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…

10 months 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…

10 months 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,…

10 months 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…

10 months 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…

10 months 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…

10 months 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…

10 months 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…

10 months 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…

10 months 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…

10 months ago

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