Semantics

Cratylus: Are Names Arbitrary?

Is the word "cat" purely random, or does the sound itself carry the essence of the animal? We revisit Plato’s…

5 days ago

Semantic Priming: Why ‘Butter’ Unlocks ‘Bread’

Have you ever noticed how hearing the word "Salt" instantly makes you think of "Pepper"? This isn't a coincidence; it's…

5 days ago

Karma, Guru, Avatar: The True Meanings of Sanskrit Loans

While we casually use words like 'Avatar' and 'Karma' in daily English, their journey from the ancient Vedas involves a…

5 days ago

From Chutzpah to Glitch: The Yiddish Words You Already Speak

While everyone knows "bagel", few realize that technical terms like "glitch" and emotive words like "schlep" are Yiddish loanwords that…

5 days ago

aUI: The Constructed Language of Space

aUI (the Language of Space) is a constructed language created by Dr. John Weilgart, who claimed it was taught to…

5 days ago

Relay Translation: When Languages Don’t Touch

When direct translation between two languages isn't possible, the world relies on a "pivot" language to bridge the gap. This…

5 days ago

Bridge Bidding: A Syntactic Card Game

Contract Bridge is more than a game of strategy; it is a complex linguistic exercise involving a rigid syntax and…

5 days ago

Scat Singing: The Syntax of Jazz Vocals

Louis Armstrong didn't just make noise; he used phonemes to imitate instrumental timbre and rhythmic syntax, creating a "shadow language"…

5 days ago

Keening: The Irish Vocalization of Grief

Explore the "Caoineadh", the traditional Irish vocal lament, through the lens of linguistics and oral history. This article breaks down…

5 days ago

Retronyms: Why We Have ‘Desktops’ and ‘Landlines’

Retronyms are new names given to old objects when a modern version arrives to steal the default title—like how "guitars"…

5 days ago

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