Etymology

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…

7 months ago

The 10 Hardest English Words to Pronounce

Ever stumbled over 'Worcestershire' or 'anemone'? This guide breaks down 10 of the hardest English words to pronounce, offering simple…

7 months ago

You’re Already Speaking Japanese! 15 Loanwords

** Did you know that when you talk about a business 'tycoon' or ask for 'just a skosh' more, you're…

7 months ago

A Time Traveler’s Guide to Old English

Forget Shakespeare. If you traveled back to 1000 AD, you'd find a language that sounds more like German and has…

7 months ago

Linguistic Taphonomy: Word Decay

Just as paleontologists study fossils to understand ancient life, we can explore the fossils in our own language. Linguistic taphonomy…

7 months ago

Why Is English Spelling So Weird?

Ever wonder why 'knight' has a 'k' or 'island' has an 's'? The answer isn't that English is illogical, but…

10 months ago

The Color That Didn’t Exist

Did you know that for most of human history, the color orange didn't have a name? Ancient languages often described…

10 months ago

The Great Tea Divide: Cha vs. Te

Ever wonder why it's 'chai' in Moscow but 'tea' in London? The answer lies not in a dictionary, but on…

10 months ago

The Word-Eating Glitch: What is Haplology?

Ever wonder why so many people say 'probly' instead of 'probably' or 'libry' instead of 'library'? This common linguistic shortcut…

10 months ago

Fix Your Spelling: 10 Tricky Words

Struggle with words like 'accommodate' or 'liaison'? This foundational guide breaks down 10 of the most commonly misspelled words in…

10 months ago

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