pronunciation

The Ghost Phonemes of Irish

Why does the "s" in the Irish word "sláinte" sound like an "sh"? The answer lies in slender and broad…

1 week ago

What’s a Diphthong? (And How to Say Them)

Ever wondered what the sounds in 'boy', 'cow', and 'my' have in common? They're diphthongs—two vowel sounds smashed into a…

1 week ago

Silent Letters: English’s Most Annoying Feature

Ever wondered why there's a 'k' in 'knife' or a 'b' in 'doubt'? These aren't mistakes; they're echoes of linguistic…

1 week ago

Austrian vs. German: What’s Different?

Think German is just German? Think again! From a melodic "singsong" accent to calling potatoes "earth apples" (Erdäpfel), the Austrian…

3 months ago

That French ‘R’ Sound? Here’s How to Nail It.

The infamous French 'R' can feel like an impossible hurdle for English speakers. But what if the secret to mastering…

3 months ago

Why Does ‘Agua’ Use ‘El’? A Spanish Gender Rule Mystery

If 'agua' ends in -a, why do we say 'el agua'? This common Spanish grammar question isn't an exception to…

3 months ago

Mapping the Mouth: The Genius of the IPA

The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is a universal system for transcribing the sounds of any language with scientific precision. Born…

3 months ago

Cracking Connected Speech

Ever feel like you know thousands of words but still can't understand native speakers? The culprit is often connected speech,…

3 months ago

The Billion-Dollar Word: Naming Products for the Globe

What's in a name? For a global brand, it could be a billion dollars. This post explores the high-stakes world…

3 months ago

Lost in the Supermarket: Brand Name Linguistics

Why did the Chevy Nova supposedly fail in Spanish-speaking markets? This cautionary tale, though likely a myth, highlights the high-stakes…

3 months ago

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