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
languagehat.com » Hexabook.
I’m still recovering from a fabulous roast-beef-and-Yorkshire-pudding dinner with a good pinot noir and two pies for dessert, so I’m just going to toss this out there and hope others think it’s as much fun as I do: 16th Century Book Can Be Read Six Different Ways. [Link]
Language Log » Using animal images to cast aspersions
We call people "swine", "pigs", "dogs", "curs", "rats", even "water buffalo" when we want to disparage them. The latter epithet was uttered in the famous "water buffalo incident" that took place at the University of Pennsylvania in 1993, when an Israeli-born Jewish student, translating from Hebrew slang behema ("animal; beast" — used by Israelis to refer to loud, unruly people) … [Link]
Language Log » …"such matters as Opinion, not real worth, gives a value to"
Recently, a series of serendipitous connections led me to read Mary Astell's work, A serious proposal to the ladies, for the advancement of their true and greatest interest, first published in 1694. And this experience led me to two questions, the first of which is, Why in the world are Mary Astell's works not available in a readable plain text form, … [Link]
Omniglot blog » Language quiz
Here’s a recording in a mystery language. Can you identify the language, and do you know where it’s spoken? [Link]
Urban Word of the Day » Panic drink
The default drink one orders when unfamiliar with the drink options, or not ready to order. Bartender: What can I get you? Me: Uhhh uhhhhh, vodka soda! Friend: You know they have craft cocktails here, right? Me: I dont know. It's my panic drink.
[Link]
Language Log » Advances in tuba-to-text conversion
My dad accidentally texted me with voice recognition…while playing the tuba (h/t Chris Waigl) [Update: Mark Liberman suggests this might be some artful fakery. See: "Another fake AI failure?"] [Link]
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