The World in Words
The language barrier that separates elderly immigrants in the US from their grandchildren.
A language special for you this week: Yowei Shaw gives herself a radio reporting assignment to try to have a meaningful conversation with her Mandarin-speaking grandparents. Let’s just say, it did not go as planned. Then, we’ll hear what a nineteenth century Scottish adventurer had to do with the birth of Spanglish, the English-Spanish hybrid language now common in parts of Southern California.
And, Alina Simone tells us the strange history of Siberians in Hawaii. Plus: Patrick Cox and Nina Porzucki highlight some of their favourite language stories of the year.
Image: Yowei Shaw and her grandfather. (Credit: Chris Shaw)
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The hidden history of Spanglish in California
Duration: 05:08
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Far from paradise, or Siberia
Duration: 05:27
Broadcasts
- Boxing Day 2015 05:32GMT±«Óãtv World Service except News Internet
- Boxing Day 2015 19:32GMT±«Óãtv World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
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Boston Calling Clips
Big stories, short listens - highlights from Boston Calling
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Boston Calling
How the world looks through American eyes, and the myriad and unexpected ways that the world influences the United States.
