Tristin Ralston - The Linguistic Traveler
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linguistictraveler.bsky.social
Tristin Ralston - The Linguistic Traveler
@linguistictraveler.bsky.social
When you travel to another country, do you usually speak English, or do you speak the language of the people there?

I talk about how you can improve your travel experience through language!

https://thelinguistictraveler.com
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There is so much work, thought, and effort that goes into language revitalization efforts.

Before you go trying to revitalize any languages by yourself, know that it's a very complicated process!

thelinguistictraveler.com/language-dea...
Language Death and How It's Prevented | The Linguistic Traveler
Language revitalization is a complicated process. Here's some of the big things linguists have to consider to make sure they do it correctly.
thelinguistictraveler.com
During my semi-spontaneous trip to Dubai, I took a day to visit Abu Dhabi, including a trip to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque!

I didn't have a lot of room to prepare beforehand, but that means I can give you advice on how to get ready for your (free!) visit to the mosque!
Planning your Visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
If you're visiting the UAE, whether it's to go to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is absolutely worth your time. Especially because it's free to visit. I went there as part of a semi-spontaneous trip to Dubai after leaving Romania. Because of this, I didn't have a lot of room to prepare ahead of time. But now that I know what to expect, …
thelinguistictraveler.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Language can play a big part in identity, both individually and in a community.

How governments handle their policies with language can have a big impact on how unified their nation is.
December 7, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I'm realizing that since my trip to Romania, I haven't remained in contact with a lot of the people I had planned to keep in touch with.

Not sure if that's a good or bad thing, honestly. I'd definitely love to talk to them, but maybe my adventure with them is just complete...
December 6, 2025 at 9:32 PM
What's your best method for learning a language before you go somewhere?

And if you don't learn the language, then what's your best strategy for navigating a foreign country without knowing the language?
December 5, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Every time I go on a trip, I start to question everything. At times, I begin to wonder if I even want to go on the trip at all.

This is just anxiety getting in your head. Don't let it stop you from traveling, but channel it to be properly prepared!

thelinguistictraveler.com/overcoming-t...
Overcoming Travel Anxiety | The Linguistic Traveler
As I’m starting this post, I’m working to pack for my flight to Romania tomorrow. (Today is June 18th.) And in the last few days, I find myself overcome with anxiety and fear about the trip. I’m plung...
thelinguistictraveler.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Does anyone have any winter travel plans? Are you heading somewhere warm or cold?
December 4, 2025 at 9:56 PM
There are always a lot of considerations to make when it comes to travel, especially if you're traveling in unique circumstances.

I wrote down some of my considerations before I went to teach English in Romania. Most of them panned out pretty well!

thelinguistictraveler.com/how-im-prepa...
How I'm Preparing for a Trip to Romania | The Linguistic Traveler
I'm headed to Romania for five weeks. Here's how I'm preparing for the trip, and some advice for your own travel preparations!
thelinguistictraveler.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:44 PM
"In a world where art is the catalyst for magic, a painter with watery hair discovers her divine connection to the sea, joining a ship of rebels to oppose the way of life that kept her blissfully ignorant for so long."

www.inkshares.com/books/sovere...
Sovereign of the Sea
In a world where art is the catalyst for magic, a painter with watery hair discovers her divine connection to the sea, joining a ship of rebels to oppose the way of life that kept her blissfully ignor...
www.inkshares.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Here's a new experience I had recently:

Scarywood theme park is a Halloween-ified version of Silverwood, full of haunted houses and a spooky atmosphere.

I've never been there as a guest, but I worked there as a scare actor this year and had an amazing time! I will be back!
December 3, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Anywhere you go in the world, you'll find a lot of deep history embedded in the land.

North Idaho is no exception, from indigenous groups to pioneers. So what are the best places to visit to get the most of this history?

thelinguistictraveler.com/your-guide-t...
Your Guide to Experiencing North Idaho's History | The Linguistic Traveler
North Idaho has a deep and rich history, spanning from indigenous people to mining, logging, and railroads. Here's what's worth checking out!
thelinguistictraveler.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:03 PM
the first winter snows come in, I'm reminded of my 'first' attempt at skiing last year.

I tried it as a kid, but got too scared of getting hurt.

But, with a friend who knows how to teach skiing and a lack of fear of the unknown, I really enjoyed the experience!
December 2, 2025 at 9:40 PM
There are more native languages in Spain than you might think.

While you're not likely to encounter them, knowing about them can easily enhance your experience when visiting Spain.

It's also important to know what languages are useful for finding your way around!
Languages in Spain: A Rich History of Words
Spain is home to a whole host of languages, and probably not the ones you would expect! Since it's a country I really want to visit, I thought I should delve into the languages that are present there. Spanish is an obvious one, but there are many other native languages there that you probably haven't heard of! Spanish, the Official Language in Spain…
thelinguistictraveler.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:00 PM
In travel and in most facets of life, fear will try to keep you from doing what you want to do.

Worrying that something won't go your way will keep you from ever trying.

But if you never even try, you fail right away. All you have to do is start and your odds will increase!
December 1, 2025 at 12:51 AM
There are many effective language learning tools out there that can help you learn, both online and offline.

The key is consistency and effective learning.

thelinguistictraveler.com/language-lea...
Language Learning Tools To Help you Excel | The Linguistic Traveler
Language learning is a difficult process, and there are a lot of tools and strategies that might just make things harder. Here's some advice!
thelinguistictraveler.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Duolingo has great marketing and leans into their memes a lot, which has made the app very popular.

Unfortunately, that's really all it has going for it. It will do very little to help you actually learn a language.

There are many far better options out there!
November 28, 2025 at 9:09 PM
It's not really blog related, but I just posted my first book on Inkshares, a publishing company that relies on reader votes and preorders to decide what to publish.

Please consider giving it a look! (1/2)

www.inkshares.com/books/sovere...
Sovereign of the Sea
In a world where art is magic, a painter with watery hair discovers her divine connection to the sea, joining a ship of rebels to oppose the way of life that kept her blissfully ignorant for so long. ...
www.inkshares.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Language learning is as much of a skill as speaking/reading/writing a language. There are a lot of good and bad ways to do it, and some methods are faster than others.

If you plan on learning multiple languages, you'll have to learn how to do it efficiently!
November 26, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Road trips are often a big part of travel. Long, monotonous drives through barren land are usually pretty boring, though.

But there are some easy ways to make them more fun, like making the drive part of the trip instead of just a long drive!

thelinguistictraveler.com/getting-the-...
Getting the Most Out of Your Road Trips | The Linguistic Traveler
I've been on a lot of road trips throughout my life. With every trip I take, I find them more enjoyable. Here's how you can do the same!
thelinguistictraveler.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Tikal is one of the better known Mayan ruins in Central America. Understandably so, given its size and the amount of beautiful architecture!

I visited it during my time working as an archaeologist in Belize, and it was well worth it!

thelinguistictraveler.com/taking-a-tri...
Taking a Trip to Tikal | The Linguistic Traveler
I got to experience Tikal with archaeologists a year ago. Here's the story of my trip, and what you should expect for your own visit!
thelinguistictraveler.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:47 PM
The best experience are often hiding behind a bit of fear or discomfort.

I'm often not a spontaneous person. I like to know what's going on well beforehand so I can prepare.

But often the experiences I don't plan for are my favorites, from flying a plane to visiting a castle!
November 25, 2025 at 11:09 PM
There are so many unexpected ways that our language changes how we see the world.

Color is an easy one: Greek didn't have a word for blue when Homer wrote his works, which is why he never calls the sky blue!

In Irish, you do not "have" something. It is "at" you. Near you.
November 24, 2025 at 3:36 AM
You never know where a quick adventure will take you.

A quick hike in town and a short trip to the library led me to find a publisher that I might be able to publish a book through!

And I went there looking for linguistics books... 😅
November 22, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Last spring, I visited my local history museum for its grand reopening and learned a lot of stuff that I didn't know.

There's always something new to find, even in your local area, and museums can help you find them!

thelinguistictraveler.com/revisiting-t...
Revisiting the Museum of North Idaho | The Linguistic Traveler
The Museum of North Idaho recently moved to a new, nicer location. As a local, I decided to revisit after 15 years. Here's what to expect!
thelinguistictraveler.com
November 21, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I'm a big fan of museums. Always have been, always will be.

But recently I discovered a new use for them as a means of finding new places to visit, no matter where you are!

thelinguistictraveler.com/museums-as-q...
Museums as "Quest Boards" for Adventure | The Linguistic Traveler
Quest boards in games are often a means of finding new adventures. Museums are a great way to find quests during your travels!
thelinguistictraveler.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:48 PM
I'm so excited and honored to be able to present about my travels so far in my high school history teacher's class next month!

I'm so appreciative of everything that my school did for me, so I'm glad for the opportunity to give something back and inspire the students there!
November 20, 2025 at 2:49 AM