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 » Mystery message

Sunday 31 May 20:00:57 UTC 2015

Email from Diego Viana: I am a Brazilian journalist and reader of the Language Log blog. I'm writing to you because the blog came immediately to my mind when a friend showed me a piece of paper she found in a recently bought jacket. It's written in an alphabet we don't know and, obviously, the first thing we thought was … [Link]

Language Log » Tormented in Taiwanese

Sunday 31 May 17:42:02 UTC 2015

A couple of weeks ago, we encountered the case of Chang Chun-ning being asked by her fěnsī 粉絲 ("fans") on the Mainland to change one of the characters in her name that they weren't familiar with: "7,530,000 mainlanders petition Taiwan actress to change her name" (5/14/15) After the incident about the bank in China telling Chang Chun-ning to change her … [Link]

Language Log » Dilige et quod vis fac

Sunday 31 May 11:24:09 UTC 2015

A few weeks ago, Eric Baković organized a "Short 'schrift" in honor of Alan Prince's forthcoming retirement, asking for – a paean – a poem – a story – a greeting – an expression of gratitude – a work of art (whatever that may mean to you) – a 'classic-style' squib (à la 1970s-era LI) – a brief analytical argument – … [Link]