Language Stuff

Almost everyone uses language, so inevitably almost everyone thinks they are an expert in it. I don’t consider myself an expert, though most of my work requires at least language competence and sometimes actual skill, but I do follow the blogs featured on this feeds page.

(If you are wondering where the translation-related feeds have all gone, I have put them on their own page.)

Most of the blogs represented here are in English, most of the time, but don’t be surprised to find other languages used. Go with the flow – I occasionally find myself pleasantly surprised at how much I can grasp in languages I have never seen before.

Language On the Net

Language Log » "She was probably male"

Sunday 6 April 14:21:37 UTC 2014

In "The future of singular they" (3/8/2013), I noted that some people assign the traditional English pronouns he, she, they (and it?) in non-traditional ways, depending on the preferences of the person referred to rather than on the traditional criteria of number, animacy, and primary sexual organs. And the number of conceptual categories involved is potentially much larger than four, … [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » aquaintance zone

Sunday 6 April 7:30:00 UTC 2014

Aquaintance zone is like friend zone only one step further and much more degrading. "Thank you for carrying in the couch for me; you're such a great aquaintance!" "Ooohhh! You just got aquaintance zoned!" [Link]