John Gordon Ross

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

languagehat.com » Erk.

Monday 30 June 12:54:01 UTC 2014

Over a decade ago, I posted about the UK slang term oik (“Etym. obscure”), “Depreciatory schoolboy word for a member of another school; an unpopular or disliked fellow-pupil. Also gen., an obnoxious or unpleasant person; in weakened senses, a ‘nit-wit’, a ‘clot’.” Last night, as I was reading Anthony Powell to my wife (we’ve just started Books Do Furnish a … [Link]

Language Log » Ben Zimmer on Jeopardy

Monday 30 June 11:51:39 UTC 2014

“Jersey City man to compete on Jeopardy", Hudson Reporter 6/29/30: Ben Zimmer, a linguist and language columnist from Jersey City, will compete on Jeopardy! on June 30 at 7 p.m. on WABC-TV. [Link]

Omniglot blog » Gabions and the importance of names

Monday 30 June 10:34:34 UTC 2014

The other day I discovered that the name for those wire cages filled with rocks used in construction and to stabilise river banks, hillsides and shorelines are called gabions. The word comes from the Italian gabbione (big cage), which comes from the Latin cavea (cage). There are plenty of gabions around here, but I didn’t know what to call them … [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » college coffee

Monday 30 June 7:00:00 UTC 2014

When you replace the water with Red-bull when brewing a coffee. Then drop in a bottle of 5 hour energy and a shot of vodka, and a sprinkle of cocaine. Tommy woke up and made a college coffee to get to his 8am class. [Link]

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