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 » Japanese hi-tech toilet instructions
Big news! "Japanese toilet industry agrees to standardize complex bidet controls" (The Verge, 1/17/17) 
Here follows a complete transcription and translation of all the Japanese writing in the photograph. The banner behind: 『トイレの操作ピクトグラム標準化』記者発表会 “toire no sōsa pikutoguramu hyōjunka” kishahappyōkai “Toilet Operations Pictogram Regularization” Press Conference 一般社団法人 日本レストルーム工業会 ippan shadanhōjin Nippon resutorūmu kōgyōkai Ordinary Corporation Japan Restroom Industrial Association The banner … [Link]
Language Log » "Nothing could be further than the truth"
The linguistic highlight of Steven Mnuchin's confirmation hearing: Your browser does not support the audio element. The context: Your browser does not support the audio element. I'm eager to share with you why I believe I will serve well as America's next secretary of the treasury. But first I want to correct the record about my involvement with Indy Mac … [Link]
Language Log » "Denying that he was not anti-gay or anti-women"
Matt Apuzzo, "Under Trump, Approach to Civil Rights Law Is Likely to Change Definitively", NYT 1/19/2017: At this confirmation hearing, Mr. Sessions harkened to the era of segregation in arguing that there was no need for the federal government to become involved in prosecuting crimes against women or gay people that were already being prosecuted locally. “I am not sure … [Link]
Language Log » "Do I not like that"
Graham Taylor has died at the age of 72, after a long and varied career as a manager and coach of English football teams. But this is Language Log, not English Football Log, and so we'll leave the obsequies to others and focus on Mr. Taylor's best known quotation, "Do I not like that": Your browser does not support the … [Link]
Urban Word of the Day » bull mother fucking shit
The response for when someone is telling huge porkies. Tony: I always clean up after myself.Sharon: Bull mother fucking shit.
[Link]
Language Log » New York high school Chinese test
Zhuang Pinghui, in the South China Morning Post (1/18/17) has an article that is truly baffling: "US high school Chinese test stumps internet users in China". A high school in New York has produced an exam paper for its pupils learning Chinese which features questions that have daunted internet users in China and even a college professor. The final exam … [Link]
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