Onomastics

The Denali Name War: A Mountain’s Identity

For over a century, North America's tallest peak was at the center of a linguistic and cultural war. This is…

1 week 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…

1 week ago

Voicing the Gods: A Lost Celtic World

We often encounter Celtic myths in English, but this is like seeing a vibrant world in black and white. The…

1 week ago

The People Who Became Words: A Guide to Eponyms

From 'boycott' to 'sandwich', our language is full of words that were once people's names. This fascinating guide to eponyms…

1 week ago

Why Your Chinese Friend Has an ‘English’ Name

Ever wondered why your friend from Beijing introduces herself as 'Cynthia' instead of 'Xinyi'? This phenomenon is more than just…

2 weeks ago

The Onomastic Signature: Naming Fictional Worlds

How did Tolkien make "Mordor" sound so evil? The answer lies in the art of onomastics, the study of names,…

2 weeks ago

The History of Spanish Influence in America

Long before the English arrived, Spanish explorers and settlers left an indelible mark on the landscape and language of North…

2 weeks ago

Why Spaniards Have Two Last Names

Ever been puzzled by the long, elegant names of Spanish figures? This tradition of using two last names, or an…

2 weeks ago

Why Can’t We Remember a New Name?

Ever met someone new, only for their name to vanish from your memory seconds later? This common frustration isn't a…

2 weeks ago

The Lies on the Map: When Placenames Deceive

We trust our maps to tell us the truth, but what if they're lying? From Greenland's icy shores named to…

3 weeks ago

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