Historical Linguistics

The Great Consonant Shift of Romance Languages

Why does the Latin word for 'one hundred' (centum, 'kentum') sound so different in Italian (cento), French (cent), and Spanish…

6 months ago

Sardinian: The Living Echo of Latin

Often called the most conservative Romance language, Sardinian is a true linguistic time capsule. Journey to this Mediterranean island to…

6 months ago

The Source of the Nasal Twinge in French & Portuguese

What gives French and Portuguese their characteristic nasal sound? It’s not just a funny way of saying 'n' or 'm'—it's…

6 months ago

Ladino: The Echo of 15th-Century Spanish

When the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492, they carried their language with them, creating a linguistic time capsule.…

6 months ago

The Hidden Verb in the Romance Future Tense

Did you know the future tense in languages like French and Spanish is a linguistic fossil? It didn't evolve from…

6 months ago

Ser vs. Estar: The Story of a Latin Verb Split

Why do Spanish and Portuguese have two verbs for "to be"? This grammatical puzzle, a familiar hurdle for learners, isn't…

6 months ago

Romanian: A Latin Island in a Slavic Sea

While its heart beats with the rhythm of Latin, the Romanian language wears a coat woven from Slavic threads. Geographically…

6 months ago

The Lost Gender: What Happened to Latin’s Neuter?

Classical Latin had three grammatical genders, but its modern descendants like Spanish and French only have two. This article investigates…

6 months ago

Why Can’t We Understand Chaucer’s English?

Ever tried to read Chaucer and felt like you were deciphering a foreign language? You're not alone. This post goes…

6 months ago

Why Your Last Name Tells a Story

Your last name is more than just a label; it’s a linguistic fossil, a tiny time capsule carrying clues about…

6 months ago

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