318 Words for Snow: How to Preserve the Indigenous Languages of the Arctic
How scientists, linguists, and activists are working together to preserve indigenous languages in the Arctic—as well as the region's biodiversity.
The Delightful Language of Commencement
Commencement speeches have inspired, motivated and captivated many. Just what makes the words found in them so wonderful and life-affirming?
Charles Dickens and the Linguistic Art of the Minor Character
Charles Dickens' characters are famous for their elaborate, often hilarious names. Even for bit parts, Dickens' naming conventions were linguistically rich.
Man, Interrupting
Do men interrupt more than women? Why? A look at the research on gender and interrupting.
Putting Words in Your Mouth: The Whimsical Language of Food
Many whimsically named regional foods focus instead on telling a story that often sounds neither delicious nor sophisticated. How do such odd names stick?
Language Loss in a Time of War
War happens when words no longer work. Yet war is declared at the very point when words are at their most powerful. Chi Luu examines language loss in war.
Sarah Webster Fabio: Mother of Black Studies
Poet, teacher, musician, and scholar of black literature, Sarah Webser Fabio, helped build a Black Arts movement on the West Coast.
Personification Is Your Friend: The Language of Inanimate Objects
Studies have shown that anthropomorphizing not only helps us learn. It also serves a social function, helping us feel connected.
Do You Even Language, Bro? Understanding Why Nouns Become Verbs
Understanding the phenomenon known as "verbing"--where nouns are turned into verbs.
Could Siri Change the Course of Human Evolution?
Siri is changing the way people speak by homogenizing how things are spoken. Which begs the question: Why do we have accents?