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

languagehat.com » Solar Lamp.

Sunday 8 March 19:07:09 UTC 2015

One of the characters in Veltman’s Salomea is an elderly gentleman named Platon Turutsky, who after a lifetime of bachelor living according to the good old ways has fallen in love with Salomea and decided to rebuild his house according to the modern fashion (which he despises, but realizes is indispensable if he wants to attract a young wife). Among … [Link]

Omniglot blog » Conferences

Sunday 8 March 15:51:09 UTC 2015

I was invited to go to the Language Creation Society‘s conference recently and was thinking about it for while. Although I’m more interested in constructed scripts than constructed languages, I can find something of interest in all languages, whether natural or constructed, so I’ve decided to go. It takes place in Horsham in West Sussex, not far from London, on … [Link]

Language Log » Smartisan T1

Sunday 8 March 15:07:18 UTC 2015

Video for a new Chinese electronic watch, submitted by Stephen Hart: From "Apple Watch takes top design industry honors ahead of launch" (3/3/15). I had to watch the video several times before I could figure out whether the English was translated from the Chinese or the Chinese from the English, because what is said in both languages is as creepy … [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » alpha

Sunday 8 March 8:30:00 UTC 2015

The head animal in a pack, and by extension, an unofficial leader. Often used sarcastically of someone who wants to lead a group. George wants to be alpha, but no one takes him seriously. [Link]