The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world in many ways, including an increased reliance on technology to help us communicate remotely. As we continue to adjust to this “new normal,” we’re learning which of our pandemic-induced remote solutions are here to...
Linguists, retired elementary school teachers and sociologists have created language museums to preserve and celebrate written and spoken words. Many of these museums utilize advanced technologies to digitally archive languages or to showcase languages through interactive exhibits. There are more...
When unaware of the resources that each individual is entitled to, relying on people we are familiar with seems like the only choice. Through my time volunteering at clinics that serve primarily non-native English-speaking patients, I am still shocked at...
For millions of people around the world, the morning doesn’t officially start until they’ve had a cup of coffee. In the United States alone, coffee drinkers sip an average of 450 million cups each day. Cappuccinos are one of the...
Many people agree that interpreting services are sometimes overlooked, but very few people know about the harmful consequences of doing so. I have witnessed firsthand the extent to which this occurs. A couple of months ago, I was shadowing at...
In March 2020 the Tokyo Olympic games, like so many other events, were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Now a year later the games are set to take place. They’ll still be called Tokyo 2020 but are scheduled for...
If you communicate through texting or social media, you can’t escape emojis. These stylized smiley faces, hearts, hand gestures and food items are an ingrained part of virtual conversations. But what do linguists think about these colorful graphics? Do emojis...
Try to imagine the last time you had a conversation that didn’t involve a cliché. We often use these “trite phrases or expressions” without a second thought. But have you ever wondered about the etymology of clichés? Let’s spend some...
While many people rang in the new year by watching the ball drop in Times Square or popping champagne, another tradition was celebrated by linguists around the world. As the year came to a close, dictionary companies and language societies...
There are close to 7,000 languages spoken on earth. However, it’s estimated that by the end of this century, up to 50% of them may be lost. Eighty percent of the world’s population now speaks just 1% of its languages,...
More than 50 countries around the world use English as an official language. But you might be surprised to learn that some of the major English-speaking countries, like Australia, the United States and England, are not on this list. So...
As the sun starts to set on October 31, children dressed as ghosts and superheroes go door to door asking for candy. Along their trick-or-treating route, they’ll visit houses decorated with skeletons, spiderwebs and jack-o-lanterns. Halloween is a popular American...
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