Dr. Dani SanchezMar 23
First up we have a performance of “Wordyrappinghood”(https://youtu.be/_sLtZ1YhgdM?si=FV9xKjkZyx6CvWTZ) by The Tom Tom Club, a New Wave group lead by wife & husband creative partners Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz who are also members of the band Talking Heads. . This song was a massive hit single for The Tom Tom Club from their 1981 self titled debut album (https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ngrt_QoVXrbi2jrt0Cb7htkEl-YhfMp-A&si=8p4A68OdFZqLmG5x).
#LaEsoterica #TheTomTomClub #TalkingHeads #TinaWeymouth #ChrisFrantz
#LaEsoterica #TheTomTomClub #TalkingHeads #TinaWeymouth #ChrisFrantz
Show threadDr. Dani SanchezMar 23
Next up is a short documentary about using American Sign Language in theater (https://youtu.be/IlX4Zt4sPtE?si=Tgs67Khh0KMaqF3q) featuring the Deaf West Theater Company, who are known for mixing both ASL & English and Deaf/Hard of Hearing & Hearing actors in their productions
#LaEsoterica #DeafWest #ASL #AmericanSignLanguage #theater #DeafCulture
Show threadDr. Dani SanchezMar 23
“Prisencolinensinainciusol” by legendary Italian entertainer Adriano Celentano on a 1973 Italian TV show (https://youtu.be/fU-wH8SrFro?si=ABRxaOe_ss6NCvfM). Celentano wrote the song to show how the english language sounds to non-english speakers. Also, to show that music can transcend language.
#LaEsoterica #AdrianoCelentano #Prisencolinensinainciusol #linguistics
Show threadDr. Dani SanchezMar 23
You might recognize “Prisencolinensinainciusol” from its use in a segment of Sabrina Impacciatore’s performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony (https://www.tiktok.com/@nbcolympics/video/7603872449414827278)
#LaEsoterica #AdrianoCelentano #Prisencolinensinainciusol #linguistics #SabrinaImpacciatore
TikTok - Make Your Day

Show threadDr. Dani SanchezMar 23
And now our feature presentation: the supernatural horror film “Incubus” (1966) (https://youtu.be/ciUCLgnKJks?si=Ec9rvTD6GVg5cOpX) The entire film is in the widely spoken constructed auxiliary language Esperanto but don’t worry there’s English subtitles

#LaEsoterica #Incubus #horror #esperanto
Show threadDr. Dani SanchezMar 23
Apparently, yesterday was “Incubus” (1966) leading man William Shatner‘s 95th birthday so Feliĉan Naskiĝtagon (“Happy Birthday“ in Esperanto) to him!
#LaEsoterica #Incubus #WilliamShatner #horror
Show threadDr. Dani SanchezMar 23
All of the spoken dialogue in “Incubus” (1966) is in Esperanto, which was created by Polish Ophthalmologist Ludwik Lejzer Zamenhof in the late 1880s as a planned auxiliary universal language meant to unite people as one. This may shock you but, as a unifying language, Esperanto never really caught on except as a niche language for dedicated hobbyists.
#LaEsoterica #Incubus #horror #Esperanto #LudwikLejzerZamenhof
Show threadDr. Dani Sanchez
The original script for “Incubus” (1966) was in english and was later translated into Esperanto. The cast was then given 10 days to learn their lines phonetically without the help of any experts in the Esperanto language which led to the film’s often stilted performances and shitastic Esperanto pronunciation
#LaEsoterica #Incubus #horror #Esperanto
Mar 23 at 11:15pmWeb
Show threadDr. Dani SanchezMar 23
Further complicating things for “Incubus” (1966) was that the film lacked wide distribution and at some point the original negative was destroyed. It wasn’t until the mid90s that a single surviving print was located in France. It’s this print that was later digitally remastered with the French subtitles translated back into English which deepened the language barriers associated with the film
#LaEsoterica #Incubus #horror #Esperanto
Show threadDr. Dani SanchezMar 23
In addition to the language and access issues, scandal also surrounded the release of “Incubus” (1966) when actor Milos Milos murdered Carolyn Mitchell in a murder-suicide and when Arndis actress Ann Atmar died by suicide days before the USA premiere.
#LaEsoterica #Incubus #horror #Esperanto
Show threadDr. Dani SanchezMar 23
And finally, a performance of the Sammy Davis Jr.classic “The Rhythm of Life” from the musical “Sweet Charity” by Côr Glanaethwy from the famous Bangor, Wales drama school Ysgol Glanaethwy (https://youtu.be/hAgs3BgTamw?si=KIbSrEVyNF5stTTZ). This performance went viral due to its mixing of English and Welsh lyrics. Sadly, Côr Glanaethwy would come in 2nd place in the competition.
#LaEsoterica #Cymraeg #DysguCymraeg #Welsh
Ysgol Glanaethwy: Rhythm Of Life - Last Choir Standing - BBC

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Show threadLA SoonerMar 23
@analgesicsleep My God. What a bizarre project all the way around. #laesoterica
Show threaddas-gMar 25
@analgesicsleep I remember reading somewhere that Esperanto pronunciation training by a hired expert was offered to the actors, but they rejected participating in it. I didn't yet know about them having just 10 days to learn their lines, but that short time limit might explain their rejection, I guess. (In the sense of «I need all that time just memorizing all those for-me-nonsense syllables, I don't have time for pronunciation training.»)
Show threaddas-gMar 25

@analgesicsleep I further remember reading (if only I also remembered where I read that 🙈) that the director insisted on giving all his directing instructions in Esperanto, so the stilted performance might not be caused *only* by the actors not fully understanding the dialog they memorized phonetically, but *additionally* by them not understanding the on-set directions either.

While total immersion can be great for learning a language, it'd probably need significantly more time to work well.