language and thought

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

Does Language Make You Better at Math?

Why do children in some countries seem to learn arithmetic faster? The answer may lie not in their schools, but…

3 weeks ago

My Hand, My Self: Inalienable Grammar

In English, you can talk about "a hand" as a detached object. But in many languages, the rules of grammar…

3 weeks ago

Hearing Words in White Noise

Do you ever hear faint voices in the hum of an air conditioner or a running fan? You're not alone.…

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

Can You Forget How to Read Your First Language?

Ever returned to your home country and found yourself stumbling over a newspaper in your mother tongue? This isn't just…

3 weeks ago

Why Does ‘Mom’ Sound the Same Everywhere?

From Mandarin's 'māma' to Swahili's 'mama', the word for 'mother' is strikingly similar everywhere, but it's not a linguistic coincidence.…

3 weeks ago

Pen vs. Pixel: Why Handwriting Boosts Memory

Ever wonder why you recall handwritten notes better than typed ones? The answer lies not in nostalgia, but in neuroscience.…

3 weeks ago

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