Phonetics - LingoDigest

The Grammar of Silence: Why Sign Languages Are as Complex as Spoken Languages

6 min read

Far from being simple pantomime, sign languages are a testament to the human brain’s linguistic ingenuity. These visual-gestural systems possess all the grammatical complexity of spoken languages, from their unique “phonology” of handshape and movement to their sophisticated spatial syntax. This post explores the rich grammar of American Sign Language, revealing a world of communication as deep and nuanced as any on Earth.

Culture Linguistics Phonetics

Clicks, Pops, and Whistles: A Journey into the World’s Rarest Speech Sounds

6 min read

Go beyond familiar consonants and vowels on a journey into the world’s phonetic rarities, from the sharp clicks of Southern African languages to the whistled messages that travel across entire valleys. This exploration reveals the incredible, and often endangered, diversity of human speech and the amazing adaptability of our vocal abilities.