Linguistic Typology

The ‘We’ of Two vs. The ‘We’ of All

Most languages count one and many, but what about a number for precisely two? Discover the "grammatical dual", a lost…

3 months ago

The Inuktitut “Word-Sentences”

Imagine a language where "I don't hear very well" isn't a sentence, but a single, perfectly grammatical word. Welcome to…

3 months ago

The Grammar of Reality: Realis vs. Irrealis Moods

Every time we speak, we make a choice about how we relate to reality. This fundamental distinction is captured in…

3 months ago

The Un-Passive Voice: The Antipassive Construction

You know the passive voice, but have you ever heard of its bizarre mirror image? The antipassive construction, found in…

3 months ago

The Reduplication Spectrum: From ‘Bye-Bye’ to ‘Chit-Chat’

Reduplication isn't just baby talk like 'bye-bye' or 'choo-choo'. This surprisingly common linguistic tool is used across the world's languages…

3 months ago

The Echo Vowel: Parasitic Vowels in Irish and Japanese

Have you ever heard a vowel that wasn't spelled, like the "a" in the Irish word *uisce* (ish-ka)? This phenomenon,…

3 months ago

Are Slavic Languages Hard? An Honest Answer

You've heard that Slavic languages are impossible, but is that the whole story? We break down the truth behind the…

3 months ago

East vs. West vs. South Slavic: What’s the Difference?

The Slavic languages are a sprawling family, divided into East, West, and South branches. But what does that split actually…

3 months ago

No ‘The’ or ‘A’? How to Think Without Articles

For English speakers learning a Slavic language, the lack of words for 'a/an/the' can be a shock. These languages don't…

3 months ago

Japanese vs. Chinese: Are They Even Related?

At a glance, Japanese and Chinese look incredibly similar due to their shared characters, leading many to believe they are…

3 months ago

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