“Core Vocabulary” – a second vlog from the Polyglot Conference, New York City

Here’s the second vlog from the Polyglot Conference in New York City.

This time, the clue’s in the title and I share the vlog with you as a bit of multilingual fun.  Thanks to the fifty conference-goers who took part.   They spoke thirty-six languages.  There would have been quite a few more (languages and people), had not various contributions, erm, failed to record.  I blame the film crew.  You just can’t find the staff these days 😉

I wrote a detailed review of the Conference (here) and you can see my first vlog (here).  The first vlog’s main focus is the vibe that the speakers and a wonderful cross-section of participants gave to the event.  I’ve another PCNYC vlog in preparation, in Welsh.

Back to “Core Vocabulary” for three wider language learning takeaways:

1. It’s having a go that counts (at least if you’re not doing something  where you need total accuracy such as taking an exam….like me with German….a language I’m embarrassed to say is missing from the film).
2. Romance language learners:  while the adjective usually comes after the noun, a number of very common ones – and “big”, we mean you – often come before the noun.  Or you have a choice.  Or the meaning varies according to position…..  Mmm, this is all deserves a separate blog post….but catch the different attempts people have at this in the video.  The native Portuguese speaker says “a grande maçã” and notice that the more experienced Spanish and Italian speakers also put the adjective first.   All four French speakers put the adjective first, but the two native French speakers go for “la grosse pomme”, whereas the learners say “la grande pomme” (as I would have done).
3. In the real world, idioms often don’t necessarily literally translate….and certainly not always a nickname like “the Big Apple” for New York City….so don’t quote us!

There’s a short article on the origins of the nickname “Big Apple” on Wikipedia (here).  It refers to the role of an American etymologist called Barry Popik who, with a surname like that, I kinda feel ought to be a relation of mine.

I love books of idioms in languages I’m learning.  Do you have any favourite “idiom” resources in your target language?  Any interesting nicknames for major cities?

Please share the vlog if you enjoy it, subscribe to the site and the Howtogetfluent YouTube channel and let me know what you think in the comments section below.  Here we go: