JULY 2021 | VOL. 1

LANGUAGE

LEARNERS

INTERNATIONAL

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF LANGUAGE LEARNERS INTERNATIONAL

Highlights:

INTRODUCTION OF LLI SCHOOL INCLUSIVE LGBTQ+ LANGUAGE ACTIVE APPLICATIONS FOR YOUTH TEAM MEMBERS

WELCOME TO OUR NEWSLETTER

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Newsletters are a great way to update everyone on the best of what we do here at Language Learners International.

It is a pleasure to publish our first newsletter. Our teams have been working hard to design the first newsletter since the beginning. We will strive consistently to make each issue better and better. We would like to thank all the teams that were involved in the process and we hope you enjoy the content we have created for you.

We will be glad to answer/entertain any inquiries, or suggestions. Please do not hesitate to contact us via the information provided on the last page.

Pari Chouhan

Janice Mook

Pari Chouhan

Janice Mook

Executive Director

Director of Editing

Language Learners International Our Mission We are a youth-led language learning initiative that aims to allow young people to explore different languages and cultures through blog posts, challenges, quizzes and events. We want to create a community of passionate and focused individuals to raise cultural awareness, and the foreign language abilities of people across the world.

IN THIS ISSUE UPDATES: LLI SCHOOL FEATURE: OUR TOP POSTS LEARNING CORNER BY RAE FEATURE TEAM MEMBER: ELAINE S. TRIVIA QUIZ BY MISHKA MARTIN

LLI SCHOOL LAUNCHING IN AUGUST 2021 Language Learners International would like to proudly announce our coveted initiative - the LLI School. It is a non-profit language learning school which will cater to the interests of enthusiastic linguaphiles. We will provide language tutoring for global languages that people have been ardent to learn recently. A striking characteristic of our organisation is, our curriculum will be customisable and adaptable for each student. The recruitment for staff has begun already, to learn more, check out our Instagram page: @llischool. You can also email us at [email protected] with any questions!

JOIN OUR TEAM FEATURE OUR PARTNERS

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Inclusive LGBTQ+ Language GENDER AND PRONOUNS IN LANGUAGE Languages change all the time. As we evolve, so does our language. As June is Pride Month - celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. I think it is important for us to look at how language has evolved to be more inclusive for our community. Many languages use genders, such as masculine and feminine, but as time has gone on, have these languages evolved? Certain languages don’t assign genders to nouns at all, such as Chinese, and also gender-neutral forms for people already as a part of the language. But with languages that use genders, for example, German, how can we go about using inclusive and non-gendered language? Let's take a look at a few common European languages and how they have evolved to use more inclusive languages! Kicking off with English. English doesn’t typically use genders frequently, unless speaking using masculine/feminine pronouns. In 2019, the word “they” was added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary as the pronoun to use for a “single person whose gender identity is non-binary”.

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German is more of a complex language as it uses genders for nouns. However, in January 2019, Hanover (a city in Germany) became the first city in the country to mandate that all official communication use gender-neutral terms. Today, the use of gender-neutral language continues to be applied in conversation. However, it is not as common as in other parts of the world. French is another language which relies greatly on the use of gendered nouns, but defaults to using masculine pronouns when a group of mixed genders is being referred to. The use of gender-neutral pronouns is not as prominent in French as it is in other languages, on the other hand, the use of an asterisk to create a more gender-neutral language has been used more commonly. Finally, how does Spain use gender-neutral language? Along with German and French, Spanish is another European language that uses genderspecific noun endings and defaults to masculine endings. Gender-neutral language is not commonly used in Spain, but there are ways that made Spanish to become more inclusive. One such way is by replacing traditional endings, i.e. -o, -os, -a and -as with -e for singular and -es for plural. And so, language really has evolved and made a step in the right direction. While not all languages use specific gender-neutral forms, I think it’s important to recognise that all these languages are making progress to be more inclusive. As June is Pride Month, why not research your own native language to find inclusive terms? And remember to always be you! Happy Pride Month, everyone!

WRITTEN BY SOPHIE ATHERTON

JULY 2021 | VOL. 1

Etymology Etymology is a branch of linguistic science that explores the origin, derivation and evolution of words. It can help you understand both the meaning and history of your native language! Words can be formed to imitate sounds and phonemes, while “loanwords” in particular, are adopted from other languages. For instance, “telephone” is derived from two Greek words: “tele” meaning far away, and “phon” which has a distinct speech sound (a phoneme). Do you know Latin and Greek are the main sources for English vocabulary in science and technology? Around 90% of words are derived from these languages under the influence of the Renaissance!

Multilingualism Multilingualism is the use of more than one language by a speaker. It is commonly found in countries where a multitude of languages are spoken. Though knowing more languages is an advantage, for some it is a means to reach more developed countries and seek for a better life. Benefits of multilingualism also include improving communication skills and learning capacity. Multilingualism can be achieved by apps like Duolingo; it is also a useful skill in international relations jobs. Some famous multilingual speakers include J.R.R. Tolkien and Sandra Oh.

Etiquette And Honorifics in Languages Etiquette and honorifics are two concepts that associate with almost any language in order to have the best interaction with those around you. Linguistic etiquette refers to the polite speech behaviour and appropriateness in a communicative interaction; while honorifics are linguistic forms that are used to express regard to those we wish to treat with respect. Did you know that when we address individuals with Mr, Sir, Mrs, Ms, Lady etc., we are using honorifics?

J UALGYE 2L 0E 2A1 R| NVEORLS. I N 1 .WIXSITE.COM/ HTTPS://LANGU WEBSITE

LEARNING CORNER by Rae

Ineffable Benighted

Too great to be expressed in words.

Overtaken by darkness.

Redound Bombinate

Contribute greatly to. Gloaming

To make a humming or buzzing sound.

Twilight; dusk.

J UALGYE 2L 0E 2A1 R| NVEORLS. I N 1 .WIXSITE.COM/ HTTPS://LANGU WEBSITE

FEATURE TEAM MEMBER: Elaine Shak Elaine joined Language Learners International (LLI) in early March as an editor, but she has an underlying identity - a polyglot. Elaine can speak 4 languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Malay fluently. Despite speaking Cantonese as her mother tongue. At school, she and her friends speak a mix of English and Mandarin. She also learnt Malay at school for six years. A linguistic tip she uses, is to surround yourself with people who can speak different languages. Nonetheless, Elaine yearns "Mandarin as the most difficult to learn", as the shape of the words do not correlate with the sounds, which subsequently means only memorisation of words of the language.

Elaine's experience at

LLI

"Very pleasant."

"I’m glad that all the team members are very supportive, and I really like the range of topics that we cover."

"LLI also has a very organized system, so everyone is clear of what they are doing. I thoroughly enjoy being a part of LLI!"

J UALGYE 2L 0E 2A1 R| NVEORLS. I N 1 .WIXSITE.COM/ HTTPS://LANGU WEBSITE

QUIZ ON LANGUAGES AND CULTURES by Mishka Martin Q: English is the most widely spoken language in the world if you consider the amount of its native speakers. A: False. According to Babbel Magazine, Chinese is the most widely spoken language when tallied according to the amount of its native speakers with about 1.3 billion speakers in the globe. Q: Half of the world’s population is bilingual. A: True. Did you know? At least more than half of the world’s population speak more than one language.

Q: South Africa boasts the most official languages in the world.

A: True. South Africa is known to have the most official languages totaling to 11. This is a result of the country’s diversity and their culture.

Q: The language with the world’s most extensive alphabet would be the Cambodian language, Khmer.

A: True. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, 1995, the Khmer alphabet is the largest alphabet in the world. It consists of 33 consonants, 23 vowels, and 12 independent vowels. It is 74 characters long.

J UALGYE 2L 0E 2A1 R| NVEORLS. I N 1 .WIXSITE.COM/ HTTPS://LANGU WEBSITE

QUIZ ON LANGUAGES AND CULTURES by Mishka Martin Q: More than half of the world's languages have no written form. A: True. Only around 1,700 of the world's languages (which is fewer than a quarter) have written forms. Q: There are over 200 artificial languages created solely for the purpose of books, television, and movies.

A: True. “Fake” languages dated back to centuries when they were invented for philosophical debate. An example would be the 13 distinct languages in the Tolkien universe. Q: The phrase “Hakuna matata” which translates to “no worries” was made popular around the globe by The Lion King. Its language is Yoruba. A: False. The phrase means “no worries” in the language of Swahili. It’s a language spoken in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The number of speakers vary widely, from 60 to 150 million.

J UALGYE 2L 0E 2A1 R| NVEORLS. I N 1 .WIXSITE.COM/ HTTPS://LANGU WEBSITE

JOIN OUR TEAM: ROLLING RECRUITMENT Here at Language Learners International, we are always looking to add new members to our ever-growing team. By joining our team, you will be surrounded by a group of like-minded students from all around the world who have a keen passion for linguistics, different cultures, travelling and so much more! Prior experience working for non-profits is not required, so we would encourage anyone who is interested to join our team. Please note that volunteer hours can be awarded. Listed positions available: Graphic Designers Equality Officers Engagement Officers Outreach Officers Marketing Officers Link to apply (you can also check our Instagram bio) Apply Here!

JULY 2021 | VOL. 1

INTRODUCING OUR PARTNERS AND OPPORTUNITIES: Online Intercultural Exchange CONNECT PLATFORM

CULTURES, FOR

BUILD

BRIDGES

INTERCULTURAL

WE

AIM

EXCHANGE

WITHOUT

TO

PROVIDE

ONLINE

AT

A

STUDENTS

LOW

COST

A

AND

BARRIERS

OIE facilitates both intercultural online and offline exchange for all high school students. They offer: A Pen Pal Program, A Language Learning Program, A Monthly Sharing Program, which participants will be able to gain intercultural communication and language skills, immerse themselves in a new culture, and learn to respect other cultures.

@onlineinterculturalexchange

The Curious Mind TO

DEVELOP

RESEARCH,

CRITICAL

HIGHLIGHT

YOUTH

AND

LOCAL

@tcuriousmind

WHO

REPRESENT AND

ARE

ABLE

MULTIPLE

GLOBAL

TO

COMPREHENSIVELY

PERSPECTIVES

ON

BOTH

ISSUES.

The Curious Mind was created with the firm belief that there are always multiple issues that affect youth life. Ranging from local stories regarding the school community to international news of global economic and social implications. They are always open to posting about stories that others would like to address and issues all over the world that need to be addressed.

JULY 2021 | VOL. 1

Revoteen REVOTEEN STUDENTS STUDENTS

IS

TO

A

AROUND

GROW

SOCIAL

NETWORKING

ORGANIZATIONS, THE

THEIR

WORLD.

WE

NETWORKS,

PLATFORM

INITIATIVES, HOPE

AND

TO

AND

BUILD

PROVIDE

THAT

INTRODUCES

OTHER

LIKE-MINDED

STUDENTS’

PASSIONS,

OPPORTUNITIES!

Download the app on the App Store and the Google Play Store to connect with like-minded students, discover opportunities, and join impactful student-led initiatives. With the app, users are able to create their own profile and posts— broadcasting opportunities for students globally about their initiative. Users can also create initiatives, giving a brief summary of their organization and how it helps the community! As they scroll through the app, they come across their feed, reading through opportunities posted by other users. They’re also presented with an explore page, a curated feature, and trending posts—helping users find initiatives specifically suited for them. As you navigate through the app, find your passions, build your resume, and give back to the world. Download today on the App Store and Google Play Store!

DOWNLOAD REVOTEEN

Language Learners International Credits Alifia (Rae) Azra (Engagement Officer) Alisha Sadiya (Graphic Designer) Elaine Shak (Editor) Ella Bloch (Editor) Janice Mook (Director of Editing) Katherine Bakker (Editor) Mishka Martin (Engagement Officer) Odelia Setyawan (Director of Outreach)

Contact [email protected] @languagelearnersinternational Language Learners International

JULY 2021 | VOL. 1

Language Learners International Disclaimer If you received this newsletter via email, your email address was obtained under The Freedom of Information Act 2000 in England and Wales. In Scotland, your email was obtained under The Freedom of Information Act (Scotland) 2002. If you accessed this newsletter via our website you are subject to clauses stated in our Terms of Use.

JULY 2021 | VOL. 1