Linguistics

The Gestural Origins of Grammar

Have you ever wondered why so many languages follow a "Subject-Verb-Object" structure? A fascinating theory suggests that grammar wasn't born…

3 weeks ago

The Art of Strategic Ambiguity

In the high-stakes world of diplomacy, clarity can be the enemy of progress. This post explores "strategic ambiguity", the art…

3 weeks ago

Reclaiming the Slur: The Linguistics of Reappropriation

How does a word forged in hate become a banner of pride? The process, known as reappropriation, is a powerful…

4 weeks ago

The Grammar of Respect: Navigating Honorifics

While English speakers use 'sir' or 'ma'am', many languages embed respect directly into their grammar. This post explores the fascinating…

4 weeks ago

The Word on the Tip of Your Tongue

We all know the maddening feeling of a word stuck on the tip of our tongue. This universal frustration isn't…

4 weeks ago

The Red Squiggle: Linguistics of Spell Check

That familiar red squiggle under a misspelled word isn't magic; it's a marvel of computational linguistics. This post explores the…

4 weeks ago

The Rebirth of Cornish

Once officially declared extinct after the death of its last native speaker in the 18th century, the Cornish language (Kernewek)…

4 weeks ago

AI’s Linguistic Blind Spots

AI language models can write poetry and translate languages, but their impressive abilities mask significant linguistic blind spots. Inheriting biases…

4 weeks ago

Media Lengua: The Split-Brain Language

Journey to the highlands of Ecuador to discover Media Lengua, a remarkable "split-brain" language that combines the grammar of indigenous…

4 weeks ago

The Syntax of Sheet Music

We often speak of music as a "universal language", but beyond the metaphor lies a tangible, non-verbal writing system of…

4 weeks ago

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