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 » For want of a flack
A competent PR counsel would have advised against this wardrobe choice: 
The twitterverse immediately pounced, with captions like these: Reinforcements from the 101st Fighting Ivies Have Arrived. From the shores of Burberry, the 82nd heir-born has arrived. Kush Body Armor by J.Crew. "When you don't know where you are or what you are doing." Many of the comments were puns, … [Link]
Wordorigins.org » nuclear option
In U. S. politics in recent years, the term nuclear option has been employed to refer to the elimination of the filibuster rule in the Senate. The Senate requires a supermajority, currently three-fifths or sixty votes, to invoke cloture and end debate on a subject and proceed to a vote. This rule gives the minority power considerable power to block … [Link]
Language Log » The factual impenetrability of zombie rules
Frank Bruni, "What Happened to Who?", NYT 4/8/2017: I first noticed it during the 2016 Republican presidential debates, which were crazy-making for so many reasons that I’m not sure how I zeroed in on this one. “Who” was being exiled from its rightful habitat. It was a linguistic bonobo: endangered, possibly en route to extinction. Instead of saying “people who,” … [Link]
Omniglot blog » Language quiz
Here’s a recording of part of a song in a mystery language. Can you identify the language, and do you know where it’s spoken? [Link]
Urban Word of the Day » TrumpStamp
Someone who wears an obvious hairpiece. Hey Jim, when did you gat that TrumpStamp there on your head?
[Link]
Language Log » [t]-less -ists
Following up on "Weak t", 4/6/2017, I wouldn't want you to think that Donald Trump's pronunciation of "scientists" is unusually under-articulated. Here's Barack Obama from his 5/2/2009 Weekly Radio Address: Your browser does not support the audio element. Just the "-tists" syllable: Your browser does not support the audio element. And the same thing routinely happens to other -ists words … [Link]
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