The rise and fall of the English sentence (2017)
(nautil.us)
The surprising forces influencing the complexity of the language we speak and write.
The surprising forces influencing the complexity of the language we speak and write.
A UC Santa Cruz professor unearthed the oldest alphabet yet
(universityofcalifornia.edu)
In 2004, while she was still a meticulous young graduate student, Elaine Sullivan made a discovery that would deepen the history of human writing.
In 2004, while she was still a meticulous young graduate student, Elaine Sullivan made a discovery that would deepen the history of human writing.
Of Course You Know What "Woke" Means
(archive.org)
As I have said many times, I don’t like using the term “woke” myself, not without qualification or quotation marks. It’s too much of a culture war pinball and now deemed too pejorative to be useful. I much, much prefer the term “social justice politics” to refer to the school of politics that is typically referred to as woke, out of a desire to be neutral in terminology.
As I have said many times, I don’t like using the term “woke” myself, not without qualification or quotation marks. It’s too much of a culture war pinball and now deemed too pejorative to be useful. I much, much prefer the term “social justice politics” to refer to the school of politics that is typically referred to as woke, out of a desire to be neutral in terminology.
The Chaos (1922)
(idallen.com)
A number of readers have been urging republication of The Chaos, the well-known versified catalogue of English spelling irregularities.
A number of readers have been urging republication of The Chaos, the well-known versified catalogue of English spelling irregularities.
Very Wrong Math
(charlespetzold.com)
The difference between misinformation and disinformation is the difference between ignorance and malice. Trolling is somewhat different, incorporating an element of provocation and narcissism. But what the hell is this?
The difference between misinformation and disinformation is the difference between ignorance and malice. Trolling is somewhat different, incorporating an element of provocation and narcissism. But what the hell is this?
Bog Standard (2005)
(bbc.co.uk)
It's pretty rare in English to find a compound word with a slang first part and a formal second part.
It's pretty rare in English to find a compound word with a slang first part and a formal second part.
English-friendly Romanization system proposed for Japanese language
(asahi.com)
The Agency for Cultural Affairs is soliciting public comments about its plans to change romanization rules of the Japanese language for the first time in about 70 years.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs is soliciting public comments about its plans to change romanization rules of the Japanese language for the first time in about 70 years.
The 'Blog' of 'Unnecessary' Quotation Marks
(unnecessaryquotes.com)
A few months ago I had the delightful experience of a recorded conversation with Kyle and Emily from the language podcast Butter No Parsnip...
A few months ago I had the delightful experience of a recorded conversation with Kyle and Emily from the language podcast Butter No Parsnip...
2025 Banished Words List
(lssu.edu)
Lake Superior State University (LSSU) proudly reveals the 2025 edition of its Banished Words List, a quirky tradition that dates back to 1976, when former LSSU Public Relations Director Bill Rabe and his colleagues delighted word enthusiasts with the first “List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness”.
Lake Superior State University (LSSU) proudly reveals the 2025 edition of its Banished Words List, a quirky tradition that dates back to 1976, when former LSSU Public Relations Director Bill Rabe and his colleagues delighted word enthusiasts with the first “List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness”.
Show HN: Learn Japanese Kanji, no silly mnemonics
(kanjideck.com)
Kanjideck is a no-shortcuts deck for learning Japanese Kanji with the super-power of spaced repetition to study smarter, not harder.
Kanjideck is a no-shortcuts deck for learning Japanese Kanji with the super-power of spaced repetition to study smarter, not harder.
How AI is unlocking ancient texts
(nature.com)
From deciphering burnt Roman scrolls to reading crumbling cuneiform tablets, neural networks could give researchers more data than they’ve had in centuries.
From deciphering burnt Roman scrolls to reading crumbling cuneiform tablets, neural networks could give researchers more data than they’ve had in centuries.
Wishing Everyone a Happy Solsthelion
(solipsys.co.uk)
This is a word I invented many years ago, half a decade at least.[0]
This is a word I invented many years ago, half a decade at least.[0]
Snow Signs
(wordpress.com)
Well it’s midwinter, and those of us in the northern hemisphere tend to like a bit of snow at this time of year. Love it or hate it, it’s taken on an iconic status for winter, with picturesque white landscapes such as that longed for by Bing Crosby. But what do you call it and how do you write it down? Even if you don’t experience snow often or at all, you may have a word for it.
Well it’s midwinter, and those of us in the northern hemisphere tend to like a bit of snow at this time of year. Love it or hate it, it’s taken on an iconic status for winter, with picturesque white landscapes such as that longed for by Bing Crosby. But what do you call it and how do you write it down? Even if you don’t experience snow often or at all, you may have a word for it.
Train conductor's bilingual morning greeting raises hackles in Belgium
(theguardian.com)
A ticket inspector’s bilingual greeting to a Flemish train passenger has created a political war of words – and an official complaint – in language-divided Belgium.
A ticket inspector’s bilingual greeting to a Flemish train passenger has created a political war of words – and an official complaint – in language-divided Belgium.
Mojibake
(wikipedia.org)
Mojibake (Japanese: 文字化け; IPA: [mod͡ʑibake], 'character transformation') is the garbled or gibberish text that is the result of text being decoded using an unintended character encoding.
Mojibake (Japanese: 文字化け; IPA: [mod͡ʑibake], 'character transformation') is the garbled or gibberish text that is the result of text being decoded using an unintended character encoding.
Language and Personality
(solipsys.co.uk)
A friend of mine[0] told me of the time he had one of his cars[1] in the workshop and the mechanic dropped a spanner.
A friend of mine[0] told me of the time he had one of his cars[1] in the workshop and the mechanic dropped a spanner.
Interpol wants everyone to stop saying 'pig butchering'
(theregister.com)
Interpol wants to put an end to the online scam known as "pig butchering" – through linguistic policing, rather than law enforcement.
Interpol wants to put an end to the online scam known as "pig butchering" – through linguistic policing, rather than law enforcement.
In Defense of Y'All
(texasmonthly.com)
A New York Times columnist says it’s “much too slangy, regional or what you might even call ethnic to ever gain universal acceptance.” We couldn’t disagree more.
A New York Times columnist says it’s “much too slangy, regional or what you might even call ethnic to ever gain universal acceptance.” We couldn’t disagree more.
Interpol urges end to 'Pig Butchering' term, cites harm to online victims
(interpol.int)
LYON, France – INTERPOL is calling for a shift in language to combat online relationship and investment frauds, advocating for the term 'romance baiting' to replace the widely used but stigmatizing 'pig butchering'.
LYON, France – INTERPOL is calling for a shift in language to combat online relationship and investment frauds, advocating for the term 'romance baiting' to replace the widely used but stigmatizing 'pig butchering'.
Slop
(wikipedia.org)
Slop is low-quality media—including writing and images—made using generative artificial intelligence technology.[3][4][1] Coined in the 2020s, the term has a derogatory connotation akin to "spam".
Slop is low-quality media—including writing and images—made using generative artificial intelligence technology.[3][4][1] Coined in the 2020s, the term has a derogatory connotation akin to "spam".
’Brain rot‘ named Oxford Word of the Year 2024
(corp.oup.com)
Following a public vote in which more than 37,000 people had their say, we’re pleased to announce that the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024 is ‘brain rot’.
Following a public vote in which more than 37,000 people had their say, we’re pleased to announce that the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024 is ‘brain rot’.
'Enshittification' Is Officially the Biggest Word of the Year
(gizmodo.com)
The biggest word of 2024 is a profane critique of capitalism first coined in 2022. The Macquarie Dictionary, the national dictionary of Australia, has picked “enshittification” as its word of the year.
The biggest word of 2024 is a profane critique of capitalism first coined in 2022. The Macquarie Dictionary, the national dictionary of Australia, has picked “enshittification” as its word of the year.
Macquarie Dictionary names 'enshittification' as 2024 Word of the Year
(abc.net.au)
"Enshittification" — the gradual deterioration of a service of product — has been named the 2024 Word of the Year by Macquarie Dictionary.
"Enshittification" — the gradual deterioration of a service of product — has been named the 2024 Word of the Year by Macquarie Dictionary.
Lonely individuals tend to think and talk in an unusual way, study finds
(psypost.org)
Two neuroimaging studies found that lonely individuals’ neural representations of well-known celebrities diverged from those typical for their group in the medial prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain. Lonelier individuals were also more likely to use unusual language when describing well-known celebrities and to describe them in ways that were not typical for their group. The research was published in Communications Psychology.
Two neuroimaging studies found that lonely individuals’ neural representations of well-known celebrities diverged from those typical for their group in the medial prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain. Lonelier individuals were also more likely to use unusual language when describing well-known celebrities and to describe them in ways that were not typical for their group. The research was published in Communications Psychology.
China's Final Warning
(wikipedia.org)
"China's final warning" (Russian: последнее китайское предупреждение, romanized: posledneye kitayskoye preduprezhdeniye) is a Russian ironic idiom originating from the Soviet Union that refers to a warning that carries no real consequences.
"China's final warning" (Russian: последнее китайское предупреждение, romanized: posledneye kitayskoye preduprezhdeniye) is a Russian ironic idiom originating from the Soviet Union that refers to a warning that carries no real consequences.
How Many 'Copilots' Do We Need?
(woon.sg)
Dear companies, please stop using the term “Copilot” for everything. It is honestly confusing and doesn’t help anyone. Imagine a conversation like this:
Dear companies, please stop using the term “Copilot” for everything. It is honestly confusing and doesn’t help anyone. Imagine a conversation like this:
The letter ℘: name and origin? (2017)
(mathoverflow.net)
Do you think the letter \wp has a name? It may depend on community - the language, region, speciality, etc, so if you don't mind, please be specific about yours. (Mainly I'd like to know the English names, if any, but other information is welcome.) If yes, when and how did you come to know it? When, how, and how often do you mention it? (See below.) What's the origin of the letter?
Do you think the letter \wp has a name? It may depend on community - the language, region, speciality, etc, so if you don't mind, please be specific about yours. (Mainly I'd like to know the English names, if any, but other information is welcome.) If yes, when and how did you come to know it? When, how, and how often do you mention it? (See below.) What's the origin of the letter?