Linguistics

Birdsong Syntax: Are Birds Using Grammar?

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

4 months ago

Algospeak: The Internet’s Evolving Code Language

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

4 months ago

The Life and Death of a Brand Name Word

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

4 months ago

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

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

4 months ago

The Hidden Grammar of Emojis

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

4 months ago

How to Whisper in a Tonal Language

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

4 months ago

Why “Literally” Doesn’t Mean Literally Anymore

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

4 months ago

The Glottal Stop: A Ghost in the Machine

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

4 months ago

Reading Japanese: The Brain’s 3-Script Juggle

The Japanese writing system uniquely blends three distinct scripts—Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana—often within a single sentence. This presents a fascinating…

4 months ago

Bilingual Aphasia: The Lost Language Puzzle

What happens when a bilingual person suffers brain damage and loses one of their languages, but not the other? This…

4 months ago

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