The Art of Interrupting in Sign Language

7 months ago

In spoken language, interruption means talking over someone. But how do you interrupt in a visual language like ASL? We…

The Ancient Glitch That Makes English Irregular

7 months ago

Ever wonder why we have both "was" and "were", or why the plural of "mouse" is "mice" but "house" is…

Birdsong Syntax: Are Birds Using Grammar?

7 months ago

We often dismiss birdsong as simple alarms or mating calls, but what if birds are forming simple sentences? Groundbreaking research…

Algospeak: The Internet’s Evolving Code Language

7 months ago

Ever wondered why online comments use bizarre words like "seggs" or "unalive"? This is "algospeak", a secret cryptolect constantly evolving…

The Life and Death of a Brand Name Word

7 months ago

Ever wonder how "aspirin" or "zipper" went from protected trademarks to everyday words? This is "genericide", the high-stakes process where…

The Voice in Your Head: Why You “Hear” Words You Read

7 months ago

Ever wonder about the little voice that reads along with you in your head? This phenomenon, known as subvocalization, is…

The Hidden Grammar of Emojis

7 months ago

Far from being simple digital decorations, emojis follow a complex and unwritten grammar that dictates their meaning. The order of…

How to Whisper in a Tonal Language

7 months ago

Languages like Mandarin and Thai use pitch to distinguish words, so how can you possibly whisper? Speakers subconsciously use a…

Why “Literally” Doesn’t Mean Literally Anymore

7 months ago

Ever cringe when someone says they "literally died laughing"? This common complaint points to a fascinating linguistic process called semantic…

The Glottal Stop: A Ghost in the Machine

7 months ago

It’s the subtle catch in your throat in the middle of "uh-oh" or the defining feature of a Cockney accent…

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