India's So-Called 'Double Mutant' Shouldn't Be Called That

The Superior English Of Nonnative Speakers; Must-Read Comic

Goats and Soda editor's note Leif Parsons for NPR For years, my wife taught English as a second language. She shared many funny stories about how nonnative speakers use the wrong word — like the Israeli student who wrote an essay about the "grenade tree" in her yard. Turns out the word for "pomegranate" is the same as the word for "grenade" in Hebrew. And there is a certain resemblance. Stories like this can provoke a chuckle. But they're problematic. They open up nonnative speakers to ridicule and make us forget there is a larger issue in the world of English as a second language: How do English-speaking societies interact with nonnative speakers? In a powerful story this week, adapted from the podcast Rough Translation, Carolyn McCusker and Rhaina Cohen write about the challenges that face nonnative speakers. They are bewildered by the odd idioms (it's raining cats and dogs!) and sports metaphors (don't drop the ball!) beloved by native speakers. But maybe the straightforward, idiom-free style of nonnative speakers is a better way to communicate. Which means perhaps these new English speakers are hitting it out of the park ... er ... speaking better English (in that it's easier to understand and therefore more inclusive) than native speakers. Yet native speakers often mock those who did not grow up speaking the language. We'd love to hear from our readers who did not grew up speaking English but learned the language. What are the biggest obstacles you have faced? Are there stories you'd like to share? Email us at goatsandsoda@npr.org with the subject line "Speaking English." Read the story here. Marc Silver Editor, Goats and Soda Newsletter continues after sponsor message the week's most popular story Juan Gaertner People Are Talking About A 'Double Mutant' Variant In India. What Does That Mean? One of the variants circulating in India -- and causing concern -- is referred to as "the double mutant." The term makes no sense since there are multiple mutations, says infectious disease scientist Kristian Andersen. But it's definitely something to worry about. Here's what we know about it, so far. coronavirus faq What Does It Mean If My Ears Ring Or Toes Hurt After A Vaccine? There are some side effects that are pretty common: sore arm, headache, fatigue, fever. But people are saying they've got other unusual reactions. Is it the vaccine or something else? in the news Emily Feng/NPR China Says It Has Ended Poverty. Is That True? The government has declared victory over poverty. NPR talks to people who've been moved from poor rural villages to brand-new apartment buildings to see how they're now faring. An Unexpected Pandemic Side Effect In Peru: A Comeback For TB Before COVID-19 hit, tuberculosis was on its way out in Peru. But COVID-related disruptions to treatments could mean the rise of drug-resistant strains and twice as many deaths. Scientists Say The Rush To Do COVID Research Led To A Whole Lot Of Waste That's the perspective in new papers in Lancet Global Health that assess the quarter of a million studies on treatments for COVID-19. must-read comic Connie Hanzhang Jin/NPR For My Job, I Check Death Tolls From COVID. Why Am I Numb To The Numbers? Each week NPR graphic artist Connie Hanzhang Jin checks the latest deaths from COVID-19 for NPR. After a while, "I didn't feel any sorrow at the numbers. I just felt numb. I wanted to understand why — and how to overcome that numbness." links we like "We are witnessing a crime against humanity" writes Indian novelist Arundhati Roy in The Guardian of the COVID-19 catastrophe unfolding in her country. NPR answers the question on everyone's mind: "You're Vaccinated. Congrats! Now What Can You Do Safely? Create a New Yorker style cover about the pandemic. That was the class assignment from Tomer Hanuka at the School of Visual Arts in New York. The Washington Post shares the striking results, which have gone viral. A camel called Roshan brings books to homeschooled children in the deprived, rural province of Balochistan, which remains desperately poor despite its vast mineral wealth. Dawn reports. When the animal shows up, the kids cry out, "The camel is here!" What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: goatsandsoda@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Health, Daily News, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Goats and Soda emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy