language and thought

Why Do We Say ‘Ouch’! When We Get Hurt?

Ever wondered why you scream 'Ouch'! when you stub your toe? This post explores the fascinating world of interjections, examining…

2 weeks ago

Why Are There So Many Words for Snow in Sámi?

The old "Eskimo words for snow" trope is a well-known but misleading linguistic myth. A far more accurate and fascinating…

2 weeks ago

Why Do We ‘Talk’ With Our Hands?

Ever wonder why you gesture on the phone, even when no one can see you? It turns out that 'talking'…

2 weeks ago

Why Is This Word Taboo? The Science of Swearing

Ever wonder why a stubbed toe elicits a four-letter word and not just an "ouch"? The answer lies deep within…

2 weeks ago

The Un-Diplomatic Turn

The coded language of traditional diplomacy, built on strategic ambiguity and nuance, is being replaced by a more direct and…

2 weeks ago

Textbook vs Talk: A Learning Showdown

Should you master verb conjugations before you dare to speak, or should you dive headfirst into conversation and hope for…

2 weeks ago

Diplomatic Language: Say More, Risk Less

Delve into the subtle art of diplomatic communication, where carefully chosen words can de-escalate conflict and build powerful alliances. This…

2 weeks ago

The Echo Chamber of the Mind

Echolalia, the repetition of heard phrases, is often dismissed as simple mimicry, particularly in autism. But what if these echoes…

3 weeks ago

When a Word Loses Its Meaning

Say a word over and over again until it loses all meaning. This bizarre experience, known as semantic satiation, isn't…

3 weeks ago

The Billion-Dollar Phoneme

What do Kodak, Xerox, and Google have in common? Their names weren't chosen by accident; they were meticulously engineered using…

3 weeks ago

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