...
I love dogs and writing in Thai script. So I wrote a story (transcribed from a learner's video) about dogs in Thai. Because why not.
#langsky #linguisticlandscape
#langsky #linguisticlandscape
May 14, 2024 at 11:10 AM
I love dogs and writing in Thai script. So I wrote a story (transcribed from a learner's video) about dogs in Thai. Because why not.
#langsky #linguisticlandscape
#langsky #linguisticlandscape
Daily Thai writing practice. A story about turtles. This is much more fun than working.
#langsky
#langsky
May 13, 2024 at 9:09 AM
Daily Thai writing practice. A story about turtles. This is much more fun than working.
#langsky
#langsky
Just wrote a story about my morning in Swahili 💃
Turns out the language is still tucked in somewhere in my brain even though I don't use it regularly.
I looked up some words in Google Translate.
HOT TIP: Use Google Translate as a pocket dictionary: one word at a time.
#langsky
Turns out the language is still tucked in somewhere in my brain even though I don't use it regularly.
I looked up some words in Google Translate.
HOT TIP: Use Google Translate as a pocket dictionary: one word at a time.
#langsky
May 12, 2024 at 12:46 PM
Just wrote a story about my morning in Swahili 💃
Turns out the language is still tucked in somewhere in my brain even though I don't use it regularly.
I looked up some words in Google Translate.
HOT TIP: Use Google Translate as a pocket dictionary: one word at a time.
#langsky
Turns out the language is still tucked in somewhere in my brain even though I don't use it regularly.
I looked up some words in Google Translate.
HOT TIP: Use Google Translate as a pocket dictionary: one word at a time.
#langsky
Portuguese has three words for 'there':
aí means the cockroach you're pointing to is far from you but close to the person you're speaking to.
ali means the cockroach is far from both of you but still within sight.
lá means there are cockroaches somewhere in the world but you can't see them.
aí means the cockroach you're pointing to is far from you but close to the person you're speaking to.
ali means the cockroach is far from both of you but still within sight.
lá means there are cockroaches somewhere in the world but you can't see them.
May 11, 2024 at 8:50 AM
Portuguese has three words for 'there':
aí means the cockroach you're pointing to is far from you but close to the person you're speaking to.
ali means the cockroach is far from both of you but still within sight.
lá means there are cockroaches somewhere in the world but you can't see them.
aí means the cockroach you're pointing to is far from you but close to the person you're speaking to.
ali means the cockroach is far from both of you but still within sight.
lá means there are cockroaches somewhere in the world but you can't see them.
Embaraçada in Portuguese means 'embarrassed'
Embarazada (pronounced the same) in Spanish means 'pregnant'
or is it the other way around?? it feels important.
Imagine using the wrong one when talking about your ex: "His behavior made me so embarrassed that I decided to break up with him."
Embarazada (pronounced the same) in Spanish means 'pregnant'
or is it the other way around?? it feels important.
Imagine using the wrong one when talking about your ex: "His behavior made me so embarrassed that I decided to break up with him."
May 10, 2024 at 1:42 PM
Embaraçada in Portuguese means 'embarrassed'
Embarazada (pronounced the same) in Spanish means 'pregnant'
or is it the other way around?? it feels important.
Imagine using the wrong one when talking about your ex: "His behavior made me so embarrassed that I decided to break up with him."
Embarazada (pronounced the same) in Spanish means 'pregnant'
or is it the other way around?? it feels important.
Imagine using the wrong one when talking about your ex: "His behavior made me so embarrassed that I decided to break up with him."
Strange but true:
"Academia" means "gym" in Brazilian Portuguese.
I watched a whole video of people describing their morning routine ("minha rotina de manhã"), amazed at how many Brazilians prefer to do their academic work before breakfast.
And then I found out.
"Academia" means "gym" in Brazilian Portuguese.
I watched a whole video of people describing their morning routine ("minha rotina de manhã"), amazed at how many Brazilians prefer to do their academic work before breakfast.
And then I found out.
May 9, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Strange but true:
"Academia" means "gym" in Brazilian Portuguese.
I watched a whole video of people describing their morning routine ("minha rotina de manhã"), amazed at how many Brazilians prefer to do their academic work before breakfast.
And then I found out.
"Academia" means "gym" in Brazilian Portuguese.
I watched a whole video of people describing their morning routine ("minha rotina de manhã"), amazed at how many Brazilians prefer to do their academic work before breakfast.
And then I found out.
A reader asked me last week how I choose which language to study next. I said something like: “Listen to your heart 🧘🏾♀️.”
What I really meant was “Listen to the song that’s been stuck in your head for days on end.”
tinyurl.com/5bdfr897
What I really meant was “Listen to the song that’s been stuck in your head for days on end.”
tinyurl.com/5bdfr897
How to choose your next language: What's your why?
things (not?) to consider before embarking on your next linguistic adventure
tinyurl.com
May 8, 2024 at 3:19 PM
A reader asked me last week how I choose which language to study next. I said something like: “Listen to your heart 🧘🏾♀️.”
What I really meant was “Listen to the song that’s been stuck in your head for days on end.”
tinyurl.com/5bdfr897
What I really meant was “Listen to the song that’s been stuck in your head for days on end.”
tinyurl.com/5bdfr897