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 » Oblomov.
I’ve just finished reading Goncharov’s Oblomov in Russian, something I’ve been looking forward to since I read it in English (in Magarshack’s translation) decades ago. It’s a different book than I had remembered — less jolly, more divided. Oblomov the character is one of the great creations of world literature; the novel to which he gives life is something of … [Link]
Language Log » Found in Translation
“Found in Translation” is the latest in the PBS video series Articulate, exploring how “scholarly translations are a constant battle between literal accuracy and literary interpretation.” Connoisseurs of automated translation follies will appreciate the bit about 4 minutes in when Peter Cole copies some Hebrew into Google Translate and gets the English output, “ui on Lbbc stopped Heather.” (“Lbbc” is … [Link]
Omniglot blog » For the past several years
Does anything strike you as odd about the title of this post? I came across this wording today in a book by an American author, and immediately thought, “don’t you mean ‘for the past few years’?”. For me that would be a more natural way to express this. Several in this context just sounds wrong. Maybe it sounds natural and … [Link]
Language Log » Annals of helpful surveillance
Early one evening last week, I was feeling sleepy, and said so. And a little later, I said “OK, I’m cashing in my threat to take a nap”, and went into my bedroom to do so. As usual, I took my cell phone out of my pocket and plugged it in to charge, which made the screen light up. On … [Link]
Urban Word of the Day » Learn
To persuade someone to your way of thinking via violent means. "I'll learn you good!" (Followed by a slap)
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