Topics

Sep

French Idioms Pay Tribute to the Animal Kingdom

by Meredith Mullins on September 23, 2019

Don’t give your tongue to a cat. Why not?
© iStock/Maroznc

Becoming Bilingual: Don’t Give Your Tongue to a Cat

In the picturesque and poetic world of French idioms, the animal kingdom is well represented. Noah—and his ark—would be proud. Animals are key players in the proverbs and sayings of French culture.

Cats, lambs, sheep, ducks, dogs, elephants, wolves, chickens, cows, cockroaches, spiders, fish, rabbits, horses, rats, and giraffes all make an appearance.

Where do sheep fit in to French idioms?
© Meredith Mullins

Idioms can come from various parts of a culture—food, history, social traditions, sports, values—but many languages use animals as a basis for their idioms. Read more...

Meredith Mullins 8 Comments

Becoming Bilingual/France/Language & Culture/Proverbs & Sayings

Sep

Italy Without a Suitcase

by Joyce McGreevy on September 16, 2019

People gather at Caffe Cagliostro in the Italian Quarter, Dublin, Ireland, one of many Little Italy enclaves around the world that celebrate Italian culture. Image © Andrea Romano

Conversation flows at Caffe’ Cagliostro in Dublin’s Italian Quarter.
Ireland is home to 9,000 Irlandiani, Irish of Italian ancestry.
© Andrea Romano/ Caffè Cagliostro

Italian Culture, Around the Corner

Dreaming of Italy? It may be closer than you think. From 1880 to 1980, 15 million Italians migrated to other countries. Today, across five continents, over 60 neighborhoods claim the moniker Little Italy.

Several U.S. and Canadian cities boast a Little Italy. So do pockets of Australia, Brazil, and Mexico. There’s a Little Milano in Gothenburg, Sweden, a Little Rome in Asmara, Eritrea, a Piccola Italia in Malindi, Kenya. Read more...

Joyce McGreevy 5 Comments

Cultural Heritage & Traditions/Travels to the Past/Worldwide Sites

Sep

Crossing Cultures To Tell A Story of Turmoil

by Meredith Mullins on September 9, 2019

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Environmental disaster in Ogoniland, Nigeria (2013)
© Philippe Chancel. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Melanie Rio Fluency.

The World Is Screaming

The power of an image can be far reaching. A story can be told—or a message delivered— in even a single photograph.

And when a space is filled with images that have a common theme, the story becomes exponentially compelling.

This is the impact of photographer Philippe Chancel’s series “Datazone”—photographs made in remote and diverse corners of the world to reveal realities that we don’t ordinarily see. The interwoven essence becomes increasingly clear. Read more...

Meredith Mullins 6 Comments

Afghanistan/Africa/Asia/Crossing Cultures/Greece/Haiti/India/South Africa/USA

World Views: