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
World Wide Words: Updates » New online: Worry wart
The term 'worry wart' comes from a famous American cartoon strip. [Link]
World Wide Words: Updates » New online: Verbigeration
'Verbigeration' is a rare word for obsessively repeating words and phrases. [Link]
World Wide Words: Updates » New online: Punch list
'Punch list', a list of jobs that must be done before a contract can be signed off, has an obscure history. [Link]
Wordorigins.org » enthusiasm, enthuse
The meanings of words change over time. Sometimes words become more specialized; the Old English deor was used to refer to any kind of wild beast, but by the end of the thirteenth century had started to be used specifically to refer to the creature we now call a deer. Other words become more general; one such is enthusiasm. [Link]
Omniglot blog » Multilingual romance
If you come over all romantic today, for some reason or other, and wish to declare your love for another, this infographic will help you do so in a variety of languages. 
Source: http://www.justtheflight.co.uk/blog~ Note: the sign language referred to here is American Sign Language (ASL). For this phrase in other sign languages see: Spread the Sign – my favourite … [Link]
Urban Word of the Day » i fucking love you
affectionate slang for I Love You. I fucking love you. I fucking love you honey. I fucking heart u.
[Link]
Language Log » Tintin in [China's] Tibet
A couple of weeks ago, in "China's" (2/1/15) and the comments thereto, we were discussing the political aspects and implications of prefacing names in publications pertaining to places in the People's Republic of China (PRC) with the possessive "China's". Wentao provided the example of Dīngdīng zài Zhōngguó Xīzàng 丁丁在中国西藏 ("Tintin in China's Tibet"), which is wonderfully apt, inasmuch as it … [Link]
Language Log » PP attachment ambiguity of the week
Is the prepositional phrase attached high, modifying the verb "kill"? 
Or is it attached low, to the object NP "man"? 
In this case, there is also a difference in the sense of the preposition — instrumental vs. comitative — but often the ambiguity is purely structural, as in these earlier examples: "Annals of PP attachment", 2/8/2013: Brennan Objects To Use … [Link]
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