Language & Culture

Sacred Tongues: Language & Religion

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

3 months 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…

3 months 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…

3 months 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…

3 months ago

The Great Manx Comeback

In 1974, UNESCO declared the Manx language extinct with the death of its last native speaker, Ned Maddrell. Yet, this…

3 months ago

Lost in Translation in Galicia

Ever tried to say you're 'close' in Galicia and ended up implying you're 'tight'? This post explores the hilarious and…

6 months ago

The Sailor Who Mistook a Word for an Island

Explore the strange case of "I-da-no", a phantom island that appeared on Japanese maps for decades. This wasn't a sailor's…

6 months ago

The Man Who Spoke Only in Numbers

Following a severe stroke, a brilliant Russian scientist lost his ability to speak—but found a new voice in the language…

6 months ago

The Interrobang’s Brief, Glorious Life

What do you get when you combine a question mark and an exclamation point? In the 1960s, frustrated ad man…

6 months ago

The Brontës’ Secret Language of Gondal

Before the world knew them as the authors of *Jane Eyre* and *Wuthering Heights*, the Brontë siblings were rulers of…

6 months ago

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