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 » Look at me

Monday 13 February 22:38:34 UTC 2017

In his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe, President Trump received contradictory instructions about where to look. Pres. Trump and Japanese PM Abe meet, shake hands in the Oval Office https://t.co/rG1oCqyhkf pic.twitter.com/njJ13Qi3s1 — CBS News (@CBSNews) February 10, 2017 The video clip begins with Trump looking directly and steadfastly in the direction of the whirring and clicking cameras pointed … [Link]

Language Log » Study hegemon

Monday 13 February 17:19:34 UTC 2017

Here's another example of Chinese writing frustration: The character they are trying to write is bà 霸 ("hegemon; tyrant; autocrat; lord; ruler; oppressor; despot"). Here it joins with xué 学 ("study; learn; imitate; mimic") to form the term xuébà 学霸 ("study hegemon / overlord / master; super scholar; curve wrecker"). This is an interesting expression that I only started to … [Link]

languagehat.com » Mark Woods, RIP.

Monday 13 February 16:17:29 UTC 2017

I am very sorry to have to pass on the news that Mark’s brother Rod shared here: It is with regret that I have to let folks know that my brother, Mark, lost a lengthy, difficult battle with cancer on February 9, 2017. I appreciate seeing the value that his work / obsession / joy brought to so many. Thank … [Link]

Omniglot blog » Needle Mouse and the Clockwork Octopus

Monday 13 February 12:28:14 UTC 2017

Hedgehog (針鼠/針ねずみ/蝟/ハリネズミ) There’s a Japanese word that means ‘needle mouse’ when literally translated. What kind of animal do you think it is? It is in fact a hedgehog. It is written 針鼠 and pronounced harinezumi: 針 (hari) means needle, pin, hook, stinger; thorn, hand (of clock), pointer or staple. 鼠 (nezumi, nezu, shi, sho) means rat, mouse or dark gray. Harinezumi can … [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » SCROTUS

Monday 13 February 8:30:00 UTC 2017

Acronym for So-Called Ruler of the United States, as in POTUS, President of the United States. SCROTUS today said, "See you in court." [Link]

languagehat.com » What Is the Best Way to Learn Latin?

Monday 13 February 2:44:16 UTC 2017

Eidolon (“an online journal for scholarly writing about Classics that isn’t formal scholarship”) presents a conversation between Eleanor Dickey, author of Learning Latin the Ancient Way: Latin Textbooks from the Ancient World, and Daniel Gallagher, who studied with Reginald Foster, author of Ossa Latinitatis Sola/The Mere Bones of Latin, “a Latin textbook using the legendary Vatican Latinist’s teaching methods.” The … [Link]

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