John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons

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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 » Lodestar.

Tuesday 30 June 21:56:12 UTC 2015

I saw a reference to Vyacheslav Ivanov‘s first collection of poetry, «Кормчие звезды», which was translated as “Lodestars,” and I had two reactions in quick succession: “Ah yes, кормчий is ‘helmsman’ (Stalin was the Великий кормчий, the Great Helmsman), and a lodestar is what you steer by, that makes sense!” and “Wait a minute, why is a lodestar called that?” … [Link]

Omniglot blog » Meads and Meadows

Tuesday 30 June 17:40:59 UTC 2015

I was in Cardiff last weekend and one of the places I walked along was the Taffs Mead Embankment, which runs along the River Taff. I’ve seen the word mead in the name Thamesmead, a district of south east London, but hadn’t thought about what it might mean. Mead in this context means meadow and comes from the Old English … [Link]

Language Log » Multiscriptal graffiti in Berlin

Tuesday 30 June 14:07:54 UTC 2015

Gábor Ugray took this photo last week outside a Turkish-run Italian restaurant in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district, a diverse mix between run-down and hip: We have often encountered multiscript writing in East Asia, e.g.,: "Multiscript Taiwan advertisement " (12/28/13). In such instances, the multiple scripts are seamlessly integrated in advertisements, announcements, notes, articles, and so forth for the purpose of conveying … [Link]

Language Log » Revivalistics

Tuesday 30 June 11:25:26 UTC 2015

Ghil'ad Zuckermann writes: A free MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) on language revival will begin on 28 July 2015. All are welcome. Details are here. [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » stage four clinger

Tuesday 30 June 7:30:00 UTC 2015

When a girl sleeps with a guy once and he moves in and you can never be rid of him He's such a stage four clinger, we hooked up once and now he's been at my place for 2 months. [Link]

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