Japanese has special verbs just for giving and receiving things. For example, あげる (ageru) means ‘to give,’ while もらう (morau) and polite いただく (itadaku) mean ‘to receive.’ #linguistics #languages #japanese #wordnerd

If you liked this experiment, I published a full piece today in the same vein: a text that gets 100 years older with every section, from a modern blog post to a medieval chronicle. It's a single story spanning 1000 years of English. See how far you get. www.deadlanguagesociety.com/p/how-far-ba...

It's amazing how some words can mean one thing at one point in time and, years later, mean the complete opposite. https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/7-words-you-use-that-now-mean-the-opposite-of-what-they-used-to/ #linguistics #etymology

When we listen to speech, our brain interprets information quickly, using linguistic knowledge, context, expectations, and past experiences to build what we ultimately hear. https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/auditory-illusions-in-speech-perception-definition-and-examples/ #linguistics #phonetics

Some benefits of metalinguistic awareness: - It makes reading easier and more enjoyable - It improves language learning speed - It makes conversations more efficient because you're using your words carefully https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/what-is-metalinguistic-awareness/ #linguistics

A new study looks at how the brain organizes and interprets information about speech as it unfolds in real time, showing that our brains process both multiple words and multiple types of information (phonetic, syntactic, semantic, etc.) in parallel.

Check in on the latest issue of Studies in Second Language Acquisition: 📚 https://cup.org/49ny01S #linguistics

Speech is a physical event, and as such, it can be broken down into measurable parts like vibrations, airflow, and sound energy. Blog post: aboutlinguistics.com/explore/what... #linguistics #phonetics #acousticphonetics

Check out the latest research on emerging trends and hot topics in Natural Language Processing: 📚 https://cup.org/3Yw9LK9 #linguistics

Psycholinguistics is the scientific study of how humans acquire, comprehend, and produce language. #linguistics #psycholinguistics #psychology aboutlinguistics.com/explore/what...

Auditory illusions in speech perception: When our brain misinterprets acoustic information, making us understand something different from what was said. #linguistics #auditoryphonetics #phonetics

Beneath all language learning recommendations lie some core principles that have revolutionised how we understand language acquisition. aboutlinguistics.com/explore/the-... #linguistics #language #languagelearning

The word ‘disaster’ comes from Latin disastrum: dis-: ‘bad’, ‘ill’, or ‘unfavourable’ astrum: ‘star’ Stars were associated with fate. When something bad happened, it was because the stars weren't 'aligned'. That's also why we also have words like 'ill-starred'. #linguistics #words  #wordnerd

Is it weird to love the International Phonetic Alphabet? Asking for a friend #linguistics #phonetics #IPA

What do you think about elongated silences in conversations? https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/when-silence-becomes-awkward-in-conversation/ #linguistics #silence #conversation #awkward

Stephen Krashen and language learning https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/the-5-essential-bases-of-language-learning-you-need-to-know/ #linguistics #language #languagelearning

Hard copies of my new OUP book with @lhlew.bsky.social have arrived! Kaz gives it five stars for being smooth, shiny, easy-to-hide-behind, and delicious #linguistics

The essential principles Stephen Krashen identified that determine whether any learning method actually works. #linguistics #language #learninglanguages #languagelearning #polyglot aboutlinguistics.com/explore/the-...

Gesture a Slim Guide is available with a 30% discount code (AUFLY30) on the global.oup.com/academic website - for the hardcover (and it looks like it works for the very cute softcover too) global.oup.com/academic/pro...

The first-ever monolingual Irish dictionary has been published www.joe.ie/news/launch-...

“They’ll tell you that the arts and humanities aren’t practical and then read poetry at funerals and weddings, cry over films and search for meaning in ancient philosophy. Surviving is one type of practicality, knowing why we bother is another.” — Joel Uili (quoted in Common Reader, 2025)

I may or may not have spent the last 20 minutes hypnotised by this

It's no surprise that language is in constant evolution, but what I find remarkable is how some words can mean one thing at one point in time and, years later, mean the complete opposite. aboutlinguistics.com/explore/7-wo... #linguistics #words #language #english

How does language learning actually work? aboutlinguistics.com/explore/the-... #linguistics #language #languagelearning

#Linguistics #Language & #Meaning

Auditory phonetics is the branch of phonetics that studies how humans hear and perceive speech sounds. https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/what-is-auditory-phonetics/ #linguistics #phonetics #sounds #hearing

Which of these words should we bring back into English? - Nim: To steal - Hob: A shelf in a fireplace - Caitiff: A cowardly person - Quail: To flinch or shrink back #linguistics #English #language

Switching between languages trains your brain to handle multiple tasks with ease.  https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/12-benefits-of-being-bilingual #bilingual #languagelearning #languages

I love the internet

Some personal thoughts on silence in conversations. https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/when-silence-becomes-awkward-in-conversation/ #linguistics #silence #conversation #awkward

English spelling is so confusing because it got 'frozen' around the printing press era, when printers chose standard spellings to save time.  Pronunciation kept changing, though, meaning today’s spellings often don’t match how words sound. #English #spelling #language

Learn about the benefits of developing metalinguistic awareness through reading. https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/how-reading-enhances-your-metalinguistic-awareness/ #linguistics #language #reading #books #literature

The International Phonetic Alphabet is a system of symbols used to represent the sounds of any spoken language.

Cognitive linguistics shows us how closely thought and language are connected. Changing the way you phrase your internal speech is one of the simplest ways to shift mindset, motivation, and emotional wellbeing. #linguistics #cognitive #psychology #mindfulness

The schwa is a neutral vowel in English that sounds like "uh", for example the first sound in the word "about" or the last sound in the word "sofa". https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/what-is-a-schwa/ #linguistics #phonetics #english #language

In many cases, meanings are only clear when in contrast. For example: - 'good' makes sense because 'bad' exists - 'legal' because 'illegal' exists This is because meaning is partly defined by what something is not. #linguistics #meaning #language #semantics

In this post, I explain how metalinguistic awareness is enhanced by reading, and also the benefits that it provides. https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/how-reading-enhances-your-metalinguistic-awareness/ #linguistics #reading #books #literature #language

Considered by many to be the most common sound in English, the schwa is a rarely noticed but always present vowel, and it's absolutely essential for the English language to sound the way it does. https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/what-is-a-schwa/ #linguistics #language #phonetics #schwa

Some sentences can be grammatically correct but still meaningless.  Take Chomsky's example: ‘Colourless green ideas sleep furiously’ Grammatically flawless, but it doesn't make sense. #linguistics #chomsky #words #grammar

Sharing some thoughts on when silence becomes awkward in conversation. https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/when-silence-becomes-awkward-in-conversation/ #linguistics #silence #conversation #awkward

When we read, we're not only following a story or receiving information, we're also learning about language itself. Over time, this repeated exposure changes the way we experience language. https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/how-reading-enhances-your-metalinguistic-awareness/ #linguistics

Do bilinguals mix up languages? Yes, and it’s a feature! 🌼 Code-switching: using different languages in one conversation. 🌼 Code-mixing: blending them in one sentence. Both languages stay active, so the most useful word pops out. #linguistics #language #bilingual

'Like' is one of those words we hear everywhere. It slips into sentences almost unnoticed, appearing in all kinds of informal conversations. The question is, why is it used so often? https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/why-we-say-like-so-much-when-we-speak/ #linguistics #language #like #funfact

The word 'whiskey' comes from a Gaelic phrase, 'uisce beatha', which means 'water of life'.  https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/36-interesting-word-origins-that-will-surprise-you/ #linguistics #etymology

Some examples of when phonetics shows up in your daily life: - When you ask Siri or Alexa a question - When you mishear lyrics - When you read the subtitles because you didn't quite catch what the character said https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/8-reasons-why-phonetics-matters/ #linguistics

The word 'parasite' is of Greek origin, 'parasitos', formed by 'para-' ('beside') and 'sitos' ('grain' or 'food'), means 'one who eats at another's table'.  https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/36-interesting-word-origins-that-will-surprise-you/ #linguistics #etymology

Did you know that in English the glottal stop can be used for emphasis? For example: 'It was [ʔ]awful.' https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/what-is-a-glottal-stop/ #phonetics #linguistics #language

The Bible has been translated into 700+ languages, making it the most translated text ever. Interestingly, its translations sometimes constitute the first written instance of a language. #Linguistics #LanguageFacts #Translation

'Tulip' comes from the Ottoman Turkish 'tülbend' or 'dülbend', meaning 'turban', because the shape of the flower resembles a turban. https://aboutlinguistics.com/explore/36-interesting-word-origins-that-will-surprise-you/ #linguistics #etymology