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 » Languages of Influence.
Michael Erard, a longtime LH favorite, has a good piece in Science on a paper by Shahar Ronen et al., “Links that speak: the global language network and its association with global fame“: The study was spurred by a conversation about an untranslated book, says Shahar Ronen, a Microsoft program manager whose Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) master’s thesis formed … [Link]
Language Log » Curses! Introducing a new blog, "Strong Language"
There's a new linguablog that's definitely worth your time if you're not put off by vulgarities. And if you revel in vulgarities, well, you're in luck. It's called Strong Language, and it's the creation of James Harbeck and Stan Carey. James and Stan have enlisted a great lineup of contributors (I'm happy to be one of them). As the "About" … [Link]
Language Log » Unwearied effort however beefsteak
I spotted this colossal translation fail at the top of the Chinalawtranslate home page. 
Colossal though it may be, the same mistranslation also appears here, amidst an amazing collection of names of dishes seen on actual menus in China. The same mistranslation is also found here and is in the second item here as well. The correct translation should be … [Link]
Omniglot blog » Frost, Ice cream and Father Christmas
When I learnt a Russian word for frost – мороз (moróz) – this week I thought that the word for ice cream – мороженое (morózhenoe) – might come from the same root. According to Wikitionary they are related: мороженое comes from морозить (to freeze) from мороз, which comes from the Proto-Slavic *morzъ (frost). Related words include: – заморозок (zamorozok) = … [Link]
Language Log » Fake word history of the month
Jason Torchinsky, "A very common word was invented by Dodge", Jalopnik 12/15/2014: Dodge is known for producing many things, most notably cars, minivans, and sometimes large, lingering clouds of tire smoke. Oh, and the K-Car. But one thing I didn't realize was that they're also in the word business, coining an extremely common word way back in the 1910s. [self-referential … [Link]
Urban Word of the Day » fluck
A combination of the phrase "flying fuck" Friend: I really like chocolate cheesecake! You: I don't give a fluck
[Link]
languagehat.com » The Bookshelf: Miscellany VII.
For those casting about for last-minute presents, here are some possibilities: 1) Orin Hargraves (see this LH post) has produced an excellent book on clichés, It’s Been Said Before 
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