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.
A millennial linguist dares to speak to a gen-alpha audience in their native tongue.
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.
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.
Because body parts have always been with us, they can tell us a lot about the development of languages.
A battle to the death, the Grammarian versus the Errorist. Who will triumph?
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.
Why is the English language so filled with nautical terms?
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?
No, we’re not advocating anything lascivious. But a reading experience requires a degree of engagement that one essayist overlooks.
WIth only three letters, “run” has over 645 different meanings.
Where do common food names come from, and how does changing the name of a food reflect marketing and sales?
Why do some names fall out of fashion, and how is the study of names like the study of genetics?
Why are English spellings so inconsistent and weird?
A new paper uses AI to decipher sperm whale vocalizations.
Which words do you mispronounce? Or rather, which words that you mispronounce today will eventually be “correct”?