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How Do New Signs Get Created in ASL?

American Sign Language is a living, evolving system, not a static code. The process of creating new signs for modern…

10 months ago

The Colonist’s Dictionary, The People’s Voice

Colonial-era dictionaries and grammars, once crafted as tools of control to convert and assimilate Indigenous peoples, carry a profound irony.…

10 months ago

“Correcting” a Language: A Brief History

Ever wonder why we have "correct" spelling and grammar? These rules aren't timeless truths but were forged by powerful forces…

10 months ago

The Un-Diplomatic Turn

The coded language of traditional diplomacy, built on strategic ambiguity and nuance, is being replaced by a more direct and…

10 months ago

The Typo That Became a Word: The Story of ‘Syllabus’

Ever wondered where the word 'syllabus' comes from? The answer is a fascinating journey involving ancient Roman scrolls, a 15th-century…

10 months ago

The Ket Language: Siberia’s Last Echo

Deep in the Siberian wilderness, the Ket language is the last of its kind, a linguistic island with a mind-bendingly…

10 months ago

The Anti-Language of Power: What Is Gobbledygook?

This dense, evasive prose, known as gobbledygook, is more than just bad writing; it's a sophisticated "anti-language" designed to obscure…

10 months ago

The Body’s Betrayal: When Gestures Are False Friends

You know about 'false friends' in language, but what about in gestures? That innocent 'thumbs-up' or 'A-OK' sign could be…

10 months ago

Pragmatic Traps: The Cultural Side of False Friends

We all know about "false friends"—words that look similar but mean different things. But what about words that are perfect…

10 months ago

The Million-Dollar Mistake: When False Friends Cause Chaos

We've all heard humorous tales of language mix-ups, but so-called "false friends" can have consequences far beyond embarrassment. From derailing…

10 months ago

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