cooperative principle

What Are Linguistic ‘Hedge’ Words?

Words like "maybe," "sort of," and "I think" do more than just express uncertainty. They are powerful linguistic tools known…

3 weeks ago

Hey Siri: The Unwritten Grammar of Voice Commands

Have you ever noticed you talk to Siri differently than you talk to a person? We've developed a unique "Machine…

3 weeks ago

The Power of “Um”: Decoding Filler Words

Often dismissed as verbal stumbles, filler words like "um," "like," or "pues" are far more than just speech errors. They…

3 weeks ago

Saving Face: The Intricate Linguistic Dance of Politeness in East Asian Cultures

The concept of "face" (面子, 체면, メンツ) is a cornerstone of social interaction in East Asia, deeply encoded in language.…

3 weeks ago

The Question That Isn’t a Question? The Surprising Linguistics of Uptalk

Ever notice how some people end statements as if they were asking a question? This rising inflection, known as "uptalk,"…

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

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