John Gordon Ross

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 » Guide Words.

Thursday 16 April 20:34:20 UTC 2015

Guide words are those words in boldface at the tops of dictionary pages telling you what the first and last words on the page are. Sometimes they’re striking and/or hilarious. Here are two that have struck me: 1) From p. 89 of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary , right-hand guide word (i.e., last word on the page): avadavat /’avədəvat/ (also amadavat) … [Link]

Language Log » I've forgotten more Czech than Barbara Partee has learned

Thursday 16 April 16:03:02 UTC 2015

One of the most memorable trips of my life took place in 1994 and involved traveling as a graduate student to Prague in the company of some of the most formidable linguists of North America and Europe. It was my first return to the country of my birth since I’d left Czechoslovakia as a small child in 1969—given that my … [Link]

Omniglot blog » Living Languages – a special report on language learning

Thursday 16 April 13:05:14 UTC 2015

I came across an article about language learning in the Guardian today which discusses the findings of a report on language learning [PDF] based on a two-year study carried out by the Guardian and the British Academy. The report makes interesting reading, and looks at many aspects of language learning, such as language education, young people’s attitudes to language learning, … [Link]

Language Log » Adventures in ellipsis

Thursday 16 April 9:02:53 UTC 2015

150 years ago today, the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. America is forever indebted. pic.twitter.com/vhIE1k20e7 — Senate Republicans (@Senate_GOPs) April 15, 2015 More discussion here. [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » Where they do that at

Thursday 16 April 7:00:00 UTC 2015

A more ghetto way of "Who does that?" when in a moment of surprise at someones actions "Did that dude just pick his nose!?""Where they do that at!?" [Link]

languagehat.com » No, Totally.

Thursday 16 April 0:19:53 UTC 2015

Kathryn Schulz has a nice New Yorker piece, “What part of ‘No, totally’ don’t you understand?,” that focuses on the odd affirmative use of “no” seen in this snippet of conversation: MARON: They can look at any painting and go, “Eh.” They can look at a Rothko and go, “Hey, three colors.” And then you want to hit them. DUNHAM: … [Link]

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