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 » Campaign for promoting falls awareness
The Health Promotion Board (Bǎojiàn cùjìn jú 保健促进局) of Singapore has launched a campaign to promote awareness of falling. Here's the poster they circulated in conjunction with the launch: 
(Source) The poster quickly began to circulate on the internet, with people criticizing the Chinese translation as saying the opposite of what was intended. (Note that in Singapore the main language … [Link]
languagehat.com » The Year American Speech Became Art.
Ted Gioia has an Atlantic essay about an interesting topic, the transition from an Anglocentric world to one which imitated American usage and art. Gioia writes: As late as 1919, when H.L. Mencken published his ambitious study The American Language, the very concept of a legitimate homegrown way of speaking was a radical notion, and brought with it, in the … [Link]
Language Log » The Legend of Gnome Ann
Today's xkcd: 
Mouseover title: "President Andrew Johnson once said, 'If I am to be shot at, I want Gnome Ann to be in the way of the bullet.'" And there's plenty more Gnome Ann dicta where those came from; also here. Some of my favorites: Gnome Ann can serve two masters. Gnome Ann putteth a piece of new cloth unto … [Link]
Urban Word of the Day » Facebookonality
The individual's Facebook personality as it is perceived by others from their post, likes, comments, emoji's, and other Facebook activity. Person 1: " It is obvious it's 'Shark Week' for Susan! " Person 2: " How can you tell?" Person 1: " Her Facebookonality has come off a little bitchy lately. Plus she posted that she was listening to Alanis … [Link]
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