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 » They haven't proven they're not afraid of anyone not named Bumgarner. Or have they?
Bob Nightengale, "Forget 1985, these Royals on verge of their own history", USA Today 10/29/2014: It's been a wild ride for these two teams. They had to win an elimination game as a wild-card entrant just to get into this dance. Now, one will be hoisting the World Series championship trophy. The Royals certainly haven't proven they're not afraid of … [Link]
Language Log » Ben Zimmer: Linguistics Journalism Award
My first thought upon reading the following announcement is that my colleagues and I here at Language Log headquarters hasten to claim Ben as one of ours (he doesn't just belong to the WSJ!): "WSJ's Ben Zimmer receives first LSA Linguistics Journalism Award" Here's the text of the LSA announcement: The Linguistic Society of America is pleased to name Ben … [Link]
the world in words » Telling real stories in translation
A guest post from Aaron Schachter. Here’s a dirty little secret of foreign correspondents: We don’t do our own stunts. Save for the linguistically-talented few — the late, great Anthony Shadid being among the most renowned — most foreign correspondents work in countries where we don’t know the language, let alone local customs, organizations or personalities. So “fixers” and interpreters, … [Link]
the world in words » How dialects from Trinidad to Hawaii are expanding the limits of English
Here’s a post from Nina Porzucki. There are probably as many terms for different kinds of English vernacular as there are vernaculars themselves: pidgin, patois, slang, creole dialect and so on. But while we usually think of the vernaculars as oral versions of the English language, they’re making their way into the written word as well. “There’s a really interesting … [Link]
Urban Word of the Day » emo flap
A hairstyle symbolizing one's angst and hatred of the world. It covers one of the eyes and comes down in a pizza slice shape. Commonly associated with emotionally challenged children. Keanu Reeves used to have one. Person 1: "Did you see that dude's emo flap?" Person 2: "Yeah man, he must hate his parents…"
[Link]
languagehat.com » Afghanistan’s Battlefield Slang.
War slang is always interesting; I’m familiar with the lexicon of Vietnam (being the grandfatherly baby boomer that I am), but I wasn’t up on the equivalent for UK troops in Afghanistan, so I was glad to find this BBC News piece. Soldiers, like mathematicians and jazz musicians, are masters at brilliant repurposing of ordinary words, e.g.: ALLY Term for … [Link]
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