The Chart That Mapped Our Vowels
The vowel trapezoid chart is a familiar sight to any linguistics student, but its simple shape hides a fascinating story of scientific discovery. Journey back in time to discover how…
Tag: art
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 need articles because they use a powerful combination of a…
The Top 5 Mistakes All Japanese Learners Make
Learning Japanese is a thrilling journey, but it's riddled with common pitfalls. From mixing up crucial particles like γ― and γ to using the wrong politeness level in conversations, these…
Two Tongues, One Soul: The Hindi-Urdu Divide
While speakers from Delhi and Lahore can converse with ease, their national languages, Hindi and Urdu, are officially distinct. This post delves into the shared history of Hindustani and the…
The Sailor Who Mistook a Word for an Island
Explore the strange case of "I-da-no", a phantom island that appeared on Japanese maps for decades. This wasn't a sailor's mirage but a fascinating linguistic error, born from a simple…
The Soul of the Script: Arabic Calligraphy
Explore how the Arabic script transcends mere communication to become one of the world's most revered and intricate art forms. This post delves into the visual soul of the language,…
The Codex Borbonicus: A Pre-Columbian Link to Language
One of the most captivating stories tied to the world of languages revolves around a pre-Columbian Aztec document, known as the “CΓ³dice BorbΓ³nico” or the...