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Laura Vidal

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A small portrait of the translator

About Laura Vidal

19 posts · joined 2008-01-22

I am a Venezuelan researcher in languages and literature, as well as a Translator and writer/editor living the savage urban life of Caracas. I blog at Sacando la Lengua [es] about languages, literature and cultural interaction. I'm happy to be also a volunteer translator for Lingua (Global Voices in Spanish). I deeply believe in the uniqueness and importance of every culture and in the study of them as a mirror to our own.

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Latest posts by Laura Vidal

Stories

December 30th, 2008

Venezuela: Casting Doubt on the Cause of Bolivar's Death

Símon Bolívar is a national hero and liberator for many South American countries. In Venezuela, he is especially considered to play an important role in the past and present. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez began to cast doubts on the true cause of Bolívar's death, which has been to believed to be caused tuberculosis. Now Chávez claims that it was an act of poisoning and has ordered an investigation into the matter, which some Venezuelans are supporting and others say is a waste of resources and time.

December 24th, 2008

Venezuela: Telling the Country's History Through Film

A group of young Venezuelan filmmakers have succeeded in illustrating some of the country's history or adapting famous pieces of literature through films that have been well-received by the general public. Many Venezuelan movies in the past are considered extremely violent, and the emergence of these new kinds of films are showing new expressions of creativity.

November 26th, 2008

Venezuela: Jose Ignacio Cabrujas and His Mark on Society

One of the great Venezuelan critics provided thoughts on daily life. However, since his passing, many are left wondering what he would have said about the events of today. Jose Ignacio Cabrujas, was a well-known playwright, director, and even transformed Venezuelan soap operas into social commentary that used many well-known literary works.

October 28th, 2008

Venezuela: How Children Show Their Community Through PhotographyPhotos post

Ancla2 is an educational cooperative devoted to teaching photography, technology, and media skills to children from small and poor communities in Venezuela, who have discovered a new way to see and appreciate their own surroundings, and at the same time, have learned new life skills that will help them in many other areas.

September 1st, 2008

Venezuela: Youth Orchestra Transforms Lives

José Antonio Abreu is a well-known Venezuelan musician, and in 1975 he decided to share his love of music with youth from poor and violent neighborhoods across the country. He created a youth orchestra that has become the pride of the country, and has received support from the government. The experience has transformed the lives of the young people, and has produced beautiful music for more than three decades.

August 24th, 2008

Venezuela: Antonio Lauro and His Classical GuitarVideo post

Antonio Lauro is well-known for composing waltzes for the classical guitar. As part of the group Trio Cantores del Trópico, Lauro managed to contribute to the Venezuela's musical heritage converting original European structures into melodies that sound very much like the Venezuelan idiosyncrasies. He toured extensively around neighboring countries to spread the sounds of Venezuelan music.