Language Evolves, or rather, Constantly Cooks New Ways to Pass the Vibe Check
A millennial linguist dares to speak to a gen-alpha audience in their native tongue.
Rubber Ducking For Research Communication: Why Explaining to Nobody Helps You Explain to Anybody
Explaining research to a rubber duck might sound odd, but it could be the secret to clearer thinking and better communication. This post explores how “rubber ducking” — a technique borrowed from programming — can help researchers explain complex ideas with more clarity, creativity, and confidence.
Guest Post — Classification as Colonization: The Hidden Politics of Library Catalogs
The renaming of “Mount Denali” and “Gulf of Mexico” to the politically loaded “Mount McKinley” and “Gulf of America” reveal the naked truth of what cataloging has always been: a battlefield where meaning is contested and conquered.
What We Can Learn About Languages from the Words for Parts of the Body
Because body parts have always been with us, they can tell us a lot about the development of languages.
Grammarian vs. Errorist
A battle to the death, the Grammarian versus the Errorist. Who will triumph?
Guest Post: Reflections from The Munin Conference Part One – Bibliodiversity
This is the first article of three in a guest series reflecting on the main themes and ideas gathered and discussed at the Munin Conference at the end of 2024. Today’s focus is bibliodiversity.
Ahoy! Why is English Awash in Nautical Terms?
Why is the English language so filled with nautical terms?
Peer Review Week 2024: Ask the Chefs
Leading into Peer Review Week 2024, we ask the Chefs: What is, or would be, the most valuable innovation in peer review for your community?
Sex and the Serious Reader
No, we’re not advocating anything lascivious. But a reading experience requires a degree of engagement that one essayist overlooks.
The Most Complicated Word in the English Language
WIth only three letters, “run” has over 645 different meanings.
Marketing and the Origins of Food Names
Where do common food names come from, and how does changing the name of a food reflect marketing and sales?
The Genetic Drift of Baby Names
Why do some names fall out of fashion, and how is the study of names like the study of genetics?
Why Are English Language Spellings So Weird?
Why are English spellings so inconsistent and weird?
A Cetacean Alphabet
A new paper uses AI to decipher sperm whale vocalizations.
The Evolution of Pronunciation
Which words do you mispronounce? Or rather, which words that you mispronounce today will eventually be “correct”?