U and Non-U: The Linguistic Class Divide That Rocked 1950s Britain
In the 1950s, a fierce debate erupted in Britain over a simple yet profound idea: that your choice of words could instantly betray your social class. From saying "toilet" instead…
Sociolinguistics
The First-Contact Linguist: The Ethical Tightrope of Studying a Previously Uncontacted People’s Language
What are the ethical responsibilities of a linguist who is the first outsider to document a language from a previously uncontacted people? This article explores the high-stakes world of first-contact…
Speaking in Tones: The Art and Science of Politeness in Japanese (Keigo)
Beyond "konnichiwa" lies Keigo, a complex system of Japanese politeness that goes far beyond simple pleasantries. This linguistic art form embeds social status and relationships directly into the grammar, transforming…
The Fight for Purity: Inside the Académie Française and the Quest to Protect the French Language
For nearly 400 years, the forty "immortals" of the Académie Française have stood as the official guardians of the French language. But in a modern world dominated by English loanwords…
The Language of the Sea: How Maritime Pidgin Shaped Global Communication
Long before English dominated global communication, the world's oceans were a linguistic laboratory where sailors, merchants, and pirates forged simplified contact languages to bridge cultural divides. Known as maritime pidgins,…
The Language Catchers: Racing Against Time to Document Endangered Tongues
Every two weeks, a language dies, taking with it a unique way of seeing the world. Meet the "Language Catchers," modern-day linguists racing against time with digital tools and deep…
A Word to Name the Unspeakable: Raphael Lemkin and the Creation of “Genocide”
Discover the powerful story of Raphael Lemkin, the Polish-Jewish lawyer who witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust and created a new word to name the unspeakable. By combining the Greek…
Where is Esperanto Spoken?
Esperanto, the most successful constructed international auxiliary language, was invented in the late 19th century by L. L. Zamenhof with the intention of fostering harmony...
The Welsh Not: A Controversial Practice in the History of Language
Introduction The Welsh Not is a fascinating yet contentious chapter in the history of languages. It was a practice used in some Welsh schools during...
The Southern Accent and Perceptions of Education
The question, “Why do southern accents sound uneducated?” is rooted in stereotypes and prejudices which are worth unpacking and challenging. It is critical to understand...
Why Do People Have Accents?
An accent refers to a particular way of pronouncing a language, strongly associated with geographical region, social class, or ethnic group. Accents have long been...
The Sicilian Language: A Unique Variant of Italian
The Sicilian language, known in its original form as “Sicilianu”, occupies a unique position in the mosaic of Romance languages. This article seeks to delve...
Polari: The Secret Language of Resistance and Unity
Throughout history, languages have emerged not just as tools for communication, but as powerful symbols of resistance, culture, and community. Among these, Polari stands out...
What Languages do They Speak in Switzerland?
Switzerland, known for its scenic landscapes, cheeses, chocolates, and watches, is equally renowned for its rich linguistic diversity. The country is a fascinating linguistic patchwork,...
The Revival of Hebrew: The Tale of a Slumbering Language
Many stories surrounding language involve the mystery of deciphering ancient codes, the valor of wartime cryptography, or the mystical origins of universal tongues. However, one...
Are There Two Norwegian Languages?
Most people may be surprised to learn that there are two Norwegian languages: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Not dialects, mind you, but officially recognized and taught...
A Tale of Two Accents: Exploring the American and British Divergence
English, in its colorful, versatile array of expressions and dialects, continues to evolve and shape the world’s communication landscape. Today, we’ll embark on a fascinating...
Language Stories: Darwin and the Birth of Ethnolinguistics
The narrative of Charles Darwin’s voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, while famous for its contributions to evolutionary biology, is seldom explored from the viewpoint of...
The Role of Portuguese in the Age of Exploration
From the 15th to the 17th century, a period known as the Age of Exploration, or the Age of Discovery, the world experienced an unprecedented...
Discovering Belgium’s Unique Contributions to the French Language
The French language is a beautiful and intricate tongue, spoken by millions around the globe. But did you know that the French spoken in Belgium...