John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons

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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

languagehat.com » Every-day Pronunciation.

Thursday 14 August 23:48:27 UTC 2014

In trying to determine the pronunciation of the Belgian town of Popering(h)e, I discovered the wonderful Every-day Pronunciation, by Robert Palfrey Utter (Harper & Brothers, 1918). It had exactly what I wanted, even giving the anglicized pronunciation presumably used by the Tommies in World War I (the equivalent of “POPP-ering”): image But wandering through its pages, I discovered all sorts … [Link]

the world in words » How English nearly got a language academy

Thursday 14 August 17:06:16 UTC 2014

Tim Hankins helps maintain All Saints Church in Aldwincle, England. Poet John Dryden was born in Aldwincle and baptized in the church. (Photo: Patrick Cox)Tim Hankins helps maintain All Saints Church in Aldwincle, England. Poet John Dryden was born in Aldwincle and baptized in the church. (Photo: Patrick Cox) In the tiny village of Aldwincle in the flat center of England, farmer Tim Hankins helps look after the village’s most famous building. Today, he’s showing me around All Saints Church. Strictly speaking, it’s no longer … [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » chubby fit

Thursday 14 August 7:00:00 UTC 2014

When you can run faster than most people and you give the best hugs because you are warm and great to cuddle up into. To be chubby fit you must be active but also have a six pack of pudding cups! "I am so chubby but how? I am always active and good at a lot of sports. I must … [Link]

Language Log » THE

Thursday 14 August 6:00:25 UTC 2014

Email yesterday from Bill Benzon: Here's a blog post about a little bit of linguistic detail in a VERY interesting book: Matthew Jockers, Macroanalysis: Digital Methods & Literary History. Do you have any thoughts on that detail? The post in question is "Reading Macroanalysis 4: On the matter of 'the'", New Savanna 8/13/2014, and the "detail" in question is a … [Link]

Language Log » Sanskrit resurgent

Thursday 14 August 2:40:59 UTC 2014

When I was studying Buddhism at the University of Washington (Seattle) in 1967-68, there were about ten students in my first-year Sanskrit course for Buddhologists and Indologists. What intrigued me greatly was that there was another beginning Sanskrit course being offered at the same time. It had many more students than the class I was in and was offered by … [Link]

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