language and thought

The Syntax of Your File System

Did you know that every time you save a file, you're using a form of language? Your computer's folder structure…

1 week ago

The Inuktitut “Word-Sentences”

Imagine a language where "I don't hear very well" isn't a sentence, but a single, perfectly grammatical word. Welcome to…

1 week ago

Writing Your Voice: The Blissymbols System

Dive into the world of Blissymbols, a fascinating ideographic writing system designed as a universal language. Explore its logical grammar,…

1 week ago

The Grammar of Evidentials in Quechua

In Quechua, it’s grammatically impossible to state a fact without also specifying how you know it. This fascinating system of…

1 week ago

The Sentence That Never Ends

Have you ever heard the nursery rhyme about the house that Jack built, where each line adds a new layer…

1 week ago

The Sentence That Never Ends

Have you ever heard the nursery rhyme about the house that Jack built, where each line adds a new layer…

1 week ago

The Grammar of Reality: Realis vs. Irrealis Moods

Every time we speak, we make a choice about how we relate to reality. This fundamental distinction is captured in…

1 week ago

The Reduplication Spectrum: From ‘Bye-Bye’ to ‘Chit-Chat’

Reduplication isn't just baby talk like 'bye-bye' or 'choo-choo'. This surprisingly common linguistic tool is used across the world's languages…

1 week ago

The Tyranny of the Alphabet: How We Order Knowledge

Alphabetical order feels as natural as breathing, but this rigid system is a historical accident that silently shapes how we…

1 week ago

Linguistic Landmines: The World of Contronyms

Have you ever noticed that a single word can mean its own opposite? These linguistic curiosities, called contronyms, are words…

1 week ago

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