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 » Password nerdview
Steve Politzer-Ahles was trying to change his password on the Hong Kong Polytechnic University system, and found himself confronted with this warning: You may not use the following attribute values for your password: puAccNetID puStaffNo puUserGivenName puUserSurname Attribute values? This is classic nerdview. The "pu" prefix obviously means "Polytechnic University". So they don't want him to use his Polytechnic University … [Link]
Language Log » New Year's massacre
Boris Kootzenko spotted this truly bizarre banner at a service area on the highway leading west from Shanghai in Anhui Province: 
The theme of the poster is "huíjiā guònián 回家过年" ("returning home to celebrate the New Year"). That phrase is written in very large red characters across the center of the upper half of the banner. For some unknown reason, … [Link]
Language Log » Sun-moon mountain-wood
Boris Kootzenko was intrigued by this sign in China: 
The sign advertises: Shānmù péixùn 山木培训 ("Mountain Wood Training") Their own English self-designation is "Sunmoon Education Group". Boris was intrigued because, as he put it, "the sun turned into a mountain and the moon turned into wood." Actually it was the other way around: the mountain turned into a sun and … [Link]
Language Log » Water depth risk safety
Photograph of a sign taken by Boris Kootzenko on a recent trip to China: 
The Chinese says: shuǐshēn wéixiǎn 水深危险 ("danger! deep water") zhùyì ānquán 注意安全 ("pay attention to safety") The English is what it is. According to Haewon Cho, the Korean says: 1) 수심(水深)이 깊다 (susimi gipda) Literally, the depth of water is deep. 2) 위험 (危險) (wiheom) Danger … [Link]
Language Log » Irwin Corey, R.I.P.
On Monday, Irwin Corey, the world's foremost authority, died at the age of 102. A characteristic clip from his later years: Interviewer: Could I introduce you? The world's foremost authority, Professor Irwin Corey. Welcome. Irwin Corey: Well I feel not only honored, but I feel the confrontation on which we have set our sights can no longer endure at the … [Link]
Urban Word of the Day » easy D
Effortlessly obtained dick. "That guy Matt is so desperate to get with me, it's easy D."
[Link]
languagehat.com » Patricia Crampton, RIP.
Julia Eccleshare’s Guardian obit for the translator Patricia Crampton makes an interesting companion piece to my recent post on Leon Dostert, since both were involved with the Nuremberg trial: Patricia Crampton, who has died aged 90, was an award-winning translator with an exceptional talent for making some of the best of European children’s literature come alive for English readers. Describing … [Link]
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