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 » Happy 100th, John Berryman!
Sam Leith at the Guardian (this seems to be Guardian day at LH) has a wonderful appreciation of John Berryman, one of my favorite American poets, who would have turned 100 yesterday; as I told my brother, who sent me the link (thanks, Eric!), I have two copies of The Dream Songs (one of which is a gift from PF … [Link]
languagehat.com » Writings from the Edge of Language.
From the Guardian, Philip Gross’s top 10 writings from the edge of language (2010) is a mixture of things I already know and love (“The Waste Land”), things I know about and have been meaning to investigate (Riddley Walker), and things I’d never heard of but suddenly want to read: 5. Keeping Mum / Llofrudd Iaith by Gwyneth Lewis These … [Link]
Language Log » Aquatory
From Nicholas Hill: 
He writes that this photograph … was taken at a marina in the harbour of Kardla on the island of Hiiumaa, Estonia. I've no idea where they got aquatory from. There might be a clue in this discussion in the WordReference Forums: My father said something in Bulgarian and wanted it translated into English. What he said … [Link]
Urban Word of the Day » bia
Term of endearment usually to a good friend; slang of bitch. Also can be substituted for biatch. What's up, bia?
[Link]
Language Log » "Cantonese" song
This hauntingly beautiful song is the unofficial anthem of the Hong Kong democracy protest movement: The title of the song is "Boundless Oceans Vast Skies" (hoi2 fut3 tin1 hung1 海闊天空) (" as boundless as the sea and sky; unrestrained and far-ranging"). It is performed by the Hong Kong rock band Beyond. This video brings tears to my eyes and sends … [Link]
languagehat.com » Arabic Harder to Read than Hebrew?
Or Kashti of Haaretz reports on a study that suggests that Hebrew speakers can read their native language more quickly than Arabic speakers can read theirs: The study, conducted over the last three years, examined the speed and efficacy with which Hebrew and Arabic speakers read texts in their native languages. The texts were taken from two standardized tests, the … [Link]
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