Category Archives: language

Could we speak the language of dolphins? | Denise Herzing

Posted on May 11, 2019 by

For 28 years, Denise Herzing has spent five months each summer living with a pod of Atlantic spotted dolphins, following three generations of family relationships and behaviors. It’s clear they are communicating with one another — but is it language? … Continue reading →

Posted in language | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

5 Of The Weirdest Languages In The World | Random Thursday

Posted on March 16, 2019 by

From sounds that literally damage your vocal cords to a language that’s entirely whistled, these are 5 of the strangest, quirkiest languages in the world.

Posted in language | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

This Man Can Pronounce Every Word in the Dictionary

Posted on February 8, 2019 by

Great Big Story Published on 21 Aug 2018 Pop quiz. Try pronouncing the following. Ready? Go. Elucubrate. Smaragdine. Scherenschnitte. Head scratchers, huh? Not for Jacques Bailly. As the official pronouncer of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, he can tackle any … Continue reading →

Posted in language | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Origins and Evolution of Language | Michael Corballis | TEDxAuckland

Posted on January 13, 2019 by

Nearly everybody can communicate, and most do so through some form of language, and yet the question of where language came from is one of the most difficult questions in science. Psychologist and author, Michael Corballis explores the many theories … Continue reading →

Posted in language | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Why languages and dialects really are different animals

Posted on January 13, 2019 by

Admirers of Josip Broz Tito from all over the former Yugoslavia convene in Belgrade on the occasion of the late marshal’s birthday. Photo by Andrej Isakovic/AFP/Getty   Søren Wichmann is a Danish linguist affiliated with Leiden University in the Netherlands, Kazan … Continue reading →

Posted in language | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The benefits of a bilingual brain – Mia Nacamulli

Posted on January 1, 2019 by

It’s obvious that knowing more than one language can make certain things easier — like traveling or watching movies without subtitles. But are there other advantages to having a bilingual (or multilingual) brain? Mia Nacamulli details the three types of … Continue reading →

Posted in language | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Etymology and surprising origins of words

Posted on November 12, 2018 by

Learn about etymology, the study of word origins and derivations in historical linguistics, and the influence of a Proto-Indoeuropean (PIE) language in the formation of modern languages in Europe, Russia, and Asia. Highlighted is how etymologists have come up with … Continue reading →

Posted in language | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

What does OK stand for?

Posted on September 17, 2018 by

That’s O.K. with me. It’s going to be okay. OK, Google… ‘OK’ means things are fine or went well, or that something’s approved. But what does O.K. stand for and from where did the word originate? A few proposed etymologies … Continue reading →

Posted in language | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Gravity of language on thoughts | Panos Athanasopoulos | TEDxUniversityofMacedonia

Posted on July 24, 2018 by

Panos Athanasopoulos’ research programmes seek to understand how people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds communicate and perceive the world around them, focusing on how we see colours and objects, and how we experience motion and time. It is often … Continue reading →

Posted in language | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Does time work differently in different languages? – Hopi Time

Posted on March 17, 2018 by

Whorf ignited a controversy when he claimed the Hopi don’t speak or think about time the way Europeans do. Malotki wrote 600 pages to prove him wrong. Come explore Sapir-Whorf and Hopi Time! Do speakers of different languages have different … Continue reading →

Posted in language | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment