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

Language Log » Fake Obama, fake English

Monday 21 September 23:47:24 UTC 2015

Earlier today, BBC News posted this article: "Chinese Obama speaks 'fake' English" (9/21/15) Embedded at the top of the article is this video in which actor Xiao Jiguo displays his talents at impersonating Obama: Here's the entire text of the brief article: A Chinese man who has made his name as a professional impersonator of US President Barack Obama has … [Link]

Language Log » Smoot-Hawley on the web

Monday 21 September 11:05:59 UTC 2015

[Warning: little direct linguistic content.] Apple's decision to allow ad-blocking in iOS-9 (Eric Griffith, "Apple iOS 9 Ad-Blocking Explained (And Why It's a Bad Move", PC Magazine 6/11/2015) has caused a recent flurry of stories as iOS-9 has been rolled out. A few examples: Casey Johnston, "Welcome to the Block Party", The Awl 9/14/2015; Katie Benner & Sydney Ember, "Enabling … [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » Throwing pillows

Monday 21 September 7:30:00 UTC 2015

Having a weak punch It's play fighting we only be throwing pillows [Link]

languagehat.com » Desideri’s Tibetan.

Monday 21 September 0:07:58 UTC 2015

Alison Gopnik writes about Hume, history, and her midlife crisis for The Atlantic; it’s a long and interesting read, but not really LH material except for this passage, describing Ippolito Desideri‘s experience as a Jesuit missionary in Tibet: When he finally arrived in Lhasa [in 1716], the king and the lamas welcomed him enthusiastically, and their enthusiasm didn’t wane when … [Link]

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