Episode 47 – Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian dialects

October 15, 2020October 15, 2020 ~ languagewave ~ Leave a comment

Levantine dialects across Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine share much in common but also have noticeable differences. The Levantine dialects are important parts of the mosaic of Arabic dialects spoken across the Middle East. The popularity of Syrian and Lebanese TV shows, television drama series, and music have contributed to these dialects being widely understood across … Continue reading Episode 47 – Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian dialects

Episode 46 – Proverbs (shoes and favors)

October 8, 2020October 9, 2020 ~ languagewave ~ Leave a comment

Has someone ever helped you with a favor and then reminded you time and again about it to the point you wish you never accepted the offer? Or has being shy ever caused you or people you know problems? Or have you ever been frustrated that someone got away with something that they should have … Continue reading Episode 46 – Proverbs (shoes and favors)

Episode 45 – The Lebanon Mountain Trail

October 1, 2020October 4, 2020 ~ languagewave ~ Leave a comment

The Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT) is a long-distance hiking trail that runs the length of Lebanon. It extends from Andaket in northern Lebanon to Marjayoun in the south. The trail is 470 km long and passes through more than 75 towns and villages at altitudes ranging from 570 to 2,011 meters above sea level. The … Continue reading Episode 45 – The Lebanon Mountain Trail

Episode 44 – Ammiq Wetland

September 24, 2020 ~ languagewave ~ Leave a comment

The Ammiq Wetland is the largest remaining freshwater wetland in Lebanon. It is a remnant of an extensive ecosystem of marshes and lakes that once existed in the Bekaa Valley. The swamp is one of the Lebanon's biodiversity hotspots and lies on one of the most important bird migration routes in the world. In this … Continue reading Episode 44 – Ammiq Wetland

Episode 43 – Colloquial Lebanese words

September 17, 2020September 18, 2020 ~ languagewave ~ 2 Comments

Lebanese use lots of words that are distinct from Modern Standard Arabic and other Arabic dialects. Spoken Lebanese Arabic developed and continues to evolve due to the diverse cultural and linguistics communities within the country, interactions with the broader world, and the natural evolution of colloquial speech as new words enter the lexicon and old … Continue reading Episode 43 – Colloquial Lebanese words

Episode 42 – Driving in Lebanon

September 10, 2020September 11, 2020 ~ languagewave ~ Leave a comment

Driving in Lebanon is not for the faint-hearted. Unfortunately, its not uncommon to see people driving the wrong way down streets, cutting in front of you aggressively, not stopping at red lights, and flashing their headlights and honking their horn behind you because they think you are driving too slow. Join Mariam as she takes … Continue reading Episode 42 – Driving in Lebanon

Episode 41 – Sounds of the sea

September 3, 2020September 25, 2020 ~ languagewave ~ Leave a comment

Ain el Mreisseh is an old seafront neighborhood in Beirut. In the last few decades new tall buildings and a thoroughfare along the shore blocked views and sounds of the of sea for most of the neighborhood’s residents. In 2019, a new urban design project created a set of pipes to carry sounds from the … Continue reading Episode 41 – Sounds of the sea

Episode 40 – Five proverbs

August 27, 2020August 27, 2020 ~ languagewave ~ Leave a comment

Proverbs come in handy when we want to give advice about something in the future or point out something in the past that in hindsight seems obvious. For example, should you settle for what you have or risk it all to possibly get something better? We don't have the answers, but in this episode Leen … Continue reading Episode 40 – Five proverbs

Episode 39 – Lebanese emigration

August 20, 2020August 20, 2020 ~ languagewave ~ Leave a comment

For generations Lebanese citizens have emigrated across the world to seek better business or job opportunities, higher education, and safety from conflict. Large Lebanese communities can found in North and South America, Europe, West Africa, Australia, and the Arabian Gulf. Almost every household in Lebanon has relatives who live abroad. In this episode, Dareen tells … Continue reading Episode 39 – Lebanese emigration

Episode 38 – The Beirut Port explosion

August 13, 2020August 13, 2020 ~ languagewave ~ Leave a comment

A powerful explosion in the Beirut Port ravaged the Lebanese capital on August 4, 2020. The massive explosion devastated hundreds of lives and left more than 300,000 people displaced or homeless. Fortunately, the Language Wave team are safe and well. In this episode, Mariam tells us more about the explosion, her personal experience with it, … Continue reading Episode 38 – The Beirut Port explosion