John Gordon Ross

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 » Crystal on Grammar and Be.

Monday 12 June 23:35:20 UTC 2017

Yes, I know that post title reads oddly, but I’m trying to mash together the titles of two new books by David Crystal which I received in the same review-copy package from Oxford: Making Sense: The Glamorous Story of English Grammar and The Story of Be: A Verb’s-Eye View of the English Language . As you would expect (I’ve praised Crystal … [Link]

Language Log » May I ask you a question?

Monday 12 June 22:10:25 UTC 2017

Lately my more formal, stiff students (mostly undergrads) have been using the expression “reach out to you” when they want to ask me a question. I also notice that I’m receiving random inquiries from people I don’t know who approach me with this opening. There’s definitely a surge of “reaching out”. Two or three years ago, I only received messages … [Link]

Language Log » Computational linguistics in three acts

Monday 12 June 14:30:24 UTC 2017

Towards the end of April, I gave a short presentation at the Penn Science Café in a session on “The past, present, and future of AI“. I mentioned this in a comment on an xkcd cartoon in “Machine Learning“, 5/17/2017, where I also reproduced my opening Science Café slide: Over the weekend, Fernando Pereira posted a wonderful account of these … [Link]

Language Log » Sentiment analysis disappointment

Monday 12 June 13:19:43 UTC 2017

A Quinnipiac Poll released on May 10 asked respondents “What is the first word that comes to mind when you think of Donald Trump?” 46 words were used by 5 or more respondents. The full list, with the number of responses for each word, is here — the top 15 words were: idiot 39 incompetent 31 liar 30 leader 25 … [Link]

Language Log » Solo

Monday 12 June 10:00:17 UTC 2017

Today’s SMBC: Mouseover title: “Dream big, guys.” The aftercomic: [Link]

Urban Word of the Day » danananana batman

Monday 12 June 7:00:00 UTC 2017

The theme song or opening of the old school version, of batman. it mainy appears when batman suddenly jumps out of no where and then the theme song plays. this song is a trademark of the popular series, ''Batman.'' Music: danananananananaaana People:BATMAN! (Batman Appears) danananana batman [Link]

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