Phonetics

The ‘J’ for ‘S’ Swap in Rural Andes

In the rural highlands of the Andes, you might hear Spanish spoken with a curious twist, where the 's' sound…

3 months ago

The ‘Sh’ of Buenos Aires: Yeísmo Rehilado

Ever wondered why Argentinians and Uruguayans pronounce 'calle' as 'cashe'? This unique 'sh' sound, known as *yeísmo rehilado*, is more…

3 months ago

Why Portuguese Sounds Like Russian to Some

Ever listened to European Portuguese and felt a strange sense of déjà vu, thinking it sounds a bit like Russian?…

3 months ago

Vocal Fry: A Generational Sound Change in Progress

That low, creaky sound known as vocal fry has become a source of intense cultural debate, often dismissed as a…

3 months ago

The Phonetics of a Whisper: An Acoustic Anomaly

Whispering is more than just quiet talking; it's a unique acoustic phenomenon where the vocal folds don't vibrate at all.…

3 months ago

The Vowel’s Shadow: Parasitic Vowels

Have you ever wondered why some non-native speakers say "espeak" for "speak"? This isn't just an error, but a linguistic…

3 months ago

When ‘S’ Became ‘R’: The Story of Rhotacism

Ever wondered why the Latin word for 'honor' is honos but its other forms use the stem honor-? This isn't…

3 months ago

The Sound That Separates Scottish and Irish Gaelic

They were once a single language spoken across Ireland and Scotland, but a crucial phonetic split sent them down different…

3 months ago

How Dogs Bark Around the World

Why does an English-speaking dog say "woof" while a Japanese dog says "wan wan"? The answer isn't in the dog,…

3 months ago

How to Read a Phonetic Transcription

What do all those weird symbols in a dictionary entry mean? This beginner's guide to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)…

3 months ago

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