Linguist, translator, language teacher and linguaphile for over 25 years

Working with ‘rarer’ languages – a transformative and multifaceted career journey

For me, discovering languages like Albanian, Basque, Romanian and Catalan has been an enriching journey that goes way beyond linguistic proficiency alone. These languages, considered by many to be ‘niche’, … Continue reading Working with ‘rarer’ languages – a transformative and multifaceted career journey

Discovering Basque – Defeating the Devil, Three-Day Weeks and other Bizarre Adventures

Learning a new language is always an exciting adventure, but when it comes to the Basque language, the journey becomes even more intriguing. Basque, or Euskara as it is called … Continue reading Discovering Basque – Defeating the Devil, Three-Day Weeks and other Bizarre Adventures

Discovering Romani – a rich tapestry of history, traditions, enigma and culture

When I discovered Romani heritage in my family tree, naturally I had to learn the language. What I didn’t realise then was how rich, expressive and complex the Romani language … Continue reading Discovering Romani – a rich tapestry of history, traditions, enigma and culture

Learning Mandarin Chinese: the challenge that more than rewards your efforts

In the world of language learning, Mandarin Chinese is often seen as the ultimate challenge. For many, the idea of tackling a language with thousands of characters and tonal variations … Continue reading Learning Mandarin Chinese: the challenge that more than rewards your efforts