Can you define the word “dictionary” in just a few words, without using a dictionary?
It’s not as easy or as simple as it seems. There are several types of dictionaries—and even a little debate about what “counts” as a dictionary. For most of us, it’s hard to imagine a world in which a hefty dictionary isn’t within easy reach, on the shelf or in the phones in our pockets.
And yet…
Read MoreOften in development work the approach can be very outside-in, where outsiders come into a community and dictate the sort of work that will be done, then micromanage that work to ensure that the outsider’s goals are achieved. But one of the most satisfying aspects of SIL LEAD’s approach is that we work hard to keep the focus inside-out. In fact, it’s baked into our DNA, with our stated goal of helping local, community-based organizations use their own language to improve their quality of life…
Read MoreThat’s a big title right there, and a question with an oversized philosophical pedigree. Especially considering that what we’re going to talk about in this post isn’t philosophy at all… it’s a relatively small literacy program in the Western province of Papua New Guinea (PNG), a country that many people probably couldn’t even circle on a map. Bear with us, though…
Read MoreIf you’ve played WORDLE, you know how quickly this online game becomes addictive. Although only one puzzle is released each day (for now), if you haven’t yet been sucked into this new online obsession, you might not want to start…
Read MoreWhat is it that makes a little girl or a little boy want to learn about science? What, for example, drives a child’s curiosity about outer space, perhaps even to the point where they want to grow up to be an astronaut?
For prominent NASA astronaut Dr. Jessica Meir, watching televised broadcasts of NASAs Space Shuttle missions as a little girl inspired that interest. She watched the story of humanity venturing beyond our little planet and wanted that for herself. Television told a story, and little Jessica was able to imagine something more…
Read MoreOn a map of Central Asia, the country of Kyrgyzstan (officially, the Kyrgyz Republic) appears as a small, landlocked jewel. With more than ninety percent of its terrain sitting at over 1,500 meters (4,900 feet), it’s a beautiful paradise for lovers of epic mountain scenery.
As with all countries, one of Kyrgyzstan's greatest treasures is its people, and some of their greatest treasures are their languages, which inextricably contain and express the cultures of the people…
Read MoreOn this International Day of the Girl, we celebrate the work of Juarez & Associates and the Ministry of Education in Guatemala. SIL LEAD has had the privilege of supporting the efforts of these organizations as they’ve used Bloom to produce books for children in the languages they most use and understand. Their Bloom Library bookshelf already contains nearly 600 Bloom books, and so far this year has had over 320,000 reads and over 21,000 downloads…
Read MoreCovid has meant deprivation of one kind or another for pretty much everybody.
At the risk of sounding trite, deprivation is difficult, and that difficulty can often take over our field of vision and cause us to lose sight of the many, many things we have in abundance.
So here’s something October has in abundance: Special Days! No, we’re not talking about a day for dressing up your kids and chasing them around the neighborhood as they go mad for sugar. That’s fun, but this is even better…
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