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 many languages through a grammatical concept known as mood, specifically…
Tag: multimodality
How the Deaf See Music
Music is often considered an auditory experience, but for the Deaf community, it's a world felt through powerful vibrations and seen through the stunning visual poetry of sign language. This…
Speaking with Hands and Mouth
In central Australia, the Arandic peoples use a complex sign language alongside speech, a system developed for times when speech is taboo, like during mourning or hunting. This dual-modal language…
Feeling Speech: The Tadoma Method
Imagine a conversation without sound or sight, where words aren't heard but are understood through the delicate dance of vibrations on your fingertips. This is the world of the Tadoma…
Thinking With Your Hands: The Unconscious Grammar of Co-Speech Gestures
We don't just talk with our mouths; our hands are constantly performing a silent ballet that helps us think, speak, and understand. This article explores co-speech gestures—the universal, unconscious movements…
Hearing with Your Eyes: The McGurk Effect and the Illusions of Speech Perception
What happens when your eyes and ears receive conflicting information? The McGurk effect is a powerful illusion where seeing a person say one sound while hearing another causes your brain…
Lost in the Gutter: The Unique Linguistic Challenges of Translating Comics and Graphic Novels
Translating a comic book isn't just about swapping words in a speech bubble; it's a delicate dance between text, art, and cultural context. From the physical constraints of a pre-drawn…