Language and Rhythm - University of Cambridge

Thanks to the British Academy and to the Schröder Fund, University of Cambridge, for the financial support which made the podcast possible.In this episode, we think about the relationship between poetic rhythm and movement. To test Tim’s theory that rhythm can convey the movementof rowing a boat, Hannah tries being the cox for a rowing team!Presented by Hannah Morrison, produced by Carl Homer for Cambridge TV.Linguists: Dr Charlotte Lee and Dr Timothy Chesters from the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, University of CambridgeGuests:Jan WagnerKirsty SherwoodThe Isle of Ely Rowing ClubLink to ‘Versuch über Mücken’, by Jan Wagner:https://www.poet-magazin.de/poet16-texte.htmRegentonnenvariationen, the collection in which ‘Versuch über Mücken’ first appeared, is available to purchase here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Regentonnenvariationen-Jan-Wagner/dp/359603597XA bilingual edition of works by Jan Wagner, with English versions by Iain Galbraith (including ‘Versuch über Mücken’ / ‘Essay on Midges’) is available to buy here:https://www.arcpublications.co.uk/books/jan-wagner-self-portrait-with-a-swarm-of-bees-532For more poems by Jan Wagner, with recordings by the poet, see here:https://www.lyrikline.org/en/authors/jan-wagner‘Versuch über Mücken’ and ‘Essay on Midges’ performed in this recording by kind permission of Hanser Berlin im Carl Hanser Verlag GmbH & Co. KG and Arc Publications.Joachim Du Bellay, Les Regrets; Les Antiquités de Rome; Le Songe, ed. by François Roudaut (Paris: Le Livre de Poche, 2002), sonnet 12. Here is a translation of the last six lines by Timothy Chesters:So sings the workman striving at his workSo the labourer busy at his labourSo the pilgrim missing his homeSo the adventurer dreaming of his lady,So the mariner pulling at the oar,So the prisoner cursing his prison. Verse extracts:German‘Erlkönig’ (Erl King), by Johann Wolfgang Goethe; read by Melina Mandelbaum.Thai‘Song of Mercy and Compassion’, by His Majesty King Vajiravudh (King Rama VI), Than Phuying La-ead Phibunsongkhram,; read by Rapee Makeprasertrasamee.Italian‘Il passero solitario’ (The Lonely Sparrow), by Giacomo Leopardi; read by Rodrigo Cacho.French‘Le Lac’ (The Lake), by Alphonse de Lamartine; read by Clément Courouve. [20:03] Watch the accompanying film, "Language and Rhythm": https://www.youtube.com/@mmllcambridgeFor more information about languages in Cambridge: mmll.cam.ac.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to the British Academy and to the Schröder Fund, University of Cambridge, for the financial support which made the podcast possible.In this episode, we look at how patterns make us engage with our environment and how it applies to language. Rhythmic patterns can convey a lot of meaning – and breaking the pattern can be as pleasurable as following it. We try out some limericks and by using examples in other languages, we hear how the rhythm can create meaning, even when we don’t understand the words.Presented by Hannah Morrison, produced by Carl Homer for Cambridge TV.Linguists: Dr Charlotte Lee and Dr Timothy Chesters from the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, University of CambridgeGuest:Kelly Hunter, Flute Theatre: https://www.flutetheatre.co.uk/Link to ‘Sie saßen und tranken am Teetisch’ (‘They talked of love and devotion’), by Heinrich Heine: http://www.zeno.org/Literatur/M/Heine,+Heinrich/Gedichte/Buch+der+Lieder/Lyrisches+Intermezzo/50.+%5BSie+sa%C3%9Fen+und+tranken+am+Teetisch%5DHere is a translation of the first verse (quoted in the podcast) by Hal Draper:They talked of love and devotionOver the tea and the sweets – The ladies, of tender emotion;The men talked like aesthetes.Verse extracts:English‘Sonnet 73’, by William Shakespeare; read by Charlotte Lee.Arabic‘Bewildered’, by Abu Ala Al Ma'arri; read by Elmi Elmi.Spanish‘Pronuncia con sus nombres los trastos y miserias de la vida’ (Names life’s bits and bobs and misfortunes), by Francisco de Quevedo; read by Rodrigo Cacho.English‘Pat-a-Cake’ (Anon.); read by Elena Cicuta.Watch the accompanying film, "Language and Rhythm": https://www.youtube.com/@mmllcambridgeFor more information about languages in Cambridge: mmll.cam.ac.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thanks to the British Academy and to the Schröder Fund, University of Cambridge, for the financial support which made the podcast possible.In this episode, we explore the power of rhythmic language to stick on our minds and how, as children, rhythm helps us learn to speak.Presented by Hannah Morrison, produced by Carl Homer for Cambridge TV.Linguists: Dr Charlotte Lee and Dr Timothy Chesters from the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, University of CambridgeGuests:Dr David Crilly, Cambridge Shakespeare FestivalBecky Wilson, University of Cambridge Primary SchoolDr Usha Goswami, University of CambridgeUsha Goswami’s BabyRhythm project:https://www.cne.psychol.cam.ac.uk/babyrhythm-projectVerse extracts:EnglishThe Merchant of Venice, Act 5, Scene 1, lines 98-100, by William Shakespeare; read by Timothy Chesters.Mandarin ‘To One Unnamed’, by Li Shangyin; read by Jingyi Han.Hindi‘Jhansi ki Rani’ (‘The Queen of Jhansi’), by Subhadra Kumari Chauhan; read by Abhimanyu Sharma.Watch the accompanying film, "Language and Rhythm": https://www.youtube.com/@mmllcambridgeFor more information about languages in Cambridge: mmll.cam.ac.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.