The Death of the Latin Passive
Latin once expressed complex passive ideas with a single word, like amor for "I am loved". This post explores how that elegant synthetic system dissolved, driven by sound changes and…
Tag: linguistic change
When English Met French
The Norman Conquest of 1066 wasn't just a military victory; it was a linguistic collision that created a centuries-long class divide in England. This pivotal event forced the Germanic tongue…
The Shape of Nothing: How the Invention of ‘Zero’ Was a Linguistic and Mathematical Revolution
The concept of zero is more than just a number; it’s a profound linguistic and philosophical idea that had to be invented. This journey traces the word and symbol for…
U and Non-U: The Linguistic Class Divide That Rocked 1950s Britain
In the 1950s, a fierce debate erupted in Britain over a simple yet profound idea: that your choice of words could instantly betray your social class. From saying "toilet" instead…
A Tale of Two Accents: Exploring the American and British Divergence
English, in its colorful, versatile array of expressions and dialects, continues to evolve and shape the world’s communication landscape. Today, we’ll embark on a fascinating...