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 » French vs. English
When I travel around the world and come upon parallel translations of French and English, I am often struck by how much longer the French usually is than the English. This impression was reinforced last week in the bathroom of the Marriott Courtyard in Columbia, Maryland. One little box had this writing on the front: FACIAL BAR SAVON EN BARRE … [Link]
Language Log » Say what what?
Doonesbury, "Say What?" 8/1/2015: "It was my phrase. I came up with it, and I had it copyrighted. And people see the biggest standing ovations…and all of a sudden some of the other candidates started using the phrase. But I had it copyrighted, so they're not allowed to use it. Which even surprises me." — Donald Trump on "Make America Great … [Link]
languagehat.com » The St. Petersburg English Review.
Looking for something else (as usual), I stumbled upon something that startled me considerably: The St. Petersburg English Review of Literature, the Arts and Science (vol. 1, 1842). I knew there was an English colony in the city and it was fashionable for the Russian upper crust to study English, but had no idea there was enough demand to support … [Link]
Language Log » Softy Calais goes ballistic…
Calais in north-western France, and Kent in south-eastern England, have been experiencing weeks of extraordinary chaos. Thousands of desperate migrants from Africa and the Middle East are fighting to get into the Eurotunnel depot where they think they might be able to stow away on trucks that will make the train journey through the tunnel to the immensely desirable destination … [Link]
Urban Word of the Day » Presidential Flashcards
(n.)Cash money, dollar bills, dough, moolah, bread. That kid just asked me to help him with some presidential flashcards
[Link]
Omniglot blog » Language quiz
Here’s a recording in a mystery language. Can you identify the language, and do you know where it’s spoken? [Link]
Language Log » A new AI problem
Here's a task that I haven't heard about: recognizing mixed metaphors and idiom blends. For example, from Bob Ford, "Eagles season can go one of three ways", Philadelphia Inquirer 8/2/2015: If the Eagles win big this season, they will get bonus points for degree of difficulty. The tightrope over which success is stretched is very narrow. And at the end … [Link]
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