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 » Jabotinsky’s Hebrew.

Tuesday 25 August 23:01:15 UTC 2015

I’ve started Halkin’s Jabotinsky: A Life , which is excellent (thanks, Paul!), and I thought this passage on language was worth posting: Jabotinsky also covered the congress for Odesskaya Novosti, in which he published four long dispatches. The first two dealt with caucuses he attended. One was held by the Mizrachi, the religiously Orthodox Zionist party; struck by its moderateness, he … [Link]

Language Log » LSA Emmon Bach Fellowship Fund fundraising launch

Tuesday 25 August 15:11:51 UTC 2015

The LSA has recently established a new charitable contribution fund in memory of Emmon Bach (June 12, 1929 – November 28, 2014). The announcement, and a link for making donations (online or by mail) is here. Quoting from the announcement page: This fund was established in consultation with Emmon’s families and close colleagues, and is to be used to support … [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » deez nuts

Tuesday 25 August 7:00:00 UTC 2015

1) A sarcastic expression used to denote annoyance or frustration. 2) A term used when you just dont give a fuck 3) Look, my dick and balls are bigger than yours. "Hey let me borrow your car." "Why don't you borrow deez nuts." [Link]

languagehat.com » Icelandic: On the Brink?

Tuesday 25 August 0:45:09 UTC 2015

Patrick Cox has a “World in Words” segment called “Will Icelanders one day ditch their language for English?” Needless to say, Betteridge’s law of headlines applies, but it’s a fun read: “When I was growing up, very few people spoke English,” says Gnarr. “With my generation, through TV and music it became necessary to understand English.” Gnarr’s children speak much … [Link]

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