Although the Algarve is a mature tourist destination, and English is spoken in most of the resorts of the coastal region, inland it is very useful to have some knowledge of the Portuguese language as many people don't speak English.

The Portuguese language is derived from Latin, but also contains a strong Arabic influence. The language is spoken in a number of countries including Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde and the island of Madeira (which is part of Portugal). The language is similar in many ways to Spanish, but the pronounciations are very different.

Below are a few useful Portuguese phrases with their English translations which may prove very useful for travellers:

• Do you speak English? -> Fala InglAªs?

• Can you give me directions to... Albufeira? -> Pode dizer me como chegar a... Albufeira?

• Can you tell me where is the nearest garage for petrol? -> Pode dizer me onde fica a estaA§A£o de serviA§o mais proxima?

• Where is the nearest shop? -> Qual a loja mais proxima?

• Can you tell me where is the nearest telephone? -> Qual o telefone publico mais proximo?

• Do you know where I can get a puncture fixed around here? -> Sabe onde fica a oficina de pneus mais proxima?

• How much will it cost? -> Qual o preA§o?

• Do you accept credit cards? -> Aceita cartA£o de crA©dito?

• I don't know the PIN for my card -> NA£o sei o cA³digo do meu cartA£o.

• Thank you -> Obrigado (when speaking to a male) / Obrigada (female)

The Portuguese people are very friendly, and English is spoken in most of the resorts, but if you are visiting places away from the major Algarve tourist destinations, it is always advisable to have a phrasebook close to hand.

It is important to understand others for the purposes of communication.  But what happens when the other person speaks a different language?  Furthermore, what happens if the person speaks in the language Japanese?  If you do not know this language, then you will be confronted with a certain level of communication trouble.  Therefore, Japanese language translation would be something that you would want to understand to beat the language barrier.

How does one go about learning the Japanese language?  There are many techniques to learning the language.  I will now list several ways to learn Japanese.

1. Read books that teach you how to speak Japanese.  You can find these books at amazon, ebay, google, in local bookstores, and in libraries.  Once you find a book on the Japanese language, learn to read it everyday until you are able to speak Japanese like a natural.  Try practicing for 1 hour a day.

2. Learn the language from your favorite Japanese movies.  Why not make learning the Japanese language fun?  Pop a DVD of your favorite Japanese movie into your DVD player and turn on the English subtitles.  The subtitles will act as an aid that will guide you with Japanese pronunciations.  This way will easily teach you how to speak Japanese.

3. Ask a friend that speaks Japanese to help you understand the language.  If you do not have a friend that speaks Japanese, go out and make friends with someone that does.  This will be a nice cost effective way to learn the language.  Make sure you reward your friend for the time they put into teaching you the language.

4. Learn the language off the internet.  There are many sites on the internet that will teach you how to speak, read, and write the Japanese language.  Just do a Google search for those certain sites that have Japanese language learning content.  You will be surprised at all the site options you will have to learn with.

5. Use the aid of Japanese dictionaries.  This is the exact way to breakdown individual Japanese words.  This way you can learn in baby steps.  You will also be able to learn certain phrases with this learning method.  Pick up a dictionary online or at the bookstore.

6. Go to school and learn Japanese from a teacher.  Find a school in your general area that will educate you with the Japanese language.  You can find them in your Yellow pages, online, or through some community classified section.  This way will be the perfect structured way to learn because of the guidance from a professional educator.

7. Use Japanese learning software.  Find a company that provides this type of program online.  Type "Learn Japanese Software" in a search engine query bar.  You will see all the choices of learning programs there are available.  Read reviews on the product before you make any purchases.

This was only a few ways to experience Japanese language translation.  There are tons of other methods that can help you learn the language.  Just use your imagination.  Next thing you know, you are speaking, writing and reading Japanese with great ease.  Hope your lessons work out for you!

Globalization has made Spanish a preferred foreign language and many people are keen to learn it. The reason can be anything - for communicating when you are in Spanish speaking countries, for education or simply to have command over a foreign language. This article cites some important reasons for learning Spanish.

Why Learn Spanish

   *It is the 4th most spoken common language spoken in the world with almost 400 million people speaking Spanish worldwide. If you go by geographic locations, the countries where this language is spoken include Spain, U.S., Argentina, the Philippines, Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Columbia, Panama, Bolivia, and the Dominican Republic. If, you know Spanish, it is easy to communicate with the people of all these countries.
   *Learning Spanish would make your travels to the Spanish speaking countries more pleasurable. If you do business and have to travel to different countries or you enjoy traveling then a command over this amazing language would help you go far. When you travel to the Spanish speaking countries, knowing the native language would simplify many basic tasks like commuting in a taxi, understanding the menu at the restaurant or getting important travel information. Learning Spanish would not only make your travel more enjoyable but you would also understand and appreciate the places in a better manner.
   *In a highly competitive corporate world out there. A person with good command over a second language has great employment potential. Not only that, due to the vast reach of the businesses there are some jobs that makes it mandatory to have basic proficiency in some foreign language. Leaning Spanish can make you stand out in the crowd of monolinguals and help you earn a better salary than your colleagues.
   *If you are a student and want to be a part of your school, college or university exchange program, you require basic proficiency in the Spanish language. Exchange programs can last from one week to one year. By learning Spanish you would be able to benefit from your stay in a Spanish speaking country. In an exchange program, you would not only get to practice your language skills regularly but also acquire more credits while studying abroad.
   *If you are into reading about different cultures then the command over Spanish can open up the doors to some of the highest cultures in art, history and science. You would be able to understand the day to day culture in those countries and would easily understand the authentic language by reading newspapers and magazines.
   *If you know Spanish, you would be able to enjoy their culture of music, art and literature. You would be able to watch Spanish movies in their original versions including some Oscar winning ones like 'All about My Mother' and 'The Sea Inside'. You would be able to enjoy the movie in the same way as you would have enjoyed an English movie - without running through the film's subtitles.

Those were the reasons why you should learn Spanish. Buy some great books and tutorials and start learning Spanish from today!

 
Learning Spanish would make your travels to the Spanish speaking countries more pleasurable. If you do business and have to travel to different countries or you enjoy traveling then a command over this amazing language would help you go far.

Tagalog is the language that is primarily spoken in the Philippines in a region on the main island of Luzon. This language is the second most spoken Asian language in the United States. There is logical evidence that supports learning this particular language. The diversity in America is calling for individuals to work in all areas with other language skills.

For the beginning learner a language chat room may be a good starting point. These chat rooms will be totally immersing you in the new language. The convenience is excellent because the rooms are available 24 hours a day. This is a convenient way to learn the language in your home, at your own pace, and when you set the time. The basic slang and common use of the language will be repeated often enough for the beginner to leave each session with some new words to practice.

Using an English online language translation dictionary and online tutoring is another easy way to learn the language. The online dictionary offers a list of frequently used English words and phrases that are translated into the desired language for practice. There are also language Discussion Groups online to join much like the live chat rooms. The Discussion Groups are geared for learning and conversing in the language. Questions are posed and answers can come from more than one source. A diversity in the chat rooms and discussion groups adds another dimension to learning the language in a more pleasant setting.

Another means to learn this language is through the regular classroom learning style. This method may give too much detail to be the fastest way to learn a new language. To learn more than just a new conversational language the conventional classroom is probably the best choice. Some learners need the set-up of a teacher and other students to interact with on a personal basis. Classroom learning gives immediate feedback. The usual pattern for learning a new language is achieved by leaving your first language at the door until class is dismissed.

No one knows your learning style better than you yourself. The Tagalog language is popular and increasing in the United States. This language can be learned and cultivated in a variety of manners. A scattering of Spanish based words give the language another accessible means for some people with a Spanish background. There are many cost effective ways to learn this language. The choice should fit your learning style and your wallet. Learning tapes are available for purchase. The tapes are more expensive than the other learning styles covered. If your reason for learning any second language is for pleasure or business there is an abundance of opportunities for learning in the style best suited for you.

Spanish is a beautiful language to both speak and listen to and is considered by many to be one of the easier languages to learn. If you are considering learning this wonderful language then these four methods, which are the most commonly used methods for doing so, are worth considering.

Immersion Courses

Probably the method that offers the quickest results, immersion courses are becoming increasingly popular with many people who want to learn Spanish. They are successful because they completely immerse the student into Spanish, language and culture, on a daily basis, often not permitting the use of English at all! Unfortunately, immersion courses come at a price...time away and cost.

It is generally the case that theses types of courses are located in Spanish speaking countries (although not always the case) and will take a few weeks to complete they are also very expensive as you not only pay for the course but for food and accommodation  in many cases.

Benefits:
Learn Spanish Quickly
Learn about Spanish culture and interact with the local Spanish community.

Negatives:
Requires time away from home
Very Expensive for most people

Traditional Classroom courses

The second method that many people use to learn to speak Spanish has been used for a long time and was a favorite of many and that is the traditional classroom course, taken at a local University or Community College. Pretty much all colleges provide Spanish classes so you shouldn't need to travel too far. Whilst learning in a classroom environment may provide great interaction and are a great way to learn Spanish for some people, there are definitly a few drawbacks with using this method.

The main issue with this traditional method of study is that the courses are very rigid, well at least the timetables are! There is no flexibility at all, if a clas is scheduled for a Friday night at 7pm and you can't make it till 8pm...tough you miss the lesson, not to mention the money you will have already paid for the course. Oh..and a classroom class is not particularly cheap either and is often beyond that which many can afford to pay.

Also...if you want, or need, to learn Spanish quickly a classroom course is probably the slowest method of learning because most courses will run alongside school semesters, providing one, maybe two, lessons a week, it will probably take you a while before you start to see any worthwhile results

Benefits:
Generally local to where you live
Good social interactivity

Negatives:
Takes a long time to see results
Expensive for most people
No flexibility

Self Study Books

There are a massive number of self study books available to help teach the Spanish language student learn to speak Spanish. These books are a flexible, affordable way to learn Spanish. With a self study book you are able to take it with you and study wherever you want, but there are some problems with this method of learning Spanish also.

As the self teach book is only a book it is impossible for the student to understand and learn how words in Spanish are pronounced and also there is a motivational issue; languages are generally more interesting when you can hear them being spoken rather than just reading the language.

Benefits:
Very Affordable
Flexible Method of Learning Spanish

Negatives:
No Interaction
No Motivation to Complete course due to...
No Audio Reference for Learning Pronunciation and Gaining Conversational Skills

Online Spanish Courses

That brings us to our final method of learning Spanish the learn Spanish software program or, online course. This method of learning Spanish has increased in popularity immensely recently, simply because it ticks so many of the boxes. Flexibility is, for many people, the number one priority when choosing how to learn Spanish and learning with the use of an online course allows individuals to study when they want no matter what time of day or night. The only downside of this versatility is that it isn't always possible to have your home computer and internet connection with you.

When compared to a self study book, online courses are normally a little more expensive but they do provide the interaction and audio that books do not, which does counter the extra cost. There are varying degrees of cost and quality available but some of the most popular courses are very affordable and offer exceptional quality comparable to courses that cost a great deal more.

Due to the flexibility of these courses and the fact that more focus is placed upon learning conversational Spanish they make it possible to learn Spanish very quickly if you choose or at a slower pace if you are in no rush. In other words, you control how quickly you learn.

Support is another key element offered by many of these courses and is possible because of the freedom an online interface provides; if you have a specific problem you are able to speak to other users on course forums or similar portals and very quickly receive answers or a resolution.

Benefits:
Affordable for the vast majority of people
Extremely Flexible
Learn Spanish Quickly or Slowly, you set the pace.
Interactive learning, often including online games and quizes
Support network
Quality learning material
Much more enjoyable than traditional methods of self study

Negatives:
Not as portable or (generally) as cheap as a self study book

"Namaskar! Lekh ke prarambh mein lekhak ka abhivaadan sweekar karein". If all of this seems Greek to you, then may I take the opportunity of saying that it's Hindi. And all those big, heavy words mean that 'yours truly' sends a warm a€œhelloa€ to you.

I won't blame you if you were not able to comprehend that, for it was a deliberate attempt to start off with Shudh Hindi (the scholarly one, you know!). As every other language, Hindi too has its many versions where language often gets transformed into dialects.

The colloquial Hindi language is not difficult to learn, though the first look of those curves and sticks in the Devnagri script are enough to give you a good run for your money. But once you stick around; A, AAa€¦a€¦, are as easy as A, B, C (literally!).

Hindi and Urdu draw quite a number of similarities. But other languages like English, French etc also draw analogies with Hindi. 'Mother' in English is 'Mere' in French, 'Madre' in Spanish and 'Ma' or 'Mata' in Hindi.

If you have always been scared of grammar, rest assured you can tame it. The rules are surely going to help you in broader sense. The easiest and fastest way to learn is to have Hindi speaking people around.

But some special tips for beginners won't hurt. Fill in the blank -

a€œ-------- jata huna€

It's a no-brainer. Whenever you find 'hun' at the end of the sentence, 'Main' will accompany it. Don't even think twice before writing that.

Hindi is a language to be befriended and whether it's for better grades, getting access to rich texts or just to enjoy Hindi Cinema, you never regret this decision.

With over 600,000 words, English contains more words than any language in human history. English has changed inconspicuously, yet steadily since establishing its roots in the fifth century. In fact, English has changed so significantly that the English speaker of the year 404 would have great difficulty understanding the English speaker of 1404, not to mention the one of 2004.

An English speaker of 404 might say, for example, a€œEft he axode, hu A°A¦re A°eode nama wA¦re A¾e hi of comon,a€ which means: a€œAgain he asked, what might be the name of the people from which they came (http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Arcade/1122).a€ An English speaker of 1404 might say, a€œWe stowpe and stare vp-on the shepes skyn, And keepe must our song and wordes in,a€ as did poet Thomas Hoccleve, when he complained that artificers could sing while working, but not so clerks like himself. (http://www.r3.org/life/index.html)

But change in language is by no means a bad matter. If the English language resisted change, we would have no words to use to refer to such technological advancements as the internet, or cell phones, or CDs. As long as speakers' needs change, so will the English language.

The complete and comprehensive vocabulary of English evolved from countless sources. New words can come from any profession, product, or pastime. New inventions and new activities require new words to identify them. Every decade therefore adds a plethora of new words to our language. The following sampling of new words can be found in Webster's College Dictionary. Can you match each series of these words to their correct decade of origin?

a. 1990s junk mail, beatnik, aerospace

b. 1980s megabyte, hippie, space shuttle

c. 1970s diskette, chairperson, space cadet

d. 1960s desktop publishing, mall rat, virtual reality

e. 1950s web site, personal trainer, V-chip

Now, let's take a look at some of the other ways in which the English language acquires new words. During the last three centuries in particular, English has continually absorbed foreign words in a sort of vernacular osmosis, so that today words drawn from most of the world's languages are evident in our English vocabulary. Try to match the following words currently found in English with their country of origin.

a. German: poodle

b. French: salad

c. Spanish: potato

d. Italian: carnival

e. Arabic: sugar

Some words imitate the sounds they make, such as flop, pop, and plop. This soundreproduction approach is called onomatopoeia. Can you think of any more such words?

Additionally, other words can be created from the first letters of a string of words that describe a particular object or process. These words are known as acronyms. Some acronyms in English are better known than are the series of words from which they are drawn. See if you can fill in these blanks. (I hope you fare better than I did on this one!)

a. Laser: L._____ A._____ by S._____ E._____ of R._____

b. Scuba: S_____- C_____ U_____ B_____ A_____

c. Sonar: SO_____ NA_____ and R_____.

The blending of existing words has contributed countless expressions to our English lexicon (or language). The news media is particularly good (or bad, depending on one's appreciation of these new words) at combining words to form new terms. Some examples are as follows: Infotainment combines information and entertainment. Shockumentary is a combination of shock and documentary. There's also irratainment (Jerry Springer comes to mind), which combines irritate and entertainment. We English speakers can also fashion fresh words by shortening longer ones (i.e., gym from gymnasium; auto for automobile, and ID for identification). We also create a€œnewa€ generic words from a preponderance of well known proper (often brand) names (Levis, Kleenex, Xerox, and Coke, as examples). Jell-O is only one type of gelatin, but this brand name is so popular that people often call any gelatin-like substance jello.

Since the turn of the millennium, English has seen the addition of hundreds of new words. Some of these new words will surely last while others will fade into oblivion. Here is a small sampling:

Google: (verb)a€"to search the Web using the search engine brand-named Google.

Blog (noun): a computer website of personal events, comments, and links. http://www.americandialect.org

Dot-commer (noun): someone who works for an online computer outfit.

Dead presidents (noun): US Paper currency

Frankenfood (noun): genetically engineered food. CBS News.com, June 30, 2003.

Despite their time in the spotlight, some seemingly successful words slip out of usage rather quickly. For example, the American Dialect Society Word of the Year for 1990 is Bushlips, meaning insincere political rhetoric. How many of you could define, much less properly use that word now?

According to Allan Metcalf, Executive Secretary of the American Dialect Society, the FUDGE factor, which he created, refers to the measure of probability of a word having a long and healthy life. The letters stand for a€œFrequency of use,a€ a€œUnobtrusiveness,a€ a€œDiversity of users and situations,a€ a€œGeneration of other forms and meanings,a€ and a€œEndurance of the concept.a€ The more FUDGE criteria a word meets, the greater chance one has of seeing that word emerge in the dictionary.

Now it's your turn!

Why not take a stab at predicting a new word for 2008 - a word that has yet to make it to the dictionary? Send me your new words at: rstevens@lander.edu. I'll spotlight the winners. And just to get you started, here is my contribution: Spinster a€" one who spins or otherwise embellishes the truth to fit a personal agenda.

As different as the English language of 2004 is from the English of 404, at least one thing remains the same. English continues to be dynamic, ever ready to adapt to meet the changing needs of its speakers.

ANSWERS:

a. 1950s junk mail, beatnik, aerospace

b. 1960s megabyte, hippie, space shuttle

c. 1970s diskette, chairperson, space cadet

d. 1980s desktop publishing, mall rat, virtual reality

e. 1990s web site, personal trainer, V-chip

Correct as is:

a. German: poodle

b. French: salad

c. Spanish: potato

d. Italian: carnival

e. Arabic: sugar

a. Laser - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

b. Scuba - Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.

c. Sonar - SOund NAvigation and Ranging.

There are a few tips you can follow if you are planning on teaching your child to speak and learn the Spanish language. The key if to be persistent when teaching so they get used to having this information presented to them

Teaching a child is better done when they are at a young age. Even teaching them as early as two years old. Children at this age have the ability to retain a lot more information than we give them credit for. Just as they learn English, a child at this age can pick up on other language as well.

Simple is better. Don't start out a lesson plan with difficult words or phrases. Ease into the teaching them with small words such as cat or color words like red. If they have already learned these words in English, it will be easier for them to translate it into Spanish. Graphical flashcards are a great way to enforce this learning technique. A picture of a cat, with the Spanish word on the back will help them to correlate the picture with the word.

Speaking the language as part of you everyday routine will help ingrain the language into your child's brain. If they hear you referring to something in Spanish, they will pick up on that and learn the word you are referring to in turn.

Purchase learning tools or go online to the various websites that cater to young children learning a language. The more interactive the site, the better. If the site engages the child in games and activities while teaching the language they will be more likely to stay interested and want to learn more.

Label the items around your house that you child uses on a daily basis with the Spanish word for the item. Using post-it notes, write the Spanish word and place it on or near every day items like the refrigerator, doors, cabinets, etc.

The more a child is exposed to the language on a day to day basis, the more they will be able to quickly pick up the language but will also grasp the meaning behind the words. Take is slow and then be amazed at how quickly they learn Spanish.

It is common knowledge that in today's world it is very beneficial to learn a second language. In addition to being able to meet more people, and getting to experience more of the world's diverse cultures, being bilingual opens the door wider to opportunity when it knocks, more so than it would for someone who is monolingual. In the United States, Spanish is the second most spoken language after English. Being able to speak and understand Spanish in the USA welcomes more job opportunities and higher earnings.

There are many ways to go about learning Spanish. I myself learned Spanish in high school and supplemented my education by listening to Spanish language music and using Spanish language chat sites. Other adults have learned by programs such as Rosetta Stone, taking night classes, or by hiring tutors.

Being an adult who has learned Spanish, I know how difficult it can be. Studies have proven that is much easier for children to learn not only a second language, but also numerous languages at once. For that reason, I am now in the process of teaching my 1-year old son Spanish.

There are many tools available for children including toys, books, and educational games. In my home we use all of the above. My son has maracas that count and name the colors of the rainbow and a drum that sings the alphabet in both Spanish and English. We also have a collection of Disney board books that tell entertaining and educational stories in both languages that we read to him every day.

Another tool that we use which is a very beneficial resource for parents trying to help their children learn Spanish is television. There are many bilingual television shows available on public, cable, and satellite television. Some popular examples of such shows include Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer and Go Diego Go, PBS's Dragon Tales and Maya and Miguel, and Disney's Handy Manny.

There is no doubt that the aforementioned shows are all positive educational programs. They are English Language children's programs that introduce Hispanic cultures and Spanish vocabulary. However, instead of just teaching my son vocabulary words, I would like that he also learn conversational skills. In order to do so, I also expose him to 100% Spanish language programming.

I highly recommend having English speaking children learning Spanish to actually watch the Spanish Language versions of Dora the Explorer or Go Diego, Go on Univision rather than or along with the English versions. It opens their minds to more vocabulary and allows them to take on a higher level of conversation.

Univision has a block of 100% Spanish language programming for children on Saturday mornings called Planeta U. Planeta U shows include both Dora and Diego as well as Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks or as they call it Jakers! Las Aventuras de Piggley Winks, and an Inspector Gadget show about traveling called Los Viajes del de Inspector Gadget.

Although it's the most popular, Univision is not the only Spanish Language Network in the United Sates. There are many other networks, which show Spanish language children's programming. The two favorites in my house are V-me and Cbeebies. V-me has over twenty quality program options available in Spanish for children. It is the home of the Mexican version of Sesame Street Plaza Sesamo, and host to other shows dubbed from English to Spanish such as Lazy Town, Pororo, and 7 pets. There is a new show coming out on V-me that I am looking forward too called Thalia and Eebee Adventures. The host of the show Thalia is a very famous Mexican pop singer.

Language is more than just words. People communicate through inflection, body language, tone, and facial expressions. Translators have the difficult job of translating words on a page. They do not have the benefit of non-verbal cues. But how does a translator translate not only words, but meaning? And what are the benefits of translation?

The biggest responsibility of a Spanish translation services provider is to convey not only information but also emotion. There are many words used to express emotion. Just as there are many emotions, finding the right words can be very difficult. Translation services try to provide the best they can, but is it enough? What tools does a translator need when looking at a piece of text?

A good translator will read over the entire text first. Then they will begin to see beyond the words and into the text's meaning. Spanish translators need to choose their words carefully. They will translate sentence by sentence while trying to stay as close to the emotional feeling as they can. This is very tedious work since there are words in Spanish that do not have an English equivalent and vice versa. After a few drafts, they will find enough similarities in the two works and will hopefully convey the meaning of one text in another language.

Today, translators are needed more than ever. They are needed to close cultural gaps that exist at the workplace, in the school system, and in their own neighborhoods. English to Spanish translations and translators are used to speak to large groups of foreign workers who are desperately seeking employment in America. Translation services are busier than ever translating documents from different countries since many companies now conduct business internationally. When these companies hold company meetings and symposiums, translators are needed to help people get to their seminars, to restaurants, and to their hotels.

In some cases, meaning in language is being abandoned by the need for basic information. Translators are used to help others navigate through a new country. America today, for example, is torn between those who want to learn other languages and those who feel learning a new language is a form of surrender. They are afraid of being taken over by another country. So instead of learning another language, America relies on translators in order to communicate, not understand. Understanding a culture consists of knowing the meanings behind words and phrases, which go far beyond communicating information.

The benefits of quality translation are being ignored. This can cause unhappiness in the workplace, trouble in schools, and disruptions in neighborhoods because every person wants to be understood. Translation services serve a huge purpose in a society that is linguistically changing at a very fast pace. Keeping up is getting more difficult as each year passes. In America especially, this has to change.