Issue 3

The Linguist Issue 3 May 2012

A magazine for language learners and culture vultures

RECIPE: TORTILLA ESPANOLA

A guide to Chinese characters:

中国汉字 ¿A dónde vas?

GEISTEWISSENSCHAFTEN

THE MIDDLE EAST: a tarnished image?

www.thelinguistmagazine.org

1

YOUR PHOTOS From top right clockwise China by Hannah Bolton/ Berliner Reichstag By Catherine Dawkins/ Rome

By Jess Brand/ China (both By Hannah Bolton)

2

Taken by Jess Brand in Rome

Photo by Chloe Osborne taken in Rome, Italy

CONTENTS Photos and Letter from the Editor

Culture

4

Current Affairs

5

Life & Style

7

Travel

9

Sport /LGBT

11

Recipes

12

French

13

Spanish

14

German

15

Russian

16

Chinese

17

Portuguese

18

Puzzles, Idioms & Contact 19

W

Maddie Kilminster Chair

e’re now on the third issue of The

Linguist! Articles just keep flooding in – we hope you enjoy dipping into them, we guarantee you’ll learn something! This time look out for “Wwoofing: a hands on holiday” and “Tar sands—what are they and what is all the fuss about?”

The team at The Linguist are committed to keeping you up to date with WORLD AFFAIRS, SPORT and STYLE, letting you in on year abroad tips, sharing with you foreign recipes and tickling your fancy with reviews of book and film. It’s a perfect read for international enthusiasts!

We’re always looking for new writers so drop us a line if you have an idea.

What a year! We were nominated for BEST

NEW SOCIETY, met some important international actors and had our own social to celebrate the launch. We hope next year to be even better— come sign up at Freshers’ Fair in September at the beginning of term! Also join us for our SUMMER SOCIAL, an international picnic for all.

The attitudes and opinions expressed in this magazine are in no way related to those of the Chartered Institute of Linguists or their publication The Linguist.

3

CULTURE REVIEW: CLOCLO By Amanda Brown

REVIEW: THE INTOUCHABLES

After the success of ‘La Môme’ and ‘Gainsbourg’ here is another French musical biopic about the life and career of pop sensation Claude François. The first artist to truly understand the term ‘show business’ with his many business ventures and glittering shows. This film has taken 13 years to come to screen after thorough research and assistance from Claude François’ two sons, Claude Junior and Marc, plus others.

Omar Sy, up and coming comedian, plays Driss. African born, lower class with history of crime, coming from the suburbs of Paris. Driss’ life is turned upside down when he becomes paralyzed from the neck down, Philippe (François Cluzet), very rich with a magnificent stately home, offers him the job as his new carer despite not having any experience or qualifications.

Originally living in Egypt, but then forced back to France at 17, Claude is disowned by his strict father when he chooses a career as an entertainer; already taking jobs at some of the most prestigious clubs in Monaco, performing percussions and later singing. His pursuit of fame and romantic entanglements starts there, notably with young singer France Gall. It portrays lightly Claude’s obsessive side with his appearance, his perfectionist ways, always being in the public eye but also the difficulty that came with juggling his career and personal life together. Already with a notable likeness to the singer, Jérémie Renier plays this role fantastically after 5 months of intense preparation to perfect Claude’s voices and mannerisms.

Claude’s music is not overused for the soundtrack with just a small number of very well selected songs used. The costumes and recreation of the 1960/70s are right on target. My favourite part is by far the birth of the song “Comme D’habitude’, better known as ‘My Way’. Needless to say, I highly recommend this.

By Amanda Brown

Based on a real life story and a massive hit in several countries. Initially you may think that this film will be depressing or sad but on the contrary, Earth, Wind and Fire’s ‘September’ accompanies the opening credits, an upbeat, lively song promises a positive portrayal.

For both characters, it’s a journey of learning. Each one discovering more about each other’s cultural differences and it’s just that, which infuses many of the simply priceless moments in film such as musical differences, opinion on modern art, and ideas on women.

Of course, there are some touching scenes especially towards the end of the film when Driss leaves Philippe’s household to take care of his family after his brother gets into trouble. The film shows just how much effect one person can have another’s life, as Philippe finds it difficult to adjust to a new carer and subsequently goes through a series of carers.

My favourite moments of footage are most certainly the opening of the film, when Driss accidentally pours boiling water on Philippe’s leg and Driss’ reaction to his first opera outing.

REVIEW: LE HAVRE By Emily Brickell

© Google Images

A definite must-have, Intouchables is now available on DVD!

The film Le Havre is the fascinating account of how a poor shoe-shiner named Marcel finds himself looking after a young boy on the run from the police, and his quest to reunite mother and son in London without the interference of the police. A good film, in my opinion; while parts of the humour were undoubtedly lost by my less-than-perfect understanding of spoken French, it was still funny at parts and generally enjoyable. Le Havre is arty, highly stylised and may seem a bit strange, but it is intended to be so. Marcel’s efforts to arrange transport to England for the boy, and to raise money for the purpose are aided by the slightly eccentric characters from his village and closely followed by the creepy ‘commissaire’ who strolls around menacingly in head -to-toe in black clothing, smoking a cigar… and occasionally holding a pineapple.

Marcel’s attempts to raise money for the boy include a charity concert by ‘Little Bob’, who according to Wikipedia, are a French rock group from around the 1970’s. Knowing this before watching the film might help to explain the 5 minute segment involving a close-up of a sweet old man rocking out in a red leather jacket.

Overall Le Havre is fairly light-hearted despite the undercurrent of more serious political issues. Directed by Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki, Le Havre won a prize last year at Cannes and was released in France shortly afterwards. It’s out on April 6 th in the UK and definitely worth watching if you fancy a change from the same old rom-coms … plus a bit of justifiable language practice

4

CURRENT AFFAIRS THE MIDDLE EAST: A TARNISHED IMAGE? By Ben Rider Think about Rome for just a moment; what comes to mind? A mighty civilisation with a culture as advanced as any perhaps, and some of the most iconic buildings and ruins in the world. Athens conjures up a very similar ideal as the centre of the Greek world. These cities are the spearhead of many a person’s idea of classical Western Europe, but what about ones found to the east? One can imagine that if you were to think of Damascus you would not hold it in such a romantic ideal. Magnificent cities such as this along with Beirut, Aleppo and even Jerusalem have seen their historical importance undermined by events of recent times.

I am by no means immune to the association of countries such as Syria and Palestine with violence and civil unrest.

The “Arab Spring” of 2011 (though this has become too long a term to be known to only one season) was understandably reported worldwide and has done much to undermine the image of the amazing cities found within the tumultuous nations. Prior to this, at the end of 2010 Top Gear did well to publicise the historical importance of cities like Damascus as they travelled across the Middle East in their winter special. Mid life crisis shenanigans aside, their focus on the peaceful side of Middle Eastern history leaves one looking deeper into the cultures of the Middle East which the media chooses not to portray.

Damascus, which has recently become the focus of much of the unrest in Syria, is city a along with Aleppo which is of huge historical significance and they both boast some of the most impressive examples of Muslim architecture. The Citadel of Aleppo or the Great Mosque of Damascus are just two excellent examples of this. One could easily contend these city landmarks to be as impressive as those found within Rome or Athens. Baghdad is another city that has had its heritage eroded by modern conflict. As a former capital of the Arab empire it contains landmarks that are rather inspiring, such as the Abbasid Palace. At the time of the Arab empire, the Middle East was experiencing a cultural and scientific flowering. Roads were paved, cities had sewage systems, healthcare was advanced, maths was broadening its horizons and art was of extraordinary beauty. This was at a time when western Europeans were living in houses made of dirt!

Even during the early twentieth century the Middle East conjured up images of a mystical, exotic land where one could travel to experience beauty, sophistication and a land of ever blossoming culture. It is troublesome to maintain this notion with so much violence going on in the region at this moment in time but just consider that all cultures experience their low points. Rome itself was fraught with violence and intrigue, and it was only last year that the United Kingdom experienced riots and chaos.

Do not simply ignore current issues that are plaguing the Middle East, but also do not forget that this region is rich history and truly beautiful cities. Until the troubles there are resolved, let us hope it is not damaged anymore.

5

TAR SANDS: WHAT ARE THEY AND WHAT IS ALL THE FUSS ABOUT? By Jessica Brand Tar sands are the dirtiest deposits of oil in the world, and to be sourced severe deforestation of the Canadian landscape where they reside must occur. The Alberta Tar Sands mining project has been named by many organisations and academics as the world’s largest and most destructive industrial environmental project the planet has ever seen. The project stretches right across Northern Canada where essential ecosystems like wetlands and forests are under severe threat.

But what makes extracting oil from tar sands so much worse than getting it from elsewhere, I hear you ask. Well firstly there is the devastating effect it has on the natural environment; wilderness the size of a small country in Canada has been replaced with refineries and pipelines and toxic lakes that threaten fresh water and fish supplies. In addition, there are the global impacts of extracting oil from tar sands. Compared to regular crude oil, getting oil from these tar sands causes around three times the carbon emissions per barrel of oil; this is all because of the poor efficiency of extraction as so much natural gas is needed for the process. However, it is not just the environment that is taking a beating from this mining project, it is also the indigenous people of Canada who are feeling the effects in terms of their health and livelihood. Many communities who are situated on land near tar sand extraction are suffering increasingly from rare forms of cancer that can only be down to the mining.

Debates and activist groups against the tar sands started among many organisations in October 2009 and have since not died down in the slightest. BP (British Petroleum) have in particular felt the full force of the environmental activists when it decided to invest millions into the Canadian tar sands after previously declaring they were committed to investing ‘beyond petroleum’.

Greenpeace are a huge follower of the ‘Stop the Tar Sands’ campaign with programmes in the UK, Norway, France and in Canada itself. The group aims to educate people on the issue and exploit the companies and banks who are investing billions into the project with one of its main campaigns being ‘Europe out of the Tar Sands’. What’s more, UoB’s very own People and Planet society have chosen tar sands and other unconventional fossil fuels as their focus for 2013, illustrating that the debate is doing nothing but retreating as a global environmental issue.

For more information on the matter, search for The true cost of oil: Garth Lenz @ TEDxVictoria on YouTube for a great example of what environmental destruction really looks like.

FLOWERS IN HER HAIR by Siobhan O’Sullivan Aung San Suu Kyi has fought for democracy in Myanmar (Previously Burma) since her return to the country in 1988 calling for a democratic government after General Ne Win stepped down. During this time there were mass uprisings and protests which were swiftly put down by the government. In September of 1988 Aung San Suu Kyi founded the National League for Democracy Party, and a year later she found herself under house arrest, a state in which she remained on and off for 15 out of 21 years, guarded by the military.

But this did not stop her fight for democracy. She remained a symbol of democracy in the country as well as the head of the National League for Democracy Party and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her efforts; a prestigious award which she could not receive in person.

But in 2010 she was finally released and immediately went back on the campaign trail fighting for democracy in Burma. Her sheer determination is something to be admired. Finally in 2012 she was elected to parliament, this is the biggest step towards democracy for nearly 50 years.

In true form though, Aung San Suu Kyi has not taken her seat quietly. Following news of her placement in parliament, talk of the EU suspending its sanctions on the country were rife, with even David Cameron PM meeting with Suu Kyi. However, this one step towards democracy does not mean democracy is present and the National League for Democracy Party knows this.

In total, 43 members of the National League of Democracy Party were elected into parliament this April and by the 23rd had decided to boycott parliament. They refuse to take their seats and be sworn in unless one word in the constitution is changed from ‘safeguard’ to ‘respect’; therefore furthering their want of democratic reform within the country. There is power in numbers and now the parliament cannot act unless the party takes its seats.

Aung San Suu Kyi is inspirational as she continues her fight for democracy in Burma, her elegance and determination has made her popular amongst the people who desperately long to see reform in their country. And she does all this, with her iconic flowers in her hair.

6

LIFE & STYLE PARIS—THE CITY OF LOVE AND ROMANCE? By Sophie Spirit The first thing that tends to pop into someone’s head when they see or hear the word ‘Paris’, is the thought of love, romance, and candle-lit dinners. But does the city deserve the title of the ‘City of Love’?

Paris is famous for the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, numerous amounts of famous museums, the Moulin Rouge and the Champs Elysées. Although the Moulin Rouge in itself could be described as ‘romantic’, and the film certainly portrays it in that way, the Blanche area in which the Moulin Rouge can be found is certainly not. Full of seedy sex shops and the men who spend most of their time in them, it is hard to head in that general direction without getting harassed at some point.

Paris’ metro line 6 passes by some of the most classic and typical Parisian buildings, riding over the Seine, and right past the Eiffel Tower. Although the metros in Paris aren’t always the most romantic of places to be seen, line 6 boasts views of the finer parts of the city.

However, all the beautiful architecture, classic lampposts and buildings cannot make up for the constant presence of dog poo in the Parisian streets. If you have been to Paris, you will have noticed all the bumping and jostling that so often occurs. This is usually brought on by everyone walking with their heads down, to avoid stepping in anything.

If heading to Paris for a weekend, you will find that it may seem very busy. On the metro, standing in queues outside the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, everyone seems to have the same idea as you and be heading in the same direction. Unfortunately, this can result in body odorous journeys on the metro and waiting in queues in the rain, wind, snow or, if you’re lucky, sunshine for hours at a time.

Aside from the negative aspects, Paris can be magical. When at the top of the Eiffel Tower at night looking out over the city, there is no denying the beauty lit up in front of your eyes. Rather than hundreds of skyscrapers, every building in Paris is unique. There is an unlimited amount of things to do, romantic or not. A boat trip or a hand-in-hand stroll down the Seine is a popular option for couples. As for food and drink, although romance isn’t cheap, French wine is not only some of the best but also reasonably priced for somewhere so expensive. The French capital is well known for its fine patisseries and it is true there is something unknowingly satisfying about having a breakfast of fresh French pastries in bed, with a ‘chocolat chaud’, or hot chocolate, in hand.

Whether Paris is the true city of love and romance or not, it will always have that deserved reputation and hold a romantic light over the lovers and dreamers of the world. There is certainly no city quite like Paris.

SUMMER DREAMIING By Amy Wakeham

With the university year drawing to a close and the only things occupying our minds are last minute essay deadlines and the looming exams, it’s safe to say we all need a little escapism from the correct use of the subjunctive, and all those relative pronouns.

And what better way to use all the spare time during revision procrastination than with the planning your summer travels? Or, even better, the planning of your summer travelling wardrobe.

Whether you’re InterRailing around the capitals of Europe, dancing your heart out in Ibiza or backpacking around the eastern Mediterranean, (Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro are the new France, Italy and Spain) it’s vital that you inject your holiday wardrobe with the same adventurous spirit that you have whilst planning your travels.

From African tribal prints to nostalgic 50s silhouettes, to the sporty surfer trend, there is something for everyone this summer. So kick back, put those exams out of your mind for just one moment more….and start dreaming of sun kissed skin, endless horizons and the open road.

7

THAT ‘JE NE SAIS QUOI’: THE WONDROUS WORLD OF FRENCH FASHION By Megan Jones French fashion is often hailed as the leader of the industry; Paris is the fashion capital of the world and hosts the most anticipated of all fashion weeks; French fashion houses are often the most profitable and the most desirable. But why? Why are French houses held in more esteem than their British, American and even Italian counterparts?

French fashion plays a big part in the country’s history with Louis XIV, Napoleon Bonaparte and Napoleon III all using the fashion business to stimulate the economy. Napoleon even ordered that no one wear the same outfit to French Court twice! Fast-forward over 200 years, and France had created some of the most classic looks in fashion: the Little Black Dress, the bar suit, and the “le smoking” tuxedo.

Such looks changed their era’s face of fashion Along with her dropped hemlines, Gabrielle Chanel’s LBD allowed women to sport a more laid-back look. Christian Dior rejuvenated post-war dressing with his New Look in 1947 that saw full skirts and small waists accentuate the female form with increased femininity but Yves Saint Laurent’s “Le smoking” in 1966 turned another page by making it acceptable, and fashionable, for women to wear a man’s tuxedo.

Moreover, the words we use to describe fashion are French. Take luxury, sophistication, decoration, embellishment, style, design, beauty, chic – all these words are either taken straight from the French language or filtered through it from Latin before they became part of our mother tongue.

Not only are these associations anchored in our language and society, the French fashion pack seem to be determined to keep it that way. Though the idea of couture clothing originated from British Charles Frederick Worth, the term “haute couture” is protected by French law and the designers who are admitted to create this bespoke fashion must abide to certain rules, including having an atelier in Paris to hand-make the garments.

This isn’t to say that the French fashion industry’s counterparts aren’t important; the Italians are known for their expertise in leather, the British for their fine, bespoke outerwear and the Americans for their sportswear.

It still seems to remain, though, that French fashion just has a certain, well, “je ne sais quoi” about it.

PASSPORT TO STYLE: TOKYO By Jake Hall It’s often said that we’re so preoccupied with runway fashion that we overlook street style. Many countries have a lively sense of style, but arguable none more so than Japan. Tokyo has established a fashion all of its own, a mixture of wacky pieces in all styles and colours.

The fashion of Tokyo has a reputation for being adventurous; the streets of Harajuku in particular are bursting with Lolita-inspired dresses and outrageous prints. In addition, on a global scale innovative Japanese designers such as Rei Kawabuko and Yohji Yamamoto have become renowned for their exaggerated silhouettes and ambitious prints.

The women of Tokyo know how to mix designer with high street to create a style that is both entirely unique and entirely their own.

8

TRAVEL TUNISIA; A SURPRISING GEM IN NORTHERN AFRICA By Angelica Ottaway “Oh Tunisia, that’s nice… Didn’t they just have a revolution?” This was the standard response from pretty much everyone when I told them where I was going at Easter. Some people added vague comments about nice beaches, and one friend knowledgeably informed me that it was one of the largest countries in North Africa. Mostly however I got a little smile and a wide-eyed look that seemed to say “Oh God you’re going to be attacked and I may never see you again.” Or at least that’s how I interpreted it; perhaps that says more about my preconceptions than theirs. Nonetheless, despite Tunisia’s stable, democratically elected government, there are no doubt lingering memories in prospective tourists’ minds of the Arab Spring, along with a healthy sprinkling of general ignorance, which has damaged the country’s image in the West.

When my mum first suggested Tunisia, the same apprehensions immediately popped into my head, but on arrival, apart from the occasional overly-friendly man, the centre of Tunis seemed barely more dangerous than Paris. Although comparisons between Avenue Habib Bourguiba and the Champs-Elysees are exaggerated hugely, the street is lined with trees and French-style cafes serving crepes and cafés crèmes. French is spoken everywhere, and walking in the Ville Nouvelle, if you glance up at the beautiful colonial buildings, you might momentarily forget you’re not in Europe.

At street level, this is harder to imagine, and in the medina there is no doubt you are in Tunisia. This is the original old city and it reminded me, unimaginatively enough, of a real gritty version of the chase scene at the start of Aladdin. The small, winding streets, centred around the Great Mosque, are packed with shops, people, noise and smells. We found it hard to get away from the shops selling identical slippers and tea sets, and impossible not to get lost. One alley was so full of rubbish bags and cats we had to turn back and we bumped into the same man in a stripy shirt about seven times. Fortunately helpful strangers outweighed pesky shopkeepers and we were able to find some of the hidden architectural gems, such as the intricately decorated Tourbet el-Bey. At one point we found ourselves in a deserted residential street, dotted with nail-studded doors each one a different colour. Eventually we even managed to find our way out.

Within easy reach of Tunis, you can uncover the country’s far older but equally fascinating history. A quick train ride away is Carthage, or at least what’s left of it. The area is now a wealthy suburb of gated houses and four-by-fours, with a few dotted ruins. Wandering through the tree-lined streets it was weird to imagine I was actually standing on the mythical site of Dido and Anneas’ epic love story.

This place had once been the home of Hannibal, the genius general who took elephants through the Alps and seriously scared the Romans. Now on top of where he once lived is probably someone’s private pool.

If ruins aren’t your thing however, the country’s diverse heritage makes it easy to pick and choose. Along the coast is the beautiful (but bursting with tourists) Sidi Bou Said, which thanks to a by-law passed by Rodolphe d’Erlanger in the 1920’s, is painted entirely in blue and white. In the South you can relive your Star Wars fantasies, by visiting sets from the original films which were made in Tunisia. You can even go to the real Tataouine!

9

WWOOFING: A HANDS-ON HOLIDAY

By Anna Johnson

©

So, it’s come round to that time of year when you’re thinking you deserve a well-earned break from all the revision and exams and you’ re becoming excited for the approaching summer and its highlight; the summer holiday. However, this excitement for discovering new countries, seeing new sights and experiencing different cultures quickly fades when your thoughts turn to how much these imagined adventures will cost. Whilst you don’t want to give up on your plans, the thought of paying for flights, accommodation and meals with the meagre remains of your student loan is not promising. A group of friends and I were in exactly this position; we wanted to go abroad, have a great time as well as try something we’d never done before, without breaking into the overdraft. That’s when we discovered WWOOFing.

Set up in England in 1971, WWOOF (which stands for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) started out as an opportunity for people who lived in towns or cities to get out into the countryside whilst at the same time becoming involved in the organic movement. This, you might be thinking, is a) not what a holiday is at all, or b) not how you would want to spend your holiday; stuck on a rainy farm in Britain learning how to grow environmentally friendly potatoes. Luckily, the WWOOF experience has since expanded to 99 countries in the world, and is not purely about growing fruit and veg.

Essentially, it is a network of organisations which aim to provide people with an experience of organic and ecologically sound farming methods which helps the organic movement, whilst at the same time providing an experience of rural lifestyle or a different country. So basically, you are a volunteer; but with many benefits. For your work of around 5 or 6 hours a day you do not receive financial payment but do get your accommodation and food provided, and the opportunity to learn; both in terms of the farming methods you are taught and the culture, sights and language of the country you have travelled to. Opportunities range from working on vineyards or fruit farms in the south of France, harvesting coffee beans in Northern Thailand to collecting honey in Hawaii. There really are so many options that whatever you want to do and wherever you want to go there will almost certainly be a WWOOF host farm that will suit you. All you have to pay for is your travel expenses in return for a fantastic experience; the chance to brush up on your language abilities, learn a new skill, interact with other WWOOFers and discover a new region, and the hours you’re not working are yours to explore the local area and see the sights.

So if you’re cost savvy, interested in environmental farming abroad or just happy to mix hard work with pleasure, WWOOFING might be something to consider when those all inclusive package holidays, expensive festivals or family trips just don’t tick the boxes. I’m certainly looking forward to my WWOOF adventure!

BEAUTIFUL IRELAND: A FRENCH PERSPECTIVE ON IRELAND By Alyssa Chamsouditnova To start, just a few words about the capital city of Ireland.

Dublin’s streets are full of singers looking for fame at every corner which makes the city extremely vibrant, and you can visit Trinity College and Oscar Wilde’s house if you like his work. Unfortunately, the majority of pub’s have a drinking age of 21, which I learnt at my expense, and was such a shame, as it is the birthplace of Guinness.

However, whilst all big cities arguably look alike, and if like us you want to discover rural Ireland, head to the wildest region, the Connemara. Our trip started here, in a small village called Letterfrack as soon as we had rented our bikes. Firstly, we went to the North in order to visit the Kylemore Abbey, originally a castle which was eventually transformed into a monastery. Following the road, skirting around hills and lakes, we arrived at the coast with white sand beaches. As it is very rare to see other people on the roads, it is important to have a road map with you, and there are definitely more sheep per square foot than inhabitants. Even if you have the chance to meet a friendly Irishmen, you probably won’t understand them as most speak Gaelic and not English.

The next town that we visited was Clifden with its legendary, magnificent Sky Road, and riding all the way up to the point was certainly worth the extra effort. It offers a unique opportunity to admire the blue endless ocean, which surrounds you on every side. The only bit of land you can see is the road you took to come up.

We also visited Roundstone, a fishing village in the Aran Islands, where Gaelic is the dominant language from the tongues of the locals to the road signs, and Cliffs of Moher, which are apparently the highest cliffs in Europe. Galway is the biggest city in the Connemara, and in the fantastic pub that we ate at, you could choose the kind of fish – salmon, ray, plaice or smoked fish – you would like to have in your fish and chips, which was a welcome change to the English dish with cod, and was absolutely delicious. Don’t forget to try the Irish stew with soda bread, beef in Guinness sauce and hot chocolate with Irish cream!

Lastly, my personal advice: grab some sunscreen if you plan to cycle in Ireland, even if you are travelling offseason, or else you’ll be in for a sunburn!

10

PLACES IN SPORT 2: MONACO GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT By Thomas Dodd Walk down the steps from the main train station in Monte Carlo and you’d be forgiven for thinking that you were not metres away from the edge of the Mediterranean.

A palm tree-lined set of steps leads you down to street level and after no more than 3 minutes you are standing at St Devote, the first corner of the Monaco grand prix circuit. Look straight ahead and you can see an advertising bridge which hovers over the Start/Finish line and across the road a huge ‘Bridgestone’ sign clings to the barrier. The hill that leads up to Casino Square and the rest of the lap is to the left.

It is late April, and the Formula 1 circus is not arriving in town for another month. As a result, the only engine noise of any note is that of the ordinary road car and the odd bus. It is a strange feeling to be able to walk along a pavement to follow a racetrack but that is exactly what any average Joe can do in the Cote D’Azur. Walking round Mirabeau and the Loews hairpin you can start to imagine what it might be like to throw a piece of Formula 1 machinery around the streets at racing speed.

If two points on the circuit epitomise Monaco, it is the tunnel and the run down to the harbour around the swimming pool. The former, which plays host to an underground car park for 51 weeks of the year, has been the scene of so many famous moments during race week and it is generally the first landmark any fan will think of when asked about the circuit. The section around the harbour highlights the glitz and glamour of Monaco, as you pass all the yachts- truly this is the home of the very rich and famous. Incredibly, the barriers between the sea and the track are only put into place a few days in advance of the first car hurtling passed.

What is perhaps most striking of all is the way in which life just goes on in Monte-Carlo. It seems as though the residents are oblivious to what lies around them. Sure, there is good reason to say that they are simply used to it, but with all the history and memories that surround them, it would be outrageous to think they are actually ignoring the picturesque beauty.

SPORT

(Jonathan Harding’s football writing, this article included, features online at www.the4thofficial.co.uk)

26TBFI LONDON LESBIAN AND GAY FILM FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

By Aimee Oliver

LGBT

The LLGFF is an annual celebration of international queer films. Naturally English language films dominated the festival, such as the Canadian Cloudburst which opened the event, depicting the heart-warming and frequently hilarious story of two older lesbians and their fight to be married. Nevertheless, numerous foreign-language movies drew in the crowds.

French language films presented a running theme this year, beginning with American Translation, © Google Images concerning a young woman who discovers that her boyfriend is a psycho-sexual killer with a penchant for rent boys. This film proves uncomfortable viewing and is clearly not afraid to show negative interpretations of LGBTQ characters. Similarly, Notre Paradis also involves prostitution and murder; an ageing prostitute with murderous tendencies finds a younger rent boy beaten up in a park. The two men, now lovers and accomplices, start to steal from their clients but they are forced to flee Paris and make their way towards ‘paradise’ – the mountainside home of a former customer.

Though not in French, Beauty (Skoonheid) is a South African, French, and German collaboration, centring on a closeted husband and father who develops an obsession with the son of an old friend. Disturbing and provocative, this tale of self-hatred was the winner of the Queer Palm at Cannes 2011.

Argentinean films also proved popular, in particular Absent and Mother Tongue (Lengua Materna). Absent details a student-teacher crush with a twist. What seems a conventional plot, with the student persuading his teacher to let him stay at his home for the night, slowly unravels as a tense and shocking situation, full of passion, regret, and guilt. Mother Tongue (Lengua Materna) is much more light-hearted; a woman comes out to her mother after being in a committed relationship for 14 years. After first fainting with shock, her mother decides to find out as much as she can about being a lesbian – reading books, hitting lesbian bars and even meeting some of her daughter’s exes in the process. A charming film with excellent lead performances, this film focuses on the bond between mother and daughter.

After experiencing the buzzing and lively atmosphere on the opening night, it is clear that interest in queer cinema is still thriving.

11

4

RECIPES

© Google Images

TORTILLA ESPANOLA

LECHE FRITA (FRIED MILK)

INGREDIENTS:

INGREDIENTS:

1 medium onion 275g small potatoes 3 tablespoons olive oil 5 eggs salt and pepper to taste

1 litre whole milk 1 cinnamon stick 6 egg yolks 200g sugar 100g corn flour small amount of plain flour 2 eggs 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil for frying sugar ground cinnamon

METHOD: 1. Peel and cut the onion into small pieces.

2. Peel and cut the potatoes into quarters and then into thin slices.

3. Heat the oil in a frying pan and then add both the onions and the potatoes.

4. Meanwhile, beat the eggs into a mixing bowl.

5. When the potatoes and onions are soft and slightly browned, drain the oil off them and add them to the eggs (there is no need to clean the frying pan, it will need a bit of oil left on it).

6. Stir the potato mixture into the eggs slowly – try to avoid breaking them up too much.

7. Add the potato and egg mixture to the frying pan and leave it on a very low heat until the bottom is set and a bit brown (about 10 minutes depending on the thickness).

8. Removing the pan from the heat, place a plate over the top of the frying pan and carefully turn it over so the omelette is on the plate.

9. Gently slide the omelette back into the frying pan so the other side can cook.

10. Once the other side is also cooked (about 2/3 minutes), turn off the heat and leave it in the pan for about 5 minutes to set.

11. Then turn it out onto a plate, cut it into wedges and serve with a salad!

Serves 4

METHOD: 1. Bring the milk to the boil with the cinnamon stick.

2. Meanwhile mix the egg yolks with the sugar and the corn flour (mixed with a little cold water).

3. Add the boiling milk to the egg and flour mixture and stir well.

4. Put the mixture back on the hob and stir it constantly until it becomes quite thick like cake mixture.

5. Pour it onto a tray or a tin (at least 3cm deep) and leave it to cool in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

6. Once completely cooled, cut it into 3cm x 3cm squares.

7. Coat each piece in plain flour and then in egg and fry in the vegetable oil until golden.

8. Pat dry with kitchen towel and the sprinkle with sugar and ground cinnamon.

9. Serve on its own or with custard/ice cream.

Serves 6

Both Recipes By Ali Barnes 12

Français UNE EDUCATION FRANÇAISE À LONDRES

© Google Images

COMMENT S’AMUSER AVEC LE FRANÇAIS! By Emily Brickell

Par Angelcia Ottoway La plupart des gens trouvent l’arôme de la lavande assez agréable. Elle rappelle la Provence, l’été et les champs de somptueuses fleurs bleues. Mais moi, cette odeur me rend malade. Quand j’avais onze ans, j’ai essayé de manger le savon à la lavande qu’on avait dans la salle de bains pour éviter d’aller à l’école. L’école en question était Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle à South Kensington.

Dans cet énorme méli-mélo de bâtiments, des élèves de tout âge, de la maternelle à la terminale reçoivent des cours.

C’est une véritable colonie française au centre de Londres.

Mais je ne suis pas française, je n’ai jamais habité en France et mes parents ne parlent même pas français (enfin, pas très bien du moins). Ils voulaient cependant que mon frère et moi grandissions bilingues et nous ont donc donné une éducation française dès nos trois ans. Bien qu’ils aient les meilleures intentions au monde, cela n’a pas vraiment bien marché.

Je détestais l’école et chaque matin, je redoutais de devoir y retourner encore. J’étais déjà une fille assez timide, et j’avais tellement conscience de mon ‘petit accent’ que je ne parlais jamais en classe à moins que l’on m’interrogeait.

Pour moi, le reproche le plus sévère et le plus percutant était l’utilisation d’ ‘anglicismes’. C’est-à-dire, l’utilisation d’un mot ou d’une syntaxe anglaise dans une phrase en français. Encore aujourd’hui, je me souviens parfaitement de la phrase préférée de l’un de mes profs : « Ce n’est pas sérieux ». Maintenant cela me fait rire, mais il y a six ans ces quatre mots me faisaient rougir comme une tomate. Comparé à un enfant anglais du même âge, mon français était superbe.

A quatorze ans j’ai quitté le Lycée pour une école anglaise. Et c’est seulement là que je me suis rendu compte que parler une autre langue couramment était un avantage et non quelque chose de banal. Et c’est seulement maintenant, quand je perds les notions de cette langue, que je commence à apprécier mon éducation française.

13

Comment s’amuser tout en faisant du français ! C’est la période de l’année universellement détestée par tous les étudiants: la période des examens.

Bien qu’on doive passer certaines journées avec son nez dans un cahier de grammaire, il y a des autres moyens plus originaux pour renforcer son français. Quand les révisions commencent à vous ennuyer, je vous suggère trois options…

1. Regarder un film français. C’est la forme ultime de la procrastination productive pour les étudiants en langues. Beaucoup de nouveaux films français sortent tous les mois, donc on ne peut pas se plaindre d’un manque de choix.

Si les nouveaux DVD sont trop chers pour votre budget étudiant, choisissez simplement votre film préféré que vous possédez déjà, et mettez-le en français. Un film que vous connaissez bien sera assez facile à comprendre en français sans sous-titres, et vous pourriez facilement apprendre du nouveau vocabulaire.

2. Recontacter un ami français. Peut-être que vous avez des anciennes correspondantes sur Facebook avec lesquelles vous pouvez parler en français ?

Si oui, c’est le moment idéal pour bavarder un peu avec elles. Si vous n’en avez pas, il y a d’autres moyens de parler avec un interlocuteur français.

L’université de Birmingham a des étudiants Erasmus qui sont souvent heureux de parler avec vous, mais c’est possible aussi de faire partie d’un groupe français proche de chez vous. Le site de web « Meetup » a beaucoup de groupes qui se rencontrent pour parler une langue, et ces groupes existent un peu partout au Royaume-Uni. Trouvez celui qui vous plait !http:// www.meetup.com/ ouhttp://www.meetup.com/birminghamfrench/ 3. Et le troisième choix, mon préféré : aller en France. Avec l’Eurostar de Londres à Paris seulement deux heures et quart, c’est incroyablement tentant pour une Londonienne comme moi. Parler le français, manger des croissants – et tout cela peut être justifié comme « révision ». Les billets ne sont pas très bon marché, mais si on veut sortir Royaume-Uni pour Pâques (ou si on a des parents généreux) ce n’est pas impossible. Le prix des billets commence à 65 euros pour un aller à Calais ou Lille, et au moins 69 pour Paris. Une fille peut rêver… Ces options démontrent des avantages d’apprendre une langue. On ne peut pas imaginer des étudiants en mathématiques à l’Eurodisney pour la période de révisions !

BEN L’ONCLE SOUL: CHANTEUR DE LA MUSIQUE SOUL

By Emily Brickell Si vous n’avez jamais encore entendu l’œuvre de l’artiste français ‘Ben L’Oncle Soul’, je vous encourage d’aller sur Youtube afin de l’écouter. Il s’agit d’un chanteur de soul qui devient de plus en plus populaire, non seulement en France mais aussi à l’échelle internationale. Ben est connu sur la scène musicale française depuis longtemps. Cependant, depuis le début de sa tournée internationale, sa popularité ne cesse de croitre à travers le monde. Il a déjà obtenu de nombreux prix français et l’année dernière il a été nominé pour un EMA dans la catégorie ‘meilleur artiste français’, en opposition à David Guetta et Martin Solveig.

Bien qu’il chante beaucoup de ses propres chansons, majoritairement en français, ses albums comprennent plusieurs reprises de titres anglais tels que ‘Seven Nation Army’ et ‘I Kissed A Girl’. Il est aussi à l’aise quand il chante en français qu’en anglais, mais sans aucun doute chanter en anglais qui lui a permis de toucher une audience plus grande. Cependant Ben a dit qu’il n’aimerait pas toujours chanter en anglais ; il est content de vivre en France. Dans une interview pour ‘Paris Match’ il a déclaré ‘C’est soul la France !’ Ben L’Oncle Soul a visité l’Angleterre auparavant et il va y retourner cet été ! Et je vous conseille de garder un œil sur les dates de sa tournée. Actuellement, si on visite son site web, on peut télécharger son single ‘Come Home’ gratuitement.

© Google Images

© Google Images

Español

© Google Images

¿A DÓNDE VAS? Por Jess White

Junio: el fin de los exámenes! ¿Qué vas a hacer con el verano? Aunque un viaje a un lugar turístico como Málaga o Benidorm son muy atractivos, ¿Por qué no visitas algún lugar un poco más tradicional, experimental o cultural?

Es obvio que lugares como Mallorca, Barcelona y Madrid son muy atractivos a los estudiantes; la vida social, viajes baratos y el sol, pero has pensado sobre Girona? No lo creo! Girona es una ciudad en el Noroeste de Catalunya en España, 100km noroeste de Barcelona con temperaturas medias de 30 grados en agosto. Girona tiene todo el encanto de las grandes ciudades, pero sin multitudes y precios muy altos! Ponen a su alcance los alojamientos de la ciudad y los alrededores: hoteles, apartamentos, pensiones, albergues, camping y también alojamientos rurales.

Girona es muy famoso por sus monumentos y uno de las áreas más visitadas es el Barri Vell (Catalán) o Barrio Viejo (Castellano) .

Barri Vell es uno de los centros históricos más evocadores de Cataluña, con elementos únicos como Sant Feliu, Banys árabs, Call de Girmona Cases de l’Onyar, y también La Catedral.

Si te gusta ir a los compras, la oferta comercial sería muy atractiva! El centro histórico se ha convertido en zona para peatones, lo que permite combinar un paseo con una oferta de tiendas muy variada; tradicional de España, tiendas con ropa de todo el mundo, música, arte; hay algo para todos. Hay cientos de bares y clubes que puedes visitar a noche, y todos son en el centro de la ciudad y son muy accesibles. Las bebidas son baratas, hay tipos de música muy variadas y están abiertos hasta los cuatro por la mañana.

Si desea una vacación de sol, turismo, compras o simplemente para relajarse, Girona es un lugar fantástico para alojarse!

14

© Google

© Google Images

Deutsch RAMMSTEIN, ‘MADE IN GERMANY 1995-2011’- LG ARENA IN BIRMINGHAM, 25 FEBRUAR 2012 Von Bethany Lister Nachdem ich die Tage abgezählt habe, wurde ein sonniger Samstag die industriellen Götter ‚Rammstein‘ nach Birmingham wilkommen. Sie gehen auf Tournee in die Förderung ihrer neuen Platte „Made in Germany 1995-2011“- ein rückblickender Anblick ihr neuerlichen Karriere.

Manche Schlepper verkauften außerhalb der Arena Tickets für zu Preisen von bis zu 100 Pfund und mehr. Nach sie unsere begehrte Lage für anderthalb Stunden die drei Reihen von die Sperre, abschalteten die Lichter und man kennt, der Auftritt hat begonnen.

Anfang des Abend spielte die Schwedische industrielle Band „Deathstars“ eine zerschlagene, halbstündige Zusammenstellung. Sie spielten unter grünen Strahlen des Rauches und die hymnischen Riffs von Liedern wie „Cyanide“ und „Night Electic Night“, dieser Kickstart des Auftritts hat uns selbst mit ihren einigen Vergnügen vorausgesetz. „Deathstars“ weiss dass sie den Appetithappen zuvor das Drei-GängeMenü von Rammstein aber sie behaupteten sich bestimmt in eine ausvkaufte LG-Arena und dramatischen Frontmann Andreas Bergh stellte uns sicher dass sie wird uns geben, wass wir in Birmingham wollen. Von der Horde, die in bestimmten T-Shirt und Kapuzenjacken bekleidet waren, war es offensichtlich dass wir für einen Zweck allein versammelt waren: RAMMSTEIN!!!

Nachden wir eine andere halbe Stunde gewartet haben, waren die Lichter wieder aus und die Bühne war bereit, wir waren bereit, bringt Rammstein an! Wir wissen gar nicht wo wir zuerst hinschauen sollen. Wie eine normale Band würdeb Sie einfach auf die Bühne laufen und sie würden anfangen zu spielen. Jedoch ist Rammstein keine ‚normale‘ Band und sie lieben es zweifellos einen guten Start hinzulegen.

Plötzlich erscheint ein riesiger Fußgängerweg über den Köpfen des Publikums, der Rauch schwall an und den Abschnitt mit dem Mischput verbunden hat. Einer Spot scheint nach das Zentrum womit dem das Sextet on Berlin kommt mit militärischer Präzision und sie marschieren durch den Weg, Keyboarder Flake mit der englischen Fahne in der Hand. Danach begann das Runterzählen für das erste Lied „Sonne“. Diese Zusammenstelling folgte mit einem brutalen Anschlag der fünf Sinne. Manche sagen, dass „Andere Bands spielen, Rammstein Brennt“- nie hat einer wahrere Worte gesagt.

Frontmann Till Lindemann. ein ausgebildeter Pyrotechniker hat das Publikum mit einer atemberaubenden Artillerie von Feuerspielen begeistert. Von einer gesichtbeliegender Flammenwerfer während „Feuer Frei“ und während „Mein Teil“, waren der Prügelknabe des Bandes Flake in einen großen Kochtopf herausgebracht und mit einem Flammenwerfer ‚gekocht‘ war. Nicht befriedigt mit seinem Flammenwerfer, Till kehrte mit einem großerem, uns als Publikum bettelten gnadenlos für mehr Pyrotechniker. Der Surrealismus ging weiter mit der textsicheren Wiedergabe von „Du Hast“ und „Links 2 3 4“ von eine englischsprächige Publikum. Man kennt wirklich wo man schauen soll, mit rotem Rauch, der von die Taille Tills herausstreckte, die Mikrofonständer in Flammen und das Feuerwerk, das von den Rücken der Arena abgeplallt hat. Es war frei und ungebunden, wenn Flake durch die Publikum während „Haifisch“ mit einem Schlauchboot gereist hat. Dann, lässt die Band die Bühne und denn nammt der Abend ein sexuelles Element. Gepeitscht zusammen als einen Stil der Fesselspiele, betreteten sie wieder über den Gang, der von Drummer Christoph leitete, wo als Frau verkliedet war. Till ist von Christoph ausgepeitscht, in seinen Versuch Flake zu „vergewaltigen“. In der Mittel-Bühne, ging die Show weiter mit der Ersten Zuagabe von „Bück dich“, „Man gegen man“ und „Ohne dich“.

Wenn wir knapp glauben, dass der Abend nicht dramatischer sein könnte, kommt einen riesigen Ventilor in die Lage hinein und schlugen sie durch bekannte Hits „mein Herz Brennt“,„Amerika“ und „Ich Will“, wechselte die Stimme Tills von knurrend bis geflüshert völlig mühelos.

Keyboarder Flake kommt näher und fängt an, uns ins Konfetti zu bedecken. Jedoch, kommt wirklich die Glanznummer, wenn Till wieder in die Bühne züruckkehrt, mit gigantischer Engelflügel, die von ihre Enden Feuer ausspucken könnte. Rammstein beenden die Nachte mit einer ihre wenigen Englischen Lieder „Pussy“, wo Till eine rosarote phallische Kanone gespreizt hat und er hat uns freiwillig mit weißem Schaum durchnässt. Man fühlt, dass man etwas besonders da gesehen hat, führen Rammstein nicht so oft in England aus und es ist ganz nicht möglich die Musik und das Spektakel zu bemängeln. Alles zusammengenommen, wird man enttäuscht sein wenn die Augenbrauen nicht angesengt sind. Einer der besten Auftritte meines Lebens, ohne den geringsten Zweifel.

15

GEISTESWISSENSCHAFTEN Von Suzy Robinson Wenn man Geisteswissenschaften studieren will, muss man für alles bereit sein. Es wird das Leben völlig verändern. Politik zum Bespiel dringt tief in das Gehirn hinein. Jede Theorie die anwendbar scheint, wirst du nie wieder los. Seitdem ich Feminismus studiert habe, kann ich keine Hollywood Film schauen, kein Hip-Hop mehr hören, fast keine Geschichte lesen ohne wütend oder traurig zu werden. Ich muss jede Beziehung in meinem Leben überprüfen dahingehend ob patriarchalische Machtspiele anwesend sind. Marxismus ist genau so hinterlistig, man muss jeden Tag den Kapitalismus in allen seinen Formen angreifen. Meiner Meinung nach können Naturwissenschaften kein ähnliche Auswirkungen haben, weil geologische Felsformationen für das innerliche Leben nicht so relevant sind. Die Sterne können Ehrfurcht erwecken und man fühlt sich vielleicht klein im Vergleich oder man kriegt ein Gefühl von Gesamtheit mit der Natur. Nichtdestotrotz kann es dein Anblick auf dein Leben nicht so richtig ändern, da die Natur immer noch aussenvor bleibt. Selbst die Heilkunde, die mit dem Körper intim verbunden ist, kann sich nicht in die Liebe oder den Hass einmischen. Wenigstens bin ich immer noch dankbar, dass ich nicht Psychologie studiere. Ich sehe mich schon in der Hausfrau der Betty Friedan und der Arbeiter den Karl Marx gespiegelt. Wenn ich Geisteskrankheiten studieren müsste, hätte ich überhaupt keine Chance bei gesundem Verstand zu bleiben.

Русский Язык

As a student of Russian, the most essential piece of knowledge, and one of the first things you learn, is the alphabet. Although it looks daunting, it’s not so difficult to get your head around. This quick guide gives you the grand tour of the Cyrillic alphabet! The Cyrillic alphabet can be divided into five distinct groups Letters that look and sound the same as in English: Letters that both look different, and sound different from English letters: А – ‘A’ as in ‘cat’ Ё – ‘Yo’ as in ‘yogurt’ К – ‘K’ as in ‘kayak’ Ж – ‘Zh’ as in ‘pleasure’ or ‘Zhivago’ О – ‘O’ as in ‘lock’ Й – ‘Y’ as in ‘boy’ or ‘Zhirinovskiy’ Т – ‘T’ as in ‘Trotsky’ Ф – ‘F’ as in ‘father’ М – ‘M’ as in ‘Mendeleev’ Ц – ‘Ts’ as in ‘sits’ Л – L as in ‘Lenin’ ( Ч – ‘Ch’ as in ‘child’ That was easy, right? Ш – ‘Sh’ as in ‘Shape’ Now the letters that sound like English letter, but look different: Б – ‘B’ as in ‘bat’, not to be confused with the Russian letter ‘В’, which will appear later Щ – Either pronounced as ‘sh’ or ‘sh-ch’ Г – ‘G’ as in ‘go’, but not as in ‘geranium’

Ы – ‘I/ee’, similar to ‘и’ but with a slightly heavier sound

Д – ‘D’ as in ‘Dmitri’

Э – ‘E’ as in ‘ever’

И – ‘I/Ee’ as in ‘keep’

Ю – ‘Yu’ as in ‘use’

And the letters which look like English ones but sound different: В – ‘V’ as in ‘Vladimir’

Я – ‘Ya’ as in ‘yard’ And just when you thought it couldn’t get any weirder, here are two letters that are written, but not heard in speech: Ъ – This is a ‘hard sign’, and is very rarely seen or used. It is used to ‘prevent palatisation of the preceding consonant’, but usually only native Russian speakers can tell the difference in speech. Ь – This is a ‘soft sign’, also silent, but used much more commonly, and has a similar, but weaker effect on palatisation.

Н – ‘N’ as in ‘never’ П – ‘P’ as in ‘pie’ (the origin of this letter is the Greek letter π) Р – ‘R’ as in ‘rabies’ У – ‘U/Oo’ as in ‘loom’ С – ‘S’ as in ‘Sergei’ Е - ‘Ye’ as in ‘yes’ (it usually, however, takes in the role of an English ‘e’ during transliteration) Х – ‘H’, but more guttural, as in ‘jalapeno’ or ‘ugh’

CHALLENGE: Using this guide, work out these famous Russian people and places by transliterating them into English: Москва Владимир Ленин

Владимир Владимирович Путин

Санкт Петербург

Дмитрий Иванович Менделеев

16

汉语

© Google Nick Lanigan Editor

A GUIDE TO CHINESE CHARACTERS: 中国汉字 by Chloe Saunders The Chinese writing system is one of the oldest known written languages with evidence dating back to over 4,000 years ago. Legend has it that Chinese characters were invented by Canjie, a bureaucrat under the Yellow Emperor who invented the system after being inspired by the logical relation of veins on a tortoise. Over the years, this has developed into the 30,000 character system that we know of today.

The oldest Chinese characters are Oracle bone inscriptions 甲骨文jiǎgǔwén which belong to the Shang dynasty period and consisted of elaborate carvings on bones. This developed into Bronze inscriptions方樽 fāngzūn where bronze works such as bells and cauldrons from the later Shang and early Zhou dynasties were engraved with highly variable characters. The same character was often written in different ways in different places, but unlike the oracle bone inscriptions, their size and orientation were regular. The standard style of writing during the later Zhou and early Qin dynasties was seal script 篆书 zhuànshū. This was more regular in form (the same characters were nearly always written the same way), and the shapes of all the characters evolved into more square based forms. During the later Qin Period and Han dynasties, the government gradually incorporated modifications made by the common Chinese known as official script 簡體中文Jiǎntǐzhōngwén. It was easier to write than seal script. It had straight lines where there were curves, and simplified versions of radicals. By the end, the characters had very similar forms to those used today. Finally, gradual development stabilised around 250 C.E and developed into regular script 正書 zhèngshū. The changes since then have consisted mainly of cleaning up, streamlining and straightening undulating strokes

THE GREAT LEGACY OF CHINA By Hannah Bolton With its breath-taking views and global recognition as the world’s largest structure of ancient architecture to date, it is no surprise that The Great Wall of China is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This Easter I travelled to the Great Wall in order to experience for myself such an ancient legacy.

I decided to explore the less-ventured and less tourist-ridden section of the wall known as Jiankou, located in the mountain ridges of Xizhazi Village.

This area of wall has not been recently restored unlike other more frequently visited sections such as Badaling so you can really appreciate the antiquity and grandeur of the structure which spans 373 miles and contains around 827 city wall platforms.

This section of wall appealed to me for many reasons, one being the fact that I wouldn’t be surrounded by hordes of tourists (the wall welcomes over four million visitors per year) and that I could escape the hustle and bustle of Beijing. Another attraction was its evident beauty. This area of wall is constructed from local material, dolomite, which is a striking white rock, setting it apart from others.

Although challenging to reach the wall (it involves an hour-long steep ascent), the views are definitely worth the sweat and tears. Jiankou, with an English translation of ‘arrows nock’ due to its narrow steep paths and mountain faces that resemble an arrow shape, is known as one of the more dangerous sections of The Great Wall. Landslides and steep peaks characterise this part of the wall, being the appealing choice for the daredevils and adrenaline-junkies amongst us.

I would definitely recommend a visit to this area for its beautiful scenery and sights such as ‘The Nine-Eye Tower’ which was an important command post during the ancient wars, yet it is definitely not for the faint-hearted! The highlight of the day was without doubt climbing up ‘The Sky Stair’, a part of the wall which has a 70 to 80 degree angle of elevation. The views at the top were outstanding and clear skies meant that I was able to look out for miles across the wall.

One aspect of the Great Wall that really stood out for me was the diversity. With six unique sections, there is something to suit everyone’s tastes, whether you want a more leisurely experience of the wall at Badaling where the wall has been more restored for tourism, or whether you are nostalgic for old times. Visiting The Great Wall isn’t simply another ‘been there, done that, got the t-shirt’ moment, instead it is an unforgettable and unique experience that will remain with you forever.

17

P

© Google Images

Português MICHEL TELÓ Por Catia Vaz S E AINDA NÃO OUVISTES A NOVA CANÇÃO VICIADORA DO LINDO E FAMOSO BRASILEIRO M ICHEL TELÓ NÃO PODES ESPERAR MAIS! ESTE JOVEM CANTOR ESTÁ A ESPALHAR A MÚSICA BRASILEIRA PELO MUNDO DE UMA MANEIRA FANTÁSTICA ! INCRIVELMENTE ELE JÁ ALCANÇOU OS PRIMEIROS LUGARES DAS TABELAS DE MÚSICA EM DIVERSOS PAISES DA EUROPA E DA AMERICA LATINA , E NÃO HÁ DÚVIDA QUE O SEU SUCESSO NÃO VAI ACABAR AQUI. DÁ UMA ESCUTADELA À CANÇÃO AI SE EU TE PEGO E TENTA PREENCHER OS ESPAÇOS BRANCOS DA LETRA .

SEMIFRIO DE MORANGO Por Catia Vaz

INGREDIENTES: Para a base: 150grs de bolachas de amêndoa 50grs de manteiga derretida

Para o recheio: 600ml de creme de leite fresco 6 folhas de gelatina incolor 1 lata de leite condensado Para a cobertura: Morangos Chocolate

CONFECÇÃO: Rele as bolachas e depois junte à manteiga derretida.

Misture bem e forre o fundo de uma forma. Leve ao frigorifico enquanto prepara o recheio.

Entretanto demolhe a gelatina em água fria.

Bata o creme de leite fresco e adicione aos poucos, sem parar de bater, o leite condensado.

Escorra e derreta a gelatina.

Envolva a gelatina no preparado anterior, até obter um creme homogéneo.

Verta o preparado com cuidado na tarteira.

Leve ao frigorífico para solidificar.

Retire do frigorífico, cubra com os morangos e faça riscos com chocolate derretido.

Desenforme e sirva.

Harry Frost Editor

LETRA _____ , nossa Assim ____ me ____ __ se eu __. ____ __. __ se eu __ . ____ _______ , _______ _____ você me mata Ai se __ te ____ Ai ai se __ te pego ______ na balada A ______ começou a _____ E passou a ______ mais _____ Tomei _______ e comecei a _____

Bom Apetite!

18

THE LINGUIST CROSSWORD ACROSS 2 Country of the 2016 Olympics (6) 3 Location for the first Treaty of the EU (9) 6 Roman God of War (4) 7 Birmingham's German twin town, famous for its Christmas market (9) 11 Geographically smallest US State (5-6) 12 Where the SheWolf comes from (8) 13 Spanish architect also used as an adjective (5)

DOWN 1 Ancient Persian word meaning land or country (4) 2 Shortening for three small European countries (7) 4 Name of parties thrown by the previous Italian Prime Minister (5) 5 Still within the Kingdom of Denmark (9) 8 Danish BAFTA Award Winning TV Series (3-7) 9 Mike Myers is of Scottish descent and what other nationality? (8) 10 Name for increasingly popular branch of music from Asia (4)

AVERE LA BOTTE PIENA E LA MOGLIE UBRIACA

冰冻三尺，非一日之寒 LITERALLY: A single day of sub-zero temperature is not enough to create three feet of ice.

ENGLISH: Rome was not built in a day

IDIOMS

CONTACT INTERESTED IN ADVERSTISING IN OUR MAGAZINE?

We are happy to work with any businesses or societies. We would especially like to get involved with those interested in European and international ventures. Please feel free to email us with any inquiries about future advertising at:

LITERALLY: To have the wine cask full and the wife drunk ENGLISH: to have your cake and eat it, too.

Maddie Kilminster............CHAIR Steph Taylor......................SECRETARY Sam Foster........................TREASURERS Nadia Dillon Catherine Dawkins............IT & DESIGN TEAM

thelinguist@guild.bham.ac.uk or madeleinekilminster@hotmail.co.uk (Our chair)

Helena Loyd-Hughes

www.thelinguistmagazine.org

Julie Ledesma Padilla…....PUBLICITY

You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter (Linguist_Mag)

Sam Lowe……………………….PROOF READER

19