Language & Culture

The Unwritten Archive: Linguistics of Oral Traditions

Before writing, societies preserved immense libraries of knowledge within the human mind. The "unwritten archive" of oral tradition wasn't based…

3 weeks ago

The Speech of Second Selves

When a shaman or ritualist speaks in a 'spirit language', it isn't random babbling but a fascinating sociolinguistic performance. Even…

3 weeks ago

How the Deaf Read Lips: A Feat of Phonetics

Contrary to Hollywood depictions, lip-reading is less like a superpower and more like a high-stakes puzzle with most of the…

3 weeks ago

The Logic of Back-Formation: From ‘Editor’ to ‘Edit’

Which came first: the editor or the edit? The answer reveals a fascinating linguistic process called back-formation, where we reverse-engineer…

3 weeks ago

The Syntax of Silence in Japanese

In Japanese communication, silence is rarely an empty space. This post delves into the "grammar" of 沈黙 (chinmoku), exploring how…

3 weeks ago

Lost in Translation: A Brand Name Guide

Ever wonder why a great brand name in one country becomes a marketing disaster in another? This guide explores hilarious…

4 weeks ago

Sacred Tongues: Language & Religion

From the intricate vibrations of Sanskrit mantras to the linguistic inimitability of the Quran, a language can become more than…

4 weeks ago

The Men Who Invented an Alphabet: Cyril & Methodius

Did you know the Cyrillic alphabet wasn't invented by a man named Cyril, or even by a Russian? The script…

4 weeks ago

The Unmoved Lip: Phonetics of Ventriloquism

The magic of ventriloquism isn't just misdirection; it's a masterclass in applied phonetics. Performers overcome the challenge of lip-based sounds…

4 weeks ago

How Shakespeare Changed the English Language

Ever used the word 'fashionable' or found yourself 'in a pickle'? You have William Shakespeare to thank. This post explores…

4 weeks ago

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