Pragmatics

Five-Star Lies: The Linguistics of Fake Reviews

Ever wondered if that glowing five-star review is too good to be true? This article delves into the fascinating world…

3 weeks ago

10 UX Writing Rules from Linguistics

Every button, menu, and error message you read is a piece of micro-linguistics. This article reveals 10 crucial rules of…

3 weeks ago

The Universal Groan: Anatomy of a Dad Joke

The dad joke is a unique linguistic phenomenon where the intended reaction is not a laugh, but a groan. We'll…

3 weeks ago

The Grammar of Sarcasm Across Cultures

Sarcasm is far more than just saying the opposite of what you mean; it's a complex linguistic performance dictated by…

3 weeks ago

Said the Blind Man: The Lost Art of the Wellerism

Uncover the Wellerism, a quirky three-part joke format that owes its name to a character in Charles Dickens's *The Pickwick…

3 weeks ago

The Shaggy Dog’s Syntax: Deconstructing the Feghoot

A feghoot is a linguistic long con, a narrative bait-and-switch where the journey is an elaborate misdirection. It weaponizes the…

3 weeks ago

The Joke That Isn’t: The Pragmatics of Anti-Humor

Why do we laugh at jokes with painfully obvious punchlines? Anti-humor cleverly subverts our expectations by refusing to be clever,…

3 weeks ago

The Grammar of a Conspiracy Theory

Ever wonder why conspiracy theories can sound so persuasive, even when they lack evidence? This post unpacks the specific "grammar"…

3 weeks ago

The Grammar of ‘OK’ vs ‘Submit’

Ever wondered why one button invites you to "Join for Free" while another just says "Submit"? This choice is part…

3 weeks ago

Knock on Wood: The Grammar of Superstition

Why do we command actors to "break a leg" or whisper "speak of the devil"? These aren't just quaint expressions;…

3 weeks ago

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