How a Priest’s Lisp Changed a Language
The famous ‘th’ sound in Castilian Spanish is often attributed to a lisping king whose court mimicked his speech. This popular legend, while charming, is a myth. The real story…
Tag: linguistic myths
The Pirate Shibboleth: A ‘Yo Ho Ho’ Myth
The classic "pirate accent" is a complete myth, a linguistic invention with surprisingly specific roots in culture, not history. This "Yo ho ho" shibboleth wasn't spoken by the diverse, multinational…
Language Stories: The Great ‘Eskimo Snow Words’ Debate
Among the many charming anecdotes in the world of linguistics, the ‘Eskimo Snow Words’ story holds a position of considerable prominence. A tale as beguiling...