31.10.18 I couldn’t help laughing when I happened to have read one of translations into Russian of the notorious “highly likely” formula created by the British PM to distract the attention of the public from her disastrous plan of Brexit: «мамой клянусь!» Indeed, Theresa May’s ad hominem arguments against Russia in the Skripals' case are quite adequately summarized in this translation that by resorting to the jargon of criminals reduces May’s impotent formula to its proper status.

27.10.18 From Monte Carlo to Shanghai, Bikini to Samarra, Around the World in 80 Words is a whimsical voyage through the far-flung reaches of the English language. What makes a place so memorable that it survives for ever in a word? In this captivating round-the-world jaunt, Paul Anthony Jones reveals the intriguing stories of how 80 different places came to be immortalised in the English language.

https://eandtbooks.com/book/around-world-80-words-journey-through-english-language

23.10.18 It (the video) shows the man calling the woman an “ugly, black bastard,” and saying that if she didn’t move to another seat he would “push” her to another one. He also shouts: "Don't talk to me in a foreign language, you stupid ugly cow."

The translation into Russian («Не говорите со мной на иностранном языке») doesn’t show derogatory connotations that are triggered off by the substitution of “speak” for “talk” (it’s a deviation from the regular combinability: “talk” is not supposed to be used when the word “language” is mentioned).

21.10.18 Politicians often try to convey a serious message with the help of a joke. Here is Putin’s joke that predictably attracted the attention of the press:

There’s an old joke: How do you relax?” Putin said, as he argued that Russia is not in the business of raising geopolitical temperatures. “Don’t get tense.”

«Есть старая шутка: „Как вы расслабляетесь?", — рассказал Путин, утверждая, что Россия не занимается разжиганием геополитической обстановки. — Я не напрягаюсь»«.  

https://inosmi.ru/politic/20181019/243505504.html

17.10.18 Decoding political messages involves unmasking hypocrisy of important people:

Melania Trump reveals there WAS a message behind her 'I really don't care' jacket - despite White House denials - and it was meant for 'the liberal media'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6272313/Melania-Trump-reveals-message-really-dont-care-jacket-media.html

13.10.18 Vitaly Sokolov, one of the most talented PhDs of the Zaporoghye University has become a certified translator in Canada. He is the fourth translator into Ukrainian in Toronto (!!!) It's a great personal achievement and honour to the whole Faculty of Foreign Languages. A good job, Vitaly!

11.10.18 Trump's tweets offer glaring examples of ambivalence:

“The very rude elevator screamers are paid professionals only looking to make Senators look bad. Don’t fall for it! Look at all of the professionally made identical signs. Paid for by Soros and others. These are not signs made in the basement from love! #Troublemakers.”

To “unpack” the message the BBC has singled out 4 units having associations.

7.10.18 The "equality" of languages is challenged in the article from which comes this quotation:

Part of the problem lies in the language itself: Bahasa Indonesia has fewer words than most languages. Endy Bayuni of The Jakarta Post has written that foreign translations of Indonesian novels tend to read better, while Indonesian translations of foreign novels sound ‘verbose and repetitive’.

3.10.18 But setting up participation in international institutions as the opposite of patriotism is the ultimate straw man comparison. It confuses the shortcomings of such bodies with the devaluing of their intended missions. 

straw man 1) соломенное чучело 2) подставное, фиктивное лицо 3) воображаемый противник или аргумент (несостоятельность которых требуется доказать; риторический приём  

the ultimate straw man comparison is ambivalent against the backdrop of its usual combinability: a straw man ARGUMENT.

Straw Man

A fallacy is an argument or belief based on erroneous reasoning. Straw man is one type of logical fallacy. Straw man occurs when someone argues that a person holds a view that is actually not what the other person believes. Instead, it is a distorted version of what the person believes. So, instead of attacking the person's actual statement or belief, it is the distorted version that is attacked.

Examples of Straw Man:

1. Senator Smith says that the nation should not add to the defense budget. Senator Jones says that he cannot believe that Senator Smith wants to leave the nation defenseless.

2. Caroline says that she thinks her friends should not be so rude to the new girl. Jenna says that she cannot believe that Caroline is choosing to be better friends with the new girl than the girls who have always known her.

3. Pamela is the class secretary. She says that she thinks that the class should do more service projects. Mark says he can't believe that Pamela doesn't support the annual school dance.

4. Biology teacher begins teaching evolution by stating that all things evolve. Student says she just can't accept that humans came from bugs.

5. Student tells his professor that he thinks some of Donald Trump's positions have merit. Professor says he can't believe that the student believes in support racism.

6. Student tells his professor that he thinks some of Hillary Clinton's positions have merit. Professor says he can't believe that the student supports giving access to classified documents to foreign countries.

1.10.18 What does Trump mean by “fell in love”? Ambivalence of the message is triggered off by the use of the expression in an alien surrounding of a formal register:

“That was a big, big problem,” he told his supporters. “I was really being tough – and so was he – and we would go back and forth, and then we fell in love, okay?”

Trump said Kim sent him “beautiful letters” which brought his guard down during the lengthy peace process.

“They’re great letters. We fell in love,” he repeated.

https://www.euronews.com/2018/09/30/trump-and-kim-fell-in-love-during-denuclearisation-talks-president-declares