Pragmatics

The Hidden Verbs of Persuasion: How Advertising Language Gets Inside Your Head

Every word in an advertisement is chosen with surgical precision. Beyond marketing psychology, specific linguistic tricks—from "weasel words" like 'helps'…

3 weeks ago

The ELIZA Effect: Why We Talk to Chatbots Like They’re Human

Have you ever found yourself saying "please" and "thank you" to a chatbot or voice assistant? This is the ELIZA…

3 weeks ago

“86 the Jargon!”: The High-Pressure Linguistics of the Professional Kitchen

Step inside the chaotic world of a high-end restaurant kitchen, a linguistic pressure-cooker that has forged its own unique lexicon…

3 weeks ago

The Unspoken Melody: How Intonation Carries More Meaning Than Words

Beyond vocabulary lies prosody—the music of speech. From the rising inflection that turns a statement into a question to the…

3 weeks ago

The Agent and the Patient: How Transitivity Shapes Blame and Responsibility

Who broke the window? The choice between saying "The boy broke the window" and "The window broke" is more than…

3 weeks ago

The Power of a Question: How Linguistic Manipulation Shapes Police Confessions

A confession can seem like the most straightforward form of evidence, but the language used to obtain it is incredibly…

3 weeks ago

The Unwritten Rules of Conversation: Are You Violating Grice’s Maxims?

Ever felt a conversation was awkward or that someone was being evasive, but couldn't pinpoint why? Philosopher Paul Grice proposed…

3 weeks ago

Speaking in Tones: The Art and Science of Politeness in Japanese (Keigo)

Beyond "konnichiwa" lies Keigo, a complex system of Japanese politeness that goes far beyond simple pleasantries. This linguistic art form…

3 weeks ago

Reading Between the Lines: The Art and Science of Subtitling

Subtitling is an unsung art form involving far more than direct translation. It's a delicate dance between art and science,…

3 weeks ago

This website uses cookies.