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

Language Log » "Like a bitch"?

Saturday 8 October 16:19:10 UTC 2016

The reaction to the video of Donald Trump's 2005 discussion with Billy Bush has focused primarily on its rape-culture aspects, including passages like this one: Your browser does not support the audio element. Trump: I got to use some tictacs just in case I start kissing her _______you know I'm automatically attracted to beautiful- _______I just start kissing them _______it's … [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » nonpology

Saturday 8 October 7:21:14 UTC 2016

An insincere apology or expression of regret, often blaming the aggrieved party for being offended or bringing up an irrelevant topic to distract. "Did you hear Don Imus' nonpology the other day? Like his racist remarks are actually the result of rap music." "I really get tired of politicians' nonpologies. All they're really saying is they're sorry they got caught." … [Link]

Language Log » A non-apology for the ages

Saturday 8 October 1:45:14 UTC 2016

David Fahrenthold, "Trump recorded having extremely lewd conversation about women in 2005", The Washington Post 10/7/2016: Donald Trump bragged in vulgar terms about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women during a 2005 conversation caught on a hot microphone, saying that “when you’re a star, they let you do it,” according to a video obtained by The Washington … [Link]

languagehat.com » Italy’s Many Dialects.

Saturday 8 October 0:24:17 UTC 2016

A NY Times “What in the World” piece by Gaia Pianigiani describes the results of Italy’s complex linguistic situation: Say you’re shopping at a farmer’s market in Rome, and you’d like to pick up some nice, ripe watermelon. The signs at some stands call it “anguria”; others say “cocomero” or “melone d’acqua.” Why so many different words for the same … [Link]

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