Voicing Diversity
Language Resources
News & Events
Everyone Has an Accent
-Roberto Rey Agudo/ New York Times
07/14/2018
Accents: "When we fetishize certain accents and disdain others, it can lead to real discrimination in job interviews, performance evaluations and access to housing, to name just a few of the areas where having or not having a certain accent has profound consequences. Too often, at the hospital or the bank, in the office or at a restaurant — even in the classroom — we embrace the idea that there is a right way for our words to sound and that the perfect accent is one that is not just inaudible, but also invisible."
Children with Autism May Benefit from Being Bilingual
-Tim Newman/Medical News Today
01/23/2018
A new study by McGill University reveals being bilingual 'enhances executive function' and cognitive flexibility.
The main question the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders hypothesized in their project, "Can Bilingualism Mitigate Set‐Shifting Difficulties in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders?"
We The People: Celebration of Learning
-Portland Public Library, Portland Maine
12/09/2017
(Ending the year on a high note, personal recognition to a friend and Maine educator who is inspiring her students.)
"Inspired by the work of artist, Shepard Fairey, Reiche 4th graders explore their own community values, goals, and ideas through the creation of symbols and imagery. Students are focusing on identity of self as well as their identity as a group. Alicia Uth is SideXSide’s teaching artist working with the Reiche students."
Diapers, Potties, and Split Pants: Understanding Potty Training Around the World May Help Parents Relax
-Alma Gottlieb/ The Conversation
11/19/2017
"Discovering the incredible diversity of ways to raise children inspired us to rethink and change some of our own family’s child-rearing practices (around bed-sharing, independence and household tasks, for instance)."
"In Côte d'Ivoire, Beng mothers begin training their infants’ bowels a few days after birth."
#SayHerName Making Visible the t/Terrors Experienced by Black and Brown Girls and Women in Schools
-BankStreet Occasional Paper Series #38
10/2017
"This movement aims to expose the experiences of Black and Brown girls and women who are subject to police violence in society and various violences in schools. In response to the #SayHerName call, this issue forefronts the lived experiences of Black and Brown girls and women from early childhood through higher education. " -Read More
My mother Speaks Through Me
-Deborah Tannen / New York Times
9/19/2017
"Though my mother died in 2004, she is the one whose voice comes out when I speak, and whose speaking style shapes how I hear others' words." -Read More
Trying to Save South Africa's First Language
-Pumza Fihlani / BBC News, Northern Cape
8/30/2017
"At 84, Ms Esau is one of the last three fluent speakers of N|uu, one of the languages spoken by South Africa's San community, also known as Bushmen."
"N|uu is considered the original language of southern Africa."
"With no other fluent speakers in the world apart from this family, the language is recognized by the UN as "critically endangered".
(Picture from the BCC News) -Read More
New survey shows demand for urgent digital development for regional or minority languages-Press Release DLDP
7/21/2017
"The overarching message is that in every aspect of their life lesser-used language speakers want to be able to live their lives in their language."
"The EU sponsored DLDP project has conducted a survey on four languages: Basque, Breton, Sardinian and Karelian. It had a huge response and clearly illustrates that speakers of these languages realise how important digital development will be for the future of their language and want to see their language’s digital presence developed urgently." -Read More
To Honor Canadian Natives, a Lawmaker Speaks in Mohawk-Craig S. Smith/New York Times
6/2/2017
"Indigenous languages are dying in Canada, as much as they are in the industrialized world, largely as a consequence of past government efforts to stamp out their use and force assimilation into a larger population"
"If you can say a few words in a person's language, it automatically breaks down a barrier . " -Read More
Trump reassures farmers immigration crackdown not aimed at their workers-CNBC
5/15/2017
"He assured us we would have plenty of access to workers," said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, one of 14 participants at the April 25 meeting with Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue.
"During the roundtable conversation about agriculture, farmers and representatives of the sector brought up labor and immigration, the details of which have not been previously reported. Some farmers told Trump they often cannot find Americans willing to do the difficult farm jobs, according to interviews with nine of the 14 participants." -Read More
Skype Can Now Translate Your Voice Calls Into 10 Different Languages in Real-Time -Futurism
4/10/2017
"Microsoft, through Skype and its other translation services, is making it even easier for people to share information across the globe. They recently added Japanese to the list of ten languages its software can translate in real-time."
"Other services offered by Skype allow for similar communications barrier-busting. It also offers text translation of more than 60 languages." -Read More
Lost in Translation. Language Barriers Pose Hurdle to Doctor & Patients - National Law Review
4/03/2017
"Rather than hire these individuals, many healthcare providers have opted for less expensive and impersonal options that have proven to be highly ineffective and jeopardized the health of many."
"A study revealed that in the state of Oregon, only 100 out of 3,500 interpreters had the right qualifications to work with patients in healthcare settings." -Read More
The Power of Storytelling and How it Affects Your Brain -Tales for Tadpoles
2/23/2017
"Not only do stories connect us to the past and express universal beliefs, they can also help us develop a better understanding of the world and those we share it with. This is part of the reason why your brain loves stories."
As Rutledge puts it: “When you listen to stories and understand them, you experience the exact same brain pattern as the person telling the story.” -Read More
2/23/2017
"Not only do stories connect us to the past and express universal beliefs, they can also help us develop a better understanding of the world and those we share it with. This is part of the reason why your brain loves stories."
As Rutledge puts it: “When you listen to stories and understand them, you experience the exact same brain pattern as the person telling the story.” -Read More