Etymologist
@etymology.bsky.social
True but unserious facts about language history every day! unless it’s raining or I’m busy. Blame @coolhand
I don’t think any of us want to be Americans right now, so here’s Canada! It has (or, sadly, had) an enormous variety of first peoples’ languages.
September 29, 2023 at 10:48 AM
I don’t think any of us want to be Americans right now, so here’s Canada! It has (or, sadly, had) an enormous variety of first peoples’ languages.
Ever seen a chart of Morse code? It’s really cool! There are some very creative keyboard designs based on this (and other schema) to help people with disabilities communicate more quickly via switch or eye gaze
September 28, 2023 at 11:20 PM
Ever seen a chart of Morse code? It’s really cool! There are some very creative keyboard designs based on this (and other schema) to help people with disabilities communicate more quickly via switch or eye gaze
This is a very interesting chart of the origins of the word “two,” but whoever made it … well, I don’t know what they were going for really. Fireworks? Enjoy
September 22, 2023 at 7:02 PM
This is a very interesting chart of the origins of the word “two,” but whoever made it … well, I don’t know what they were going for really. Fireworks? Enjoy
Probably my favorite book that I own is this one signed by Helen Keller. Since I was posting about orthography last week … check out her handwriting! She was a rad person
September 21, 2023 at 12:31 AM
Probably my favorite book that I own is this one signed by Helen Keller. Since I was posting about orthography last week … check out her handwriting! She was a rad person
I’m grumpy this morning so we’re going with the origins of the names of candy. Mmmm candy
September 20, 2023 at 1:46 PM
I’m grumpy this morning so we’re going with the origins of the names of candy. Mmmm candy
Late night is for language memes
September 20, 2023 at 8:47 AM
Late night is for language memes
India is incredibly linguistically diverse! Here’s some cool maps to illustrate
September 20, 2023 at 1:56 AM
India is incredibly linguistically diverse! Here’s some cool maps to illustrate
Speaking of cool alphabets - technically orthography - check out these amazing scripts from West Africa. The area is historically so resource rich that people didn’t have to travel to hunt or trade, so languages evolved in isolation
September 19, 2023 at 6:10 PM
Speaking of cool alphabets - technically orthography - check out these amazing scripts from West Africa. The area is historically so resource rich that people didn’t have to travel to hunt or trade, so languages evolved in isolation
Last language meme for the weekend… get killing, kids!
September 18, 2023 at 3:34 AM
Last language meme for the weekend… get killing, kids!
Some more weekend fun. My field is augmentative communication so this hits home
September 17, 2023 at 6:42 PM
Some more weekend fun. My field is augmentative communication so this hits home
Weekend etymology memes: late night edition (M for Mature)
September 17, 2023 at 5:00 AM
Weekend etymology memes: late night edition (M for Mature)
Weekends are for language memes
September 17, 2023 at 1:17 AM
Weekends are for language memes
For something slightly different: here’s an evolutionary tree of all the major large language models from Word2Vec through GPT-4. Cool! As a computational linguist I’ve worked a few places on that tree …
September 15, 2023 at 7:19 PM
For something slightly different: here’s an evolutionary tree of all the major large language models from Word2Vec through GPT-4. Cool! As a computational linguist I’ve worked a few places on that tree …
Honestly “qu” could be one letter
September 15, 2023 at 2:38 AM
Honestly “qu” could be one letter
You don't have to say a word to be my friend 🥹
September 14, 2023 at 6:57 PM
You don't have to say a word to be my friend 🥹
Good morning! I’m thinking about karaoke tonight
September 14, 2023 at 1:20 PM
Good morning! I’m thinking about karaoke tonight
nighttime is meme time
September 14, 2023 at 7:49 AM
nighttime is meme time
Let’s do some maps! Here’s one I like with meanings and geography for a (small) portion of Native American languages
Over 40 are known to have been spoken in the Pacific Northwest. The biological diversity allowed tribes to live in isolation; there are more isolates there than anywhere in the world
Over 40 are known to have been spoken in the Pacific Northwest. The biological diversity allowed tribes to live in isolation; there are more isolates there than anywhere in the world
September 14, 2023 at 12:58 AM
Let’s do some maps! Here’s one I like with meanings and geography for a (small) portion of Native American languages
Over 40 are known to have been spoken in the Pacific Northwest. The biological diversity allowed tribes to live in isolation; there are more isolates there than anywhere in the world
Over 40 are known to have been spoken in the Pacific Northwest. The biological diversity allowed tribes to live in isolation; there are more isolates there than anywhere in the world
Unfortunately your friendly neighborhood word nerd here is colorblind. I’m convinced y’all made up most ot these colors. Purple in particular
September 13, 2023 at 4:47 PM
Unfortunately your friendly neighborhood word nerd here is colorblind. I’m convinced y’all made up most ot these colors. Purple in particular
Someone commented about this last week - “chai if by land, tea if by sea.” I think it tells a fascinating story about humans in that era and raises a lot of questions.
For example: did the British take so long around the born of Africa that they actually evolved the word? 😂
For example: did the British take so long around the born of Africa that they actually evolved the word? 😂
September 12, 2023 at 12:50 PM
Someone commented about this last week - “chai if by land, tea if by sea.” I think it tells a fascinating story about humans in that era and raises a lot of questions.
For example: did the British take so long around the born of Africa that they actually evolved the word? 😂
For example: did the British take so long around the born of Africa that they actually evolved the word? 😂
Someone just sent this to me on another site and I’m compelled to share because I’m hoping the curse it gave me will leap from me to you. I’m so sorry
September 12, 2023 at 12:38 AM
Someone just sent this to me on another site and I’m compelled to share because I’m hoping the curse it gave me will leap from me to you. I’m so sorry
Some may have seen this defense of trans rights and terminology from Merriam-Webster but it’s worth sharing again.
“Oh no! More people to love and more words to learn!” … don’t threaten me with a good time
“Oh no! More people to love and more words to learn!” … don’t threaten me with a good time
September 11, 2023 at 7:12 PM
Some may have seen this defense of trans rights and terminology from Merriam-Webster but it’s worth sharing again.
“Oh no! More people to love and more words to learn!” … don’t threaten me with a good time
“Oh no! More people to love and more words to learn!” … don’t threaten me with a good time
In honor of poor X, let’s take a moment to recognize some other letters that English has done dirty over the years
🎶 in the arms of the angels
🎶 in the arms of the angels
September 11, 2023 at 3:40 PM
In honor of poor X, let’s take a moment to recognize some other letters that English has done dirty over the years
🎶 in the arms of the angels
🎶 in the arms of the angels