#linguistics

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#language-evolution

Could we ever decipher an alien language? Uncovering how AI communicates may be the key

AI research on emergent communication could provide insights into the evolution of human language.

Touch grass,' For You page': See 200 new words and phrases added to Merriam-Webster

Merriam-Webster adds 200 new words to reflect the evolving English language, showcasing changes influenced by science, politics, and social media.

Ouch! Linguists Find Universal Language for Pain

Pain interjections globally tend to contain the vowel sound 'ah,' indicating possible evolutionary links to the origins of human language.

How 'misspoke' has shifted to become a political weasel word

Politicians increasingly use 'misspoke' to downplay inaccuracies, shifting from mere errors to misrepresentation.
The term 'misspoke' has evolved into a euphemism for lying in political discourse.

Eight, Ocho, Acht Most Fascinating Language Discoveries of 2024

Language evolves continuously, revealing shared patterns and new technologies for communication.

Opinion | Donald Trump Is Bored

Trump's extravagant language choices reflect boredom rather than cognitive decline.
Linguistic extravagance highlights the desire to be noticed and expressive.
Humor and exaggeration significantly enhance communication.

Could we ever decipher an alien language? Uncovering how AI communicates may be the key

AI research on emergent communication could provide insights into the evolution of human language.

Touch grass,' For You page': See 200 new words and phrases added to Merriam-Webster

Merriam-Webster adds 200 new words to reflect the evolving English language, showcasing changes influenced by science, politics, and social media.

Ouch! Linguists Find Universal Language for Pain

Pain interjections globally tend to contain the vowel sound 'ah,' indicating possible evolutionary links to the origins of human language.

How 'misspoke' has shifted to become a political weasel word

Politicians increasingly use 'misspoke' to downplay inaccuracies, shifting from mere errors to misrepresentation.
The term 'misspoke' has evolved into a euphemism for lying in political discourse.

Eight, Ocho, Acht Most Fascinating Language Discoveries of 2024

Language evolves continuously, revealing shared patterns and new technologies for communication.

Opinion | Donald Trump Is Bored

Trump's extravagant language choices reflect boredom rather than cognitive decline.
Linguistic extravagance highlights the desire to be noticed and expressive.
Humor and exaggeration significantly enhance communication.
morelanguage-evolution
from Medievalists.net
1 week ago

10 Medieval Phrases We Still Use Today - Medievalists.net

Many everyday phrases used today have medieval origins, evidencing how historical language persists through time.
#animal-communication

Will humans ever speak wolf? A scientist unravels the complexities of animal chatter

Arik Kershenbaum's work illuminates animal communication, revealing insights into language evolution relevant to humans.

Machine learning helps to discover sperm whale 'alphabet'

Researchers applied machine learning to decode sperm whale communication 'alphabet' through coda sequences, similar to human linguistic structures.

Will humans ever speak wolf? A scientist unravels the complexities of animal chatter

Arik Kershenbaum's work illuminates animal communication, revealing insights into language evolution relevant to humans.

Machine learning helps to discover sperm whale 'alphabet'

Researchers applied machine learning to decode sperm whale communication 'alphabet' through coda sequences, similar to human linguistic structures.
moreanimal-communication
#word-games

Sunday Puzzle: Can you guess these words from these phonetic clues?

The phonetic puzzle challenges participants to combine sounds with letters to create new words or phrases.

Word Game: Dec. 4, 2024

The Menorah symbolizes Jewish worship, culture, and resilience in history.

Word Game: Nov. 25, 2024

The term "HEBDOMAD" signifies a group of seven or a period of seven days.

Word Game: Nov. 5, 2024

Participants can create multiple words from 'Hector' while adhering to specific game rules.
Quality word selections showcase creativity and linguistic skills in daily challenges.

Sunday Puzzle: Can you guess these words from these phonetic clues?

The phonetic puzzle challenges participants to combine sounds with letters to create new words or phrases.

Word Game: Dec. 4, 2024

The Menorah symbolizes Jewish worship, culture, and resilience in history.

Word Game: Nov. 25, 2024

The term "HEBDOMAD" signifies a group of seven or a period of seven days.

Word Game: Nov. 5, 2024

Participants can create multiple words from 'Hector' while adhering to specific game rules.
Quality word selections showcase creativity and linguistic skills in daily challenges.
moreword-games
#machine-learning

Scientists reveal place names that are most 'archetypically English'

'Harlington' is identified as the most English-sounding place name in England, according to an AI study.
The study used machine learning to compare English place names to place names from 10 other European locations to determine their Englishness.

The Limitations and Failure Cases of DreamLLM: How Far Can it Go? | HackerNoon

DREAMLLM showcases advanced MLLM capabilities but is constrained by model scale and training data quality issues.

Scientists reveal place names that are most 'archetypically English'

'Harlington' is identified as the most English-sounding place name in England, according to an AI study.
The study used machine learning to compare English place names to place names from 10 other European locations to determine their Englishness.

The Limitations and Failure Cases of DreamLLM: How Far Can it Go? | HackerNoon

DREAMLLM showcases advanced MLLM capabilities but is constrained by model scale and training data quality issues.
moremachine-learning
#cultural-heritage

WOLF lab is working to document, preserve Native languages - Harvard Gazette

Revitalizing the endangered Alabama language is vital as it connects the community to their culture and identity.

Endangered languages are dying rapidly. Linguists are trying to save some of them

Over 40% of the world's languages are projected to be endangered by the century's end, necessitating urgent revitalization efforts.

WOLF lab is working to document, preserve Native languages - Harvard Gazette

Revitalizing the endangered Alabama language is vital as it connects the community to their culture and identity.

Endangered languages are dying rapidly. Linguists are trying to save some of them

Over 40% of the world's languages are projected to be endangered by the century's end, necessitating urgent revitalization efforts.
morecultural-heritage
#language-learning

'Linguaphile' is Julie Sedivy's meditation on language

Julie Sedivy's memoir explores the joy and chaos of early language learning from diverse environments.
Her experiences illustrate the contrast between informal and formal language acquisition.

Gift the Power of Language Learning with This Limited-Time Price on Babbel | Entrepreneur

Babbel offers a lifetime subscription for language learning at a discounted price, ideal for personal and professional growth.

'Linguaphile' is Julie Sedivy's meditation on language

Julie Sedivy's memoir explores the joy and chaos of early language learning from diverse environments.
Her experiences illustrate the contrast between informal and formal language acquisition.

Gift the Power of Language Learning with This Limited-Time Price on Babbel | Entrepreneur

Babbel offers a lifetime subscription for language learning at a discounted price, ideal for personal and professional growth.
morelanguage-learning

AI needs to work on its conversation game

AI struggles with turn-taking in conversations, while humans navigate this naturally by evaluating both verbal and non-verbal cues.

Can YOU tell if these accents are real? Take the test to find out

Some UK accents are harder to fake than others, suggesting an evolutionary advantage in detecting outsiders.
#word-game

Word Game: Nov. 12, 2024

Globulin is a versatile protein found in both plant and animal tissues, essential for biological functions.

Word Game: Nov. 19, 2024

The word game engages players to create at least 25 words from 'LINTER', emphasizing skill and creativity.

Word Game: Nov. 12, 2024

Globulin is a versatile protein found in both plant and animal tissues, essential for biological functions.

Word Game: Nov. 19, 2024

The word game engages players to create at least 25 words from 'LINTER', emphasizing skill and creativity.
moreword-game
#language

Sunday Puzzle: Two of the same

Identify a famous American whose name contains four identical consonants and has a total of eight letters.

Words of the year: maybe I'm delulu, but these don't seem like words people actually use

Words of the year often lack genuine usage outside niche communities, as evidenced by their absence in crossword puzzles.

Everyday Philosophy: Do emojis help or hurt our language?

Emojis complicate communication, provoking a discussion on whether they enrich or impoverish language use and understanding.

What Bridezillas Can Tell Us About English

English can create new terms by combining prefixes and suffixes without strict rules.
The suffix '-zilla' originated from 'Godzilla' and has a few notable usages.

"When Life Gives You Lemons..." And 19 Other Phrases You May Or May Not Know The Second Half To

Anapodoton allows the main clause to be inferred from a subordinate clause, enabling concise communication.

Sunday Puzzle: Two of the same

Identify a famous American whose name contains four identical consonants and has a total of eight letters.

Words of the year: maybe I'm delulu, but these don't seem like words people actually use

Words of the year often lack genuine usage outside niche communities, as evidenced by their absence in crossword puzzles.

Everyday Philosophy: Do emojis help or hurt our language?

Emojis complicate communication, provoking a discussion on whether they enrich or impoverish language use and understanding.

What Bridezillas Can Tell Us About English

English can create new terms by combining prefixes and suffixes without strict rules.
The suffix '-zilla' originated from 'Godzilla' and has a few notable usages.

"When Life Gives You Lemons..." And 19 Other Phrases You May Or May Not Know The Second Half To

Anapodoton allows the main clause to be inferred from a subordinate clause, enabling concise communication.
morelanguage
#cognitive-science

Prompt Chemistry: Building "Word Catalysts" to Optimize LLMs

The evolution in prompt design enhances AI engagement, viewing prompts as compounds that deepen cognitive interactions.

Fifteen Word-Link Puzzles

Connective thinking reveals how language and meaning are interconnected, highlighting cognitive processes through word puzzles.

Prompt Chemistry: Building "Word Catalysts" to Optimize LLMs

The evolution in prompt design enhances AI engagement, viewing prompts as compounds that deepen cognitive interactions.

Fifteen Word-Link Puzzles

Connective thinking reveals how language and meaning are interconnected, highlighting cognitive processes through word puzzles.
morecognitive-science

Runes prove Elfdalian is distinct ancient Nordic language, say researchers

Elfdalian is a unique language with ancient roots, currently seeking acknowledgment as a distinct minority language in Sweden.

Events celebrate Chinese composer who also transformed language | Cornell Chronicle

The event at Cornell celebrates Chao Yuen-Ren's contributions to music and linguistics, highlighting his innovative blending of musical styles and language reform.

Touch grass,' For You page': See 200 new words and phrases added to Merriam-Webster

Merriam-Webster adds 200 new words and phrases, reflecting changes in language due to social media, politics, and science.
#kamala-harris

What a Linguist Hears when Kamala Harris Speaks

Kamala Harris's communication style is crucial to understanding her presidential campaign strategy.

Linguist Analyzes Election Debate Performances

Language in debates reflects candidates' identity and strategy.
Kamala Harris balances formal presidential language with her cultural speech patterns to engage voters.

What a Linguist Hears when Kamala Harris Speaks

Kamala Harris's communication style is crucial to understanding her presidential campaign strategy.

Linguist Analyzes Election Debate Performances

Language in debates reflects candidates' identity and strategy.
Kamala Harris balances formal presidential language with her cultural speech patterns to engage voters.
morekamala-harris

101 Mind-Blowing Facts That Sound Like They're Big Huge Lies But Are Actually Completely, Totally, 100% True

The time difference between T-Rex and Stegosaurus exceeds the difference between T-Rex and today.

Aargh, It's Talk Like a Pirate Day

New York University is celebrating International Talk Like a Pirate Day with a video on the history of pirate language.

Sunday Puzzle: Antonyms Attract

Listeners must change one letter in each of two words to form antonyms, tapping into linguistic creativity.

The strangest insult in US politics: why do Republicans call it the Democrat party'?

The term 'Democrat party' is used as a linguistic tactic to undermine the Democratic Party's identity and demonstrate affiliation among certain political groups.

Where Does The Term 'Snack' Come From? - Tasting Table

The word 'snack' has evolved from denoting light food to also describing attractiveness, showcasing its cultural significance and linguistic flexibility.

Solving a 2,500-Year-Old Puzzle: How a Cambridge Student Cracked an Ancient Sanskrit Code

Taking a break can lead to breakthroughs in solving long-standing intellectual problems.
Rishi Rajpopat's insights into Pāṇini's grammar illustrate the benefits of fresh perspectives after periods of disengagement.

The new plague ridden Duolingo logo is making me sad

Duolingo's redesign of its mascot Duo reflects a creative but alarming marketing tactic to encourage user engagement in language learning.
#communication

AI Helping to Decode Sperm Whale Language

Sperm whale communication, now revealed to be complex and structured, shows similarities to human language through advanced AI understanding.

The Cognitive Neuroscientist Who Helped Unravel the Mysteries of Language

Sign language has specific building blocks and rules like spoken language.
Ursula Bellugi's discoveries about sign language complexity deepened understanding of communication.

AI Helping to Decode Sperm Whale Language

Sperm whale communication, now revealed to be complex and structured, shows similarities to human language through advanced AI understanding.

The Cognitive Neuroscientist Who Helped Unravel the Mysteries of Language

Sign language has specific building blocks and rules like spoken language.
Ursula Bellugi's discoveries about sign language complexity deepened understanding of communication.
morecommunication

Opinion | Harris Gonna Code Switch

Language is increasingly recognized for its dynamic nature, especially through social media and public discourse.
Criticism of code-switching reflects societal biases against linguistic adaptability, evident in responses to public figures like Kamala Harris.

Is the English language really just 'badly pronounced French'?

French linguist explains the intertwined history of the English and French languages, emphasizing how English absorbed numerous words from various origins.

The severed hand' revealing how Stone Age Brits spoke to each other

Studies indicate a potential link between Basque language and prehistoric Western Europe.
Genetic and archaeological evidence point to a Middle-East origin for Neolithic languages in Europe.

New Linguistics Technique Could Reveal Who Spoke the First Indo-European Languages

Indo-European languages share a common origin traced back thousands of years.
A new analysis suggests the origin of the Indo-European language may have been with a community of farmers in Anatolia, modern-day Turkey.

The Weekender

Newly found photos revive questions about deadly expedition on Aconcagua
Africans contribute to the evolution and spread of the French language

The Truth About English Grammar by Geoffrey K Pullum review the pants rule and other pipe dreams

Not all traditional grammar rules are accurate; Pullum challenges conventional wisdom with alternative grammar perspectives.
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