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 » The perils of "7" and "9" in Cantonese
Here we go again: "Samsung’s Galaxy On7 goes official" (Marketing-Interactive, 9/28/16) As we’ve covered shortly two weeks ago, the pronunciation of “7″ sounds like “penis” in Cantonese, and the latest Samsung Galaxy On7 launch has once again stirred up discussion on the internet in Hong Kong. The Cantonese pronunciation of “On9″ [sic: there seems to be a mix-up here] is … [Link]
languagehat.com » In Sara, Mencken, Christ, And Beethoven…
This Harriet post by Kenneth Goldsmith provides one of the most remarkable book-related stories I’ve ever read; the main text is by Keith Waldrop, and begins: On Wednesday, May 23rd, 1973, Robert Ashley and I went to see John Barton Wolgamot. We met and talked to him in the lobby of the Little Carnegie Cinema, of which he was the … [Link]
Language Log » Secret appearances
The Economist, in a leader last April about the Panama Papers revelation, which I really should have brought to your attention sooner (it fell through the cracks of my life), told us that "The daughters of Azerbaijan's president appear secretly to control gold mines." They appear secretly? Where are these secret appearances? Are they scheduled in advance, or do they … [Link]
Language Log » No cussing in the operational campus environment?
On the fence around a construction site that I walk past every day is this sign: 
No doubt students, faculty, and staff appreciate the sentiment, though not many of us would have thought to describe a university as "an operational campus environment". In fact that phrase puzzles me a bit. "Operational environment" seems to be a piece of U.S. military … [Link]
Omniglot blog » Mony a mickle maks a muckle
There’s a Scots saying Mony a mickle maks a muckle, or Many a mickle makes a muckle, which means “A lot of small amounts, put together, become a large amount”. The word muckle certainly means large, and also big, great; much, a great deal of, a lot of; grown-up, mature, adult; of great social consequence, of high rank, great; captial … [Link]
Urban Word of the Day » manterrupting
Manterrupting: a sexist display of male "dominance". A trait that has not yet been lost despite decades of evolution. When men interrupt women because they "believe" that what they have to say is somehow more important. Boy: why aren't you joining in on the conversation any more? Talk wth us!Girl: I would love to, but anytime I try to say … [Link]
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