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 » "Believe me"

Saturday 30 April 20:20:26 UTC 2016

A video compilation of Donald Trump in the role of a salesman: And the evidence from the 12 Republican and 9 Democratic debates: Count of "believe me" Clinton 0 Cruz 1 Kasich 2 Sanders 0 Trump 28 [Link]

languagehat.com » Dan Chaucer.

Saturday 30 April 16:46:28 UTC 2016

One of Edmund Spenser’s best-known lines is “Dan Chaucer, well of English undefiled” (or, if you prefer Ye Olde Spellynge, “vndefyled”). It’s a nice line, even if Chaucer’s English was as thoroughly defiled as any other (it’s ye olde rose-colored view of the past), but it never occurred to me to wonder about the “Dan” part until now — Chaucer’s … [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » boob cuddle

Saturday 30 April 7:00:00 UTC 2016

When one rests their head on breast while cuddling. Fondling may or may not happen. Rodrick gave Jess a boob cuddle last night [Link]

Language Log » They love him

Saturday 30 April 0:49:03 UTC 2016

Amazing: Annotated lyrics here; more on the Black Trump site. Instances of the word love in the 12 Republican and 9 Democratic debates: CLINTON 4 CRUZ 1 KASICH 13 SANDERS 8 TRUMP 39 [Link]

Language Log » The mind is its own place

Saturday 30 April 0:15:08 UTC 2016

The Republican presidential campaign is getting apocalyptic. The Bloomberg News headline on a story by Ben Brody — "Boehner Uncorks on ‘Lucifer’ Cruz, Says He Wouldn’t Back Him in Fall" — led reader A.R. to wonder whether that "fall" is merely the November election, or rather the fall of Him the Almighty Power Hurld headlong flaming from th' Ethereal Skie With … [Link]

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