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

Omniglot blog » Waiter!

Tuesday 22 September 14:03:15 UTC 2015

When you’re in a restaurant or café, how do you get the attention of a waiter/waitress? This cartoon shows how it can be difficult in France. Garçon! Trying to get the waiter's attention The customer in the cartoon first says “Please”, then “Sir/Mr”, then “Waiter”, then ‘Can I order?’, then a hour later the waiter finally speaks to him and says, “Sir, to stay here you must … [Link]

Language Log » Absolved of having done nothing wrong

Tuesday 22 September 12:25:22 UTC 2015

Last month, the hockey star Patrick Kane was accused of rape, and investigations of the matter continue. Last week, he joined the Chicago Blackhawks' training camp, and at a press event organized by the team, he read a statement that addressed the accusations as follows: While I have too much respect for the legal process to comment on an on-going matter … [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » Maintenance Poop

Tuesday 22 September 7:30:00 UTC 2015

The act of visiting the bathroom with the intention to only urinate, but instead relieve a little poop as well as a means to prolong the time between your next bathroom visit. I sat down on the toilet to take a piss on my lunch break, but I thought a maintenance poop would be a good idea since I have … [Link]

Language Log » Chinglish bumper crop

Tuesday 22 September 2:50:01 UTC 2015

Depending on your attitude to Chinglish, it is getting better / worse all the time. The latest batch I received comes from a Weixin (WeChat) site named "Sì dà fāmíng 四大發明" (translation: "Four Great Inventions", though they simultaneously treat that as a transcription: "Star Farming"). Apart from nearly two dozen photographically documented Chinglish signs, the whole site is full of … [Link]

languagehat.com » How the Cherokee Language Has Adapted.

Tuesday 22 September 0:18:28 UTC 2015

Eduardo Avila reports for PRI on a heartening success story for one of the better-known Native American languages: From the printing press and the typewriter to today’s readily available digital technologies like computers and smart phones, the Cherokee language is fully functional thanks to the help of tireless advocates and activists. As one of the most actively used native languages … [Link]

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