Hit the nail on the head: A chat with Rune Pedersen, host of The Idiom podcast
Oct 23, 2023
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Rune Pedersen, host of The Idiom podcast, discusses his background in languages, his experiences living abroad, and the inspiration behind his podcast. They explore the challenges of translating idiomatic expressions and poetic devices, and the profound impact of language on relationships and cultural understanding.
Idiomatic expressions can serve as a bridge between cultures, fostering curiosity and understanding.
Inclusive storytelling that celebrates the multicultural and multilingual nature of societies is crucial for promoting social cohesion and diversity.
Deep dives
Language Chats Podcast: Exploring Language Learning and Idioms
In this episode of the Language Chats podcast, host Penny and Beck are joined by fellow podcaster Rona Pearson. Rona, originally from Denmark and now living in Melbourne, shares her background in language learning and her work in a communication agency specializing in multilingual campaigns. She also discusses her award-winning podcast called 'The Idiom', where she explores culture through idiomatic expressions. Rona highlights the importance of language learning in small countries like Denmark and delves into the challenges of translating idioms and poetic devices. She also emphasizes the power of inclusive storytelling and how language can bridge gaps between cultures. Throughout the podcast, Rona engages in conversations with various experts, exploring profound topics such as mental health and death. The episode concludes with a reflection on the impact of language and the potential for future storytelling projects.
The Significance of Idioms in Language and Culture
Rona Pearson, host of 'The Idiom' podcast, discusses the significance of idiomatic expressions in language and culture. She shares examples such as the Danish expression 'there's no cow on the ice', which means there's no trouble ahead, and the German expression 'that's sausage to me', which means it doesn't matter. Rona examines the complexities of translating idioms and the importance of transcreation and localization in multilingual campaigns. She also explores how idioms can serve as a bridge between cultures, fostering curiosity and understanding. Rona emphasizes the need for inclusive storytelling that celebrates the multicultural and multilingual nature of societies, highlighting the richness and diversity of language.
The Power of Language and Intention
In this episode of the Language Chats podcast, Rona Pearson discusses the power of language and intention. She reflects on how language allows us to express our thoughts and emotions and how even simple words or phrases can carry profound meaning. Rona explores the balance between simplicity and complexity in language, using idioms as examples. She explains how idioms often serve as a way of addressing taboo topics and how they can be both deeply rooted in culture and challenging to translate. Rona also highlights the importance of inclusive storytelling and language in promoting social cohesion and celebrating diversity.
Exploring Language Learning and Cultural Curiosity
Rona Pearson shares her personal journey of language learning and cultural exploration in this episode of the Language Chats podcast. Originally from Denmark, Rona discusses her experiences growing up with Danish as her native language and the early introduction of English in school. She reflects on the influence of media consumption in shaping language skills and highlights the importance of language learning in a globalized world. Rona also explores the role of curiosity in understanding different cultures and emphasizes the need for inclusive and celebratory conversations surrounding multiculturalism and multilingualism.
Feeling a bit ‘under the weather’ because it’s been ‘raining cats and dogs’? Maybe you’ve found yourself ‘in a pickle’! But if a Danish person said to you that ‘there’s no cow on the ice’ (det er ingen ko på isen), would you know what they mean?
Idiomatic expressions are a really interesting part of language and in this episode, we’re chatting with Rune Pedersen, host of The Idiom, a podcast co-produced Think HQ CultureVerse and SBS Audio which explores culture through weird and wonderful idioms from Australia and around the world.
Danish native Rune speaks with us about his background and interest in language, his own experiences living, studying and working with different languages across multiple countries, how The Idiom came to be and what inspired the creation of this podcast, and what captures his curiosity at the moment.
Have a question for Rune or for us? Get in touch or join our Facebook group, Language Lovers AU Community, to connect with other like-minded language lovers in Australia and abroad.