Linguistic Discovery
@linguisticdiscovery.com
🗣️ Teaching you about the science and diversity of language
📰 Sign up for the newsletter at LinguisticDiscovery.Substack.com or LinguisticDiscovery.com!
📰 Sign up for the newsletter at LinguisticDiscovery.Substack.com or LinguisticDiscovery.com!
“6-7” belongs in the dictionary, actually
In defense of @dictionarycom.bsky.social's Word of the Year
Website: linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/67/
Substack: linguisticdiscovery.substack.com/p/67
In defense of @dictionarycom.bsky.social's Word of the Year
Website: linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/67/
Substack: linguisticdiscovery.substack.com/p/67
November 22, 2025 at 8:54 PM
“6-7” belongs in the dictionary, actually
In defense of @dictionarycom.bsky.social's Word of the Year
Website: linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/67/
Substack: linguisticdiscovery.substack.com/p/67
In defense of @dictionarycom.bsky.social's Word of the Year
Website: linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/67/
Substack: linguisticdiscovery.substack.com/p/67
The Harvard-educated linguist breaking down ‘skibidi’ and ‘rizz’
Adam Aleksic, who posts as @etymologynerd.bsky.social, argues in a new book that algorithms are reshaping the English language.
Adam Aleksic, who posts as @etymologynerd.bsky.social, argues in a new book that algorithms are reshaping the English language.
November 22, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The Harvard-educated linguist breaking down ‘skibidi’ and ‘rizz’
Adam Aleksic, who posts as @etymologynerd.bsky.social, argues in a new book that algorithms are reshaping the English language.
Adam Aleksic, who posts as @etymologynerd.bsky.social, argues in a new book that algorithms are reshaping the English language.
RobWords @robwords.bsky.social of YouTube fame, lover of word facts and haver of language fun, recently started a Substack! Join his 11,000 other subscribers here:
robwords.substack.com
robwords.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:35 PM
RobWords @robwords.bsky.social of YouTube fame, lover of word facts and haver of language fun, recently started a Substack! Join his 11,000 other subscribers here:
robwords.substack.com
robwords.substack.com
The Halkomelem Language Program at the University of the Fraser Valley graduated its first cohort of 8 students this year.
Halkomelem /hɒlkəˈmeɪləm/ is a language spoken on the coast of British Columbia, Canada which is part of the Salishan language family.
www.theprogress.com/community/fi...
Halkomelem /hɒlkəˈmeɪləm/ is a language spoken on the coast of British Columbia, Canada which is part of the Salishan language family.
www.theprogress.com/community/fi...
November 18, 2025 at 8:35 PM
The Halkomelem Language Program at the University of the Fraser Valley graduated its first cohort of 8 students this year.
Halkomelem /hɒlkəˈmeɪləm/ is a language spoken on the coast of British Columbia, Canada which is part of the Salishan language family.
www.theprogress.com/community/fi...
Halkomelem /hɒlkəˈmeɪləm/ is a language spoken on the coast of British Columbia, Canada which is part of the Salishan language family.
www.theprogress.com/community/fi...
Sorry but “series” needs a better plural
I get it, Latin fifth declension nouns blah blah
But what are we using for the new plural going forward?
“serieses” is giving too much Gollum
I get it, Latin fifth declension nouns blah blah
But what are we using for the new plural going forward?
“serieses” is giving too much Gollum
November 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Sorry but “series” needs a better plural
I get it, Latin fifth declension nouns blah blah
But what are we using for the new plural going forward?
“serieses” is giving too much Gollum
I get it, Latin fifth declension nouns blah blah
But what are we using for the new plural going forward?
“serieses” is giving too much Gollum
The Linguistic Discovery newsletter recently passed 5,000 readers!
I only soft-launched the newsletter in August 2024, and then began publishing consistently in January, so it’s incredibly humbling that over 5,000 of you have signed up in a little over a year. I’m grateful for each one of you!
I only soft-launched the newsletter in August 2024, and then began publishing consistently in January, so it’s incredibly humbling that over 5,000 of you have signed up in a little over a year. I’m grateful for each one of you!
November 16, 2025 at 8:35 PM
The Linguistic Discovery newsletter recently passed 5,000 readers!
I only soft-launched the newsletter in August 2024, and then began publishing consistently in January, so it’s incredibly humbling that over 5,000 of you have signed up in a little over a year. I’m grateful for each one of you!
I only soft-launched the newsletter in August 2024, and then began publishing consistently in January, so it’s incredibly humbling that over 5,000 of you have signed up in a little over a year. I’m grateful for each one of you!
6-7 is an example of a specific type of slang that’s received its own category of late, called brainrot slang, referring to expressions that arise in “chronically online” communities and are said to be the result of consuming large amounts of low-value internet content.
November 15, 2025 at 8:35 PM
6-7 is an example of a specific type of slang that’s received its own category of late, called brainrot slang, referring to expressions that arise in “chronically online” communities and are said to be the result of consuming large amounts of low-value internet content.
Why do all languages have words for ‘this’ and ‘that’?
Researchers studied more than 1,000 speakers of 29 languages to see how they use demonstratives—words that show where something is in relation to the person talking (“this cat”, “that dog”).
Researchers studied more than 1,000 speakers of 29 languages to see how they use demonstratives—words that show where something is in relation to the person talking (“this cat”, “that dog”).
November 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Why do all languages have words for ‘this’ and ‘that’?
Researchers studied more than 1,000 speakers of 29 languages to see how they use demonstratives—words that show where something is in relation to the person talking (“this cat”, “that dog”).
Researchers studied more than 1,000 speakers of 29 languages to see how they use demonstratives—words that show where something is in relation to the person talking (“this cat”, “that dog”).
Yesterday’s “ampersand” is today’s “Elemeno Pea”.
Learn about the 27th letter of the alphabet in this week’s special guest issue of the Linguistic Discovery newsletter, by Joshua Blackburn @leagueofthelexicon.bsky.social
Learn about the 27th letter of the alphabet in this week’s special guest issue of the Linguistic Discovery newsletter, by Joshua Blackburn @leagueofthelexicon.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Yesterday’s “ampersand” is today’s “Elemeno Pea”.
Learn about the 27th letter of the alphabet in this week’s special guest issue of the Linguistic Discovery newsletter, by Joshua Blackburn @leagueofthelexicon.bsky.social
Learn about the 27th letter of the alphabet in this week’s special guest issue of the Linguistic Discovery newsletter, by Joshua Blackburn @leagueofthelexicon.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Archaeologists have discovered a stone tablet at a Tartessian site in southwestern Spain that depicts battle scenes in the center and a partial alphabet in a Paleo-Hispanic script along the edges (21 signs total).
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
November 8, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Archaeologists have discovered a stone tablet at a Tartessian site in southwestern Spain that depicts battle scenes in the center and a partial alphabet in a Paleo-Hispanic script along the edges (21 signs total).
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
The oldest runestone yet found was discovered in Norway in 2023. Known as the Svingerud Runestone, it dates to sometime between 0–250 CE, potentially making it the earliest instance of writing in Scandanavia.
November 7, 2025 at 8:35 PM
The oldest runestone yet found was discovered in Norway in 2023. Known as the Svingerud Runestone, it dates to sometime between 0–250 CE, potentially making it the earliest instance of writing in Scandanavia.
Check out this recent book that uses the study of online cat discourse to teach sociolinguistics!
What a cool way to introduce people to the field of sociolinguistics. You might be surprised at just how much we can learn about language from cat memes.
What a cool way to introduce people to the field of sociolinguistics. You might be surprised at just how much we can learn about language from cat memes.
October 31, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Check out this recent book that uses the study of online cat discourse to teach sociolinguistics!
What a cool way to introduce people to the field of sociolinguistics. You might be surprised at just how much we can learn about language from cat memes.
What a cool way to introduce people to the field of sociolinguistics. You might be surprised at just how much we can learn about language from cat memes.
‘Rizz’ vs. ‘skibidi’: Why some slang words stick around and others fade away
What gives some slang staying power? Linguistic experts weigh in on Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang words.
www.fastcompany.com/91142295/riz...
What gives some slang staying power? Linguistic experts weigh in on Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang words.
www.fastcompany.com/91142295/riz...
October 30, 2025 at 7:35 PM
‘Rizz’ vs. ‘skibidi’: Why some slang words stick around and others fade away
What gives some slang staying power? Linguistic experts weigh in on Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang words.
www.fastcompany.com/91142295/riz...
What gives some slang staying power? Linguistic experts weigh in on Gen Z and Gen Alpha slang words.
www.fastcompany.com/91142295/riz...
Need a new podcast to listen to? Here’s a list of over 60 linguistics podcasts:
linguisticdiscovery.com/podcasts
#podcasts #linguistics #language
linguisticdiscovery.com/podcasts
#podcasts #linguistics #language
October 29, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Need a new podcast to listen to? Here’s a list of over 60 linguistics podcasts:
linguisticdiscovery.com/podcasts
#podcasts #linguistics #language
linguisticdiscovery.com/podcasts
#podcasts #linguistics #language
How is soufflé linked to flatulence? Ask the linguist, not the doctor.
A recent book exploring the origins of common food terms—from bialy to lima bean to bibimbap—is a fascinating history of how we eat and cook.
A recent book exploring the origins of common food terms—from bialy to lima bean to bibimbap—is a fascinating history of how we eat and cook.
October 28, 2025 at 7:35 PM
How is soufflé linked to flatulence? Ask the linguist, not the doctor.
A recent book exploring the origins of common food terms—from bialy to lima bean to bibimbap—is a fascinating history of how we eat and cook.
A recent book exploring the origins of common food terms—from bialy to lima bean to bibimbap—is a fascinating history of how we eat and cook.
Also check out Dr. Bender’s book, “The AI Con: How to fight Big Tech’s hype and create the future we want”:
Amazon: amzn.to/47ofc1K
Bookshop: bookshop.org/a/110785/978...
Amazon: amzn.to/47ofc1K
Bookshop: bookshop.org/a/110785/978...
October 27, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Also check out Dr. Bender’s book, “The AI Con: How to fight Big Tech’s hype and create the future we want”:
Amazon: amzn.to/47ofc1K
Bookshop: bookshop.org/a/110785/978...
Amazon: amzn.to/47ofc1K
Bookshop: bookshop.org/a/110785/978...
We’re finally reading the secrets of Herculaneum’s lost library
A whole library’s worth of papyri owned by Julius Caesar’s father-in-law were turned to charcoal by the eruption of Vesuvius. Nearly 2000 years later, we can at last read these lost treasures.
A whole library’s worth of papyri owned by Julius Caesar’s father-in-law were turned to charcoal by the eruption of Vesuvius. Nearly 2000 years later, we can at last read these lost treasures.
October 26, 2025 at 7:35 PM
We’re finally reading the secrets of Herculaneum’s lost library
A whole library’s worth of papyri owned by Julius Caesar’s father-in-law were turned to charcoal by the eruption of Vesuvius. Nearly 2000 years later, we can at last read these lost treasures.
A whole library’s worth of papyri owned by Julius Caesar’s father-in-law were turned to charcoal by the eruption of Vesuvius. Nearly 2000 years later, we can at last read these lost treasures.
How AI and Wikipedia have sent vulnerable languages into a doom spiral
Machine translators have made it easier than ever to create error-plagued Wikipedia articles in obscure languages. What happens when AI models get trained on junk pages?
Machine translators have made it easier than ever to create error-plagued Wikipedia articles in obscure languages. What happens when AI models get trained on junk pages?
October 25, 2025 at 6:31 PM
How AI and Wikipedia have sent vulnerable languages into a doom spiral
Machine translators have made it easier than ever to create error-plagued Wikipedia articles in obscure languages. What happens when AI models get trained on junk pages?
Machine translators have made it easier than ever to create error-plagued Wikipedia articles in obscure languages. What happens when AI models get trained on junk pages?
For my conlangers, a new guide to constructing languages was just released.
What’s interesting about this book is that it’s designed specifically for use as a class, and not just for the purpose of introducing linguistics, but as a course focused on conlanging in its own right.
amzn.to/4qrt8Rm
What’s interesting about this book is that it’s designed specifically for use as a class, and not just for the purpose of introducing linguistics, but as a course focused on conlanging in its own right.
amzn.to/4qrt8Rm
October 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM
For my conlangers, a new guide to constructing languages was just released.
What’s interesting about this book is that it’s designed specifically for use as a class, and not just for the purpose of introducing linguistics, but as a course focused on conlanging in its own right.
amzn.to/4qrt8Rm
What’s interesting about this book is that it’s designed specifically for use as a class, and not just for the purpose of introducing linguistics, but as a course focused on conlanging in its own right.
amzn.to/4qrt8Rm
Birds worldwide use the same sound to warn of threats—and offer insight into the evolution of language
More than 20 species make a nearly identical noise to warn nearby birds of brood parasites, a behavior that bridges the “sharp division between animal communication systems and human language”
More than 20 species make a nearly identical noise to warn nearby birds of brood parasites, a behavior that bridges the “sharp division between animal communication systems and human language”
October 22, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Birds worldwide use the same sound to warn of threats—and offer insight into the evolution of language
More than 20 species make a nearly identical noise to warn nearby birds of brood parasites, a behavior that bridges the “sharp division between animal communication systems and human language”
More than 20 species make a nearly identical noise to warn nearby birds of brood parasites, a behavior that bridges the “sharp division between animal communication systems and human language”
Scientists have long and studiously avoided claiming that other animals have language. Now, using the power of AI, they are on the verge of deciphering one. Which species will be first?
October 20, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Scientists have long and studiously avoided claiming that other animals have language. Now, using the power of AI, they are on the verge of deciphering one. Which species will be first?
Too many em dashes? Weird words like ‘delves’? Spotting text written by ChatGPT is still more art than science. 🧵
October 19, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Too many em dashes? Weird words like ‘delves’? Spotting text written by ChatGPT is still more art than science. 🧵
Researchers have found that elephants are capable of using their trunks to make a range of gestures that express their intentions and wants.
October 18, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Researchers have found that elephants are capable of using their trunks to make a range of gestures that express their intentions and wants.
New York is the most linguistically diverse city on the planet. Can it stay that way?
October 17, 2025 at 7:21 PM
New York is the most linguistically diverse city on the planet. Can it stay that way?