John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons

John Gordon Ross header image 3

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

Language Log » Superdry

Wednesday 4 February 18:30:01 UTC 2015

Nathan Hopson spotted this gem in Bangkok while recruiting students this past weekend: When I first looked at the sign, I had no idea what it was for. I thought perhaps it may have been for a deodorant or liquor. The Japanese didn't help, since — on my initial reading — it seemed to say "superdry" and then, in parentheses, … [Link]

Omniglot blog » Just popping out

Wednesday 4 February 11:26:23 UTC 2015

A interesting English expression I’ve noticed in novels I’ve been reading recently is the verb to pop, which is often accompanied by prepositions such as out, in, round and down, and preceded by just. For example: – I’m just popping out to the shop, do you want anything? – I might pop in at some point for a peek at … [Link]

Language Log » Dogfood semiotics

Wednesday 4 February 9:59:46 UTC 2015

A couple of days ago, the package room in the Quad sent me a notice of a FedEx delivery. I figured it was the antique toilet flush valve that I'd ordered, but when I went to pick it up, I discovered that someone had sent me a large, heavy carton of canned dogfood, maybe 70 pounds worth. I don't have … [Link]

Language Log » Reflections on "Inherent Vice"

Wednesday 4 February 9:11:22 UTC 2015

Last night I went out to see Inherent Vice, the only film so far made of a Thomas Pynchon novel. Two and a half hours of bafflement later, the credits rolled. I was with two distinguished computational linguists, Mark Steedman and Bonnie Webber. "It was more coherent than the book," said Mark, who liked the film. Bonnie and I weren't … [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » Body-lapse

Wednesday 4 February 8:00:00 UTC 2015

A series of pictures that are taken throughout the process of a body changes like pregnancy, weight loss and body building. People try to show their progress. "My friend made an awesome body-lapse video of her pregnancy – hers belly is every day bigger and bigger." [Link]

Archive

No Comments

0 responses so far ↓

  • There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.

You must log in to post a comment.