Nick Nasev
@nicknasev.bsky.social
Chartered Linguist
Macedonian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian and Montenegrin into English Translator
Australian English Expert
Let's talk about Balkan and Aussie stuff!
nicknasev.com
Macedonian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian and Montenegrin into English Translator
Australian English Expert
Let's talk about Balkan and Aussie stuff!
nicknasev.com
"Merry Christmas" vs "Happy Holidays"? Many in the Anglosphere have a strong opinion about these greetings.
In the Balkans, the default greeting at this time of year is "Happy Holidays" and there are many good reasons why...
In the Balkans, the default greeting at this time of year is "Happy Holidays" and there are many good reasons why...
Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays
Many in the Anglosphere have a strong opinion about what greeting to use now in December. But in the Balkans, the default has been
www.nicknasev.com
December 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
"Merry Christmas" vs "Happy Holidays"? Many in the Anglosphere have a strong opinion about these greetings.
In the Balkans, the default greeting at this time of year is "Happy Holidays" and there are many good reasons why...
In the Balkans, the default greeting at this time of year is "Happy Holidays" and there are many good reasons why...
Most interesting in this Australian study on speech patterns is how the Northern Beaches of Sydney bucks the city's trend in being linguistically (and ethnically) stable since the 1980s, i.e. overwhelmingly white and English-speaking.
Here’s what happened this week in language and linguistics!
Website: linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/2025-50/
Substack: open.substack.com/pub/linguist...
Website: linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/2025-50/
Substack: open.substack.com/pub/linguist...
Men speak with vocal fry just as much as women
Also in the news this week: Merriam-Webster chooses “slop” as the 2025 Word of the Year; Gaelic and Scots now recognized as official languages in the UK; and Canada’s prime minister called out for usi...
linguisticdiscovery.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Most interesting in this Australian study on speech patterns is how the Northern Beaches of Sydney bucks the city's trend in being linguistically (and ethnically) stable since the 1980s, i.e. overwhelmingly white and English-speaking.
Sad news. Tsvetan Atanasov, a passionate collector of all things Eastern Bloc and the founder of Retro Museum in Varna, Bulgaria, died from cancer yesterday.
If ever you're in Varna, do go to Retro Museum and see the impressively restored cars and everyday items from 1944-1989 Eastern Europe.
If ever you're in Varna, do go to Retro Museum and see the impressively restored cars and everyday items from 1944-1989 Eastern Europe.
December 21, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Sad news. Tsvetan Atanasov, a passionate collector of all things Eastern Bloc and the founder of Retro Museum in Varna, Bulgaria, died from cancer yesterday.
If ever you're in Varna, do go to Retro Museum and see the impressively restored cars and everyday items from 1944-1989 Eastern Europe.
If ever you're in Varna, do go to Retro Museum and see the impressively restored cars and everyday items from 1944-1989 Eastern Europe.
The tagline for one of Australia's most gruesome yet successful public awareness campaigns ever entered the Australian vernacular and is still used today. The story behind the saying:
If you drink, then drive, you're a bloody idiot!
#australianenglish #aussieenglish
If you drink, then drive, you're a bloody idiot!
#australianenglish #aussieenglish
Australian English: If you drink, then drive, you're a bloody idiot!
Where did this classic Aussie saying come from and how did it change Australia dramatically...
www.nicknasev.com
December 20, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The tagline for one of Australia's most gruesome yet successful public awareness campaigns ever entered the Australian vernacular and is still used today. The story behind the saying:
If you drink, then drive, you're a bloody idiot!
#australianenglish #aussieenglish
If you drink, then drive, you're a bloody idiot!
#australianenglish #aussieenglish
If Australian cricketer Steve Smith was a gunzel... 😆
From Australia's answer to the Onion
From Australia's answer to the Onion
Smudge Reportedly Feeling Much Better This Morning After Ride On The O-Bahn
ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Steve Smith has reportedly woken up "feeling a lot better" this morning after spending part of yesterday afternoon riding the Adelaide O-Bahn and quietly abso...
www.betootaadvocate.com
December 20, 2025 at 7:28 AM
If Australian cricketer Steve Smith was a gunzel... 😆
From Australia's answer to the Onion
From Australia's answer to the Onion
Many North Americans think all Australian accents are like Meryl Streep's when she portrayed Lindy Chamberlain in A Cry in the Dark/Evil Angels.
Aussies often cite this as how Hollywood gets Aussie accents wrong.
Meryl Streep actually did a great job with Lindy Chamberlain's native Kiwi accent.
Aussies often cite this as how Hollywood gets Aussie accents wrong.
Meryl Streep actually did a great job with Lindy Chamberlain's native Kiwi accent.
December 19, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Many North Americans think all Australian accents are like Meryl Streep's when she portrayed Lindy Chamberlain in A Cry in the Dark/Evil Angels.
Aussies often cite this as how Hollywood gets Aussie accents wrong.
Meryl Streep actually did a great job with Lindy Chamberlain's native Kiwi accent.
Aussies often cite this as how Hollywood gets Aussie accents wrong.
Meryl Streep actually did a great job with Lindy Chamberlain's native Kiwi accent.
Среќен именден Свети Никола на сите кои го слават!
Срећан Никољдан свима који славе!
Срећан Никољдан свима који славе!
December 19, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Среќен именден Свети Никола на сите кои го слават!
Срећан Никољдан свима који славе!
Срећан Никољдан свима који славе!
One for you @foreigncovers.bsky.social!
You're safe from being whammed with this one.
Legendary Greek folk singer Efi Thodi does a rendition of Last Christmas in her own unique style.
You're safe from being whammed with this one.
Legendary Greek folk singer Efi Thodi does a rendition of Last Christmas in her own unique style.
Έφη Θώδη - Last Christmas (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by Alpha Records
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:42 PM
One for you @foreigncovers.bsky.social!
You're safe from being whammed with this one.
Legendary Greek folk singer Efi Thodi does a rendition of Last Christmas in her own unique style.
You're safe from being whammed with this one.
Legendary Greek folk singer Efi Thodi does a rendition of Last Christmas in her own unique style.
Of course I'm watching Gagauz video clips! What else would I be doing? 😁
Людмила Тукан | Gagauz Karilari | Клип 2025
YouTube video by Людмила Тукан
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Of course I'm watching Gagauz video clips! What else would I be doing? 😁
I'm so out of the loop when it comes to cricket terminology that it's only today I found out about "snicko"
Snickometer - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 18, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I'm so out of the loop when it comes to cricket terminology that it's only today I found out about "snicko"
As I often mention about my Australian English adaptation work, it's usually more about identity-related emotions than practicality. I'm sure most Canadians won't be losing sleep over "analyse" but those who will are louder.
Linguists call out Canada's Carney for 'utilizing' British spelling
A group of linguists are asking Prime Minister Carney to ditch British English in official documents, saying it is a matter of
www.bbc.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 7:30 AM
As I often mention about my Australian English adaptation work, it's usually more about identity-related emotions than practicality. I'm sure most Canadians won't be losing sleep over "analyse" but those who will are louder.
Protests in Bulgaria against corruption… yeah, what’s new?
Well…
This time round there are a whole slew of AI-generated protest songs, such as this one...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=85An...
Well…
This time round there are a whole slew of AI-generated protest songs, such as this one...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=85An...
ПЕСЕНТА НА ПРОТЕСТА | НАРОДНАTA СИЛА | БЪЛГАРИЯ СРЕЩУ МАФИЯТА
YouTube video by RefrAin REACTOR
www.youtube.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Protests in Bulgaria against corruption… yeah, what’s new?
Well…
This time round there are a whole slew of AI-generated protest songs, such as this one...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=85An...
Well…
This time round there are a whole slew of AI-generated protest songs, such as this one...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=85An...
In-depth article about the true origins of Romanian Manele music... though the role that 1980s Yugoslav Neo-Folk played in heavily influencing Manele has been downplayed
A Century of Manele: a Sonic Excavation of Romania’s Most Popular Genre
An exploration into the history of the Romanian-Romani ethno-pop music genre manele.
theatticmag.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:42 PM
In-depth article about the true origins of Romanian Manele music... though the role that 1980s Yugoslav Neo-Folk played in heavily influencing Manele has been downplayed
They always strike when the iron is hot...
And the "Edward Crabtree" story is crazy! By the way, just by picking the name "Edward" was a red flag as it wasn't that popular a name in Australia for boys in the 1980s.
And the "Edward Crabtree" story is crazy! By the way, just by picking the name "Edward" was a red flag as it wasn't that popular a name in Australia for boys in the 1980s.
Grifters and scammers are cashing in on the Bondi attack tragedy using cryptocurrency and fake fundraisers.
One disturbing example is the creation of a crypto coin named after a 10-year-old shooting victim so 'her legacy can live on-chain forever.'
www.crikey.com.au/20...
One disturbing example is the creation of a crypto coin named after a 10-year-old shooting victim so 'her legacy can live on-chain forever.'
www.crikey.com.au/20...
December 17, 2025 at 9:02 AM
They always strike when the iron is hot...
And the "Edward Crabtree" story is crazy! By the way, just by picking the name "Edward" was a red flag as it wasn't that popular a name in Australia for boys in the 1980s.
And the "Edward Crabtree" story is crazy! By the way, just by picking the name "Edward" was a red flag as it wasn't that popular a name in Australia for boys in the 1980s.
Bottom line on how to have a better chance for you and/or your children to be multilingual...
Make language fun and incorporate it into everyday life
Make language fun and incorporate it into everyday life
Leave notes, play games, go shopping: how to boost your child’s multilingual skills these holidays
Here are five practical, research-informed tips to help families build kids’ skills in their home language.
theconversation.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Bottom line on how to have a better chance for you and/or your children to be multilingual...
Make language fun and incorporate it into everyday life
Make language fun and incorporate it into everyday life
The Aussie version I grew up with ending with "Flying TAA" is there, and it shows my age.
TAA aka Trans Australian Airlines was the government-owned domestic airline, which rebranded as Australian Airlines in 1986 and then acquired by and merged into Qantas in 1992.
TAA aka Trans Australian Airlines was the government-owned domestic airline, which rebranded as Australian Airlines in 1986 and then acquired by and merged into Qantas in 1992.
For your collective delectation this holiday season:
Quite possibly the silliest thing I've ever written (and definitely the most ridiculous graph I've ever made!)
loreandordure.com/2025/12/16/j...
Quite possibly the silliest thing I've ever written (and definitely the most ridiculous graph I've ever made!)
loreandordure.com/2025/12/16/j...
Jingle Bells (Batman Smells): an incomplete festive folk-rhyme taxonomy
Gather round the fire, everyone, and let me tell you a story. It has everything you could want in a Christmas blockbuster: superheroes and villains, a car crash, children singing, a mystery to solv…
loreandordure.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:30 PM
The Aussie version I grew up with ending with "Flying TAA" is there, and it shows my age.
TAA aka Trans Australian Airlines was the government-owned domestic airline, which rebranded as Australian Airlines in 1986 and then acquired by and merged into Qantas in 1992.
TAA aka Trans Australian Airlines was the government-owned domestic airline, which rebranded as Australian Airlines in 1986 and then acquired by and merged into Qantas in 1992.
Talking with my sister in Australia. She tells me that the much-liked local GP unfortunately has the exact same name as the one of the shooters in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, and no, they're not related.
December 16, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Talking with my sister in Australia. She tells me that the much-liked local GP unfortunately has the exact same name as the one of the shooters in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, and no, they're not related.
"In general, most people speak the language they are expected to speak... You don't choose what's dominant: what's dominating chooses you."
ELEN President, Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones
ELEN President, Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones
“We have to learn again how to be minoritized language speakers: how to behave, how to operate”
The European Language Equality Network (ELEN) is holding its General Assembly in Barcelona on 14 and 15 November, hosted by CIEMEN. More than 80 delegates from organisations working for minoritized la...
www.nationalia.info
December 16, 2025 at 9:48 AM
"In general, most people speak the language they are expected to speak... You don't choose what's dominant: what's dominating chooses you."
ELEN President, Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones
ELEN President, Elin Haf Gruffydd Jones
Why does the shooting in Australia cut deep?
Because of where it happened and what is symbolises for Australians...
Because of where it happened and what is symbolises for Australians...
Why the shooting in Australia cuts deep…
The place that beaches, particularly its most iconic, have on the Australian psyche is what makes the Bondi shooting hit hard with Aussies...
www.nicknasev.com
December 14, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Why does the shooting in Australia cut deep?
Because of where it happened and what is symbolises for Australians...
Because of where it happened and what is symbolises for Australians...
December 14, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Widespread opposition to the euro was the actual catalyst for recent anti-corruption "Gen Z-led" demos in Bulgaria.
Despite ongoing (perennial) political and economic turmoil, Bulgaria is to fully adopt the euro on 1 January and the EC has made that final.
Lessons from Greece learnt?
Despite ongoing (perennial) political and economic turmoil, Bulgaria is to fully adopt the euro on 1 January and the EC has made that final.
Lessons from Greece learnt?
Crisis or Not, Bulgaria Is Going Euro - EC Makes It Final - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency
The European Commission made clear that Bulgaria’s planned entry into the Eurozone remains unchanged, regardless of the political uncertainty in Sofia. At a regular press briefing, a Commission spokes...
www.novinite.com
December 13, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Widespread opposition to the euro was the actual catalyst for recent anti-corruption "Gen Z-led" demos in Bulgaria.
Despite ongoing (perennial) political and economic turmoil, Bulgaria is to fully adopt the euro on 1 January and the EC has made that final.
Lessons from Greece learnt?
Despite ongoing (perennial) political and economic turmoil, Bulgaria is to fully adopt the euro on 1 January and the EC has made that final.
Lessons from Greece learnt?
Tale of Silyan was very close to the bone for me. That's basically my family on screen there. Even more so because it's set in a village down the road from my father's birthplace.
Sorry to say but the translation and subtitles were rubbish. Often they bore little relation to what was being said.
Sorry to say but the translation and subtitles were rubbish. Often they bore little relation to what was being said.
December 12, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Tale of Silyan was very close to the bone for me. That's basically my family on screen there. Even more so because it's set in a village down the road from my father's birthplace.
Sorry to say but the translation and subtitles were rubbish. Often they bore little relation to what was being said.
Sorry to say but the translation and subtitles were rubbish. Often they bore little relation to what was being said.
Did you know that there's no generic word for "cheese" in colloquial Macedonian and Bulgarian
The story of the sirene/sirenje and kashkaval duopoly...
#cheese #macedonian #bulgarian
The story of the sirene/sirenje and kashkaval duopoly...
#cheese #macedonian #bulgarian
When cheese is not simply cheese – kashkaval and sirene/sirenje
How come in some Balkan countries there is no simple word for
www.nicknasev.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Did you know that there's no generic word for "cheese" in colloquial Macedonian and Bulgarian
The story of the sirene/sirenje and kashkaval duopoly...
#cheese #macedonian #bulgarian
The story of the sirene/sirenje and kashkaval duopoly...
#cheese #macedonian #bulgarian
Translation reviewer amusement: when editing a very literal translation of a paragraph stating that literal translations are not acceptable.
December 12, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Translation reviewer amusement: when editing a very literal translation of a paragraph stating that literal translations are not acceptable.