Language

We still have no idea why humans speak over 7,000 languages

The thatched roof held back the sun’s rays, but it could not keep the tropical heat at bay. As everyone at the research workshop headed outside for a break, small groups splintered off to gather in the shade of coconut trees and enjoy a breeze. I wandered from group to group, joining in the …

The 15 best language apps

The hidden ways your language betrays your character

Every time we open our mouths, we unwittingly reveal our personalities.<p>If you overheard a conversation on a bus, do you think you could tell from the words that were used and the topics discussed, the personality of the people who were chatting? What about if I showed you a short story? Could you …

For the Love of Spanglish

AMHERST, Mass. — When I arrived at the San Juan airport in Puerto Rico recently, the first thing I heard was this exchange:<p>“Cómo estás, brother?”<p>“Muy cool!”<p>“Y la situación?”<p>“Ya tú sabes, stinky.”<p>(Or, roughly, “How are you?” “Really cool.” “How are things?” and “You know, stinky.”)<p>During that visit, …

Abraham Lincoln letter mystery solved 150 years later

Forensic linguists say they have likely unraveled the mystery surrounding a famous Civil War-era letter, long believed to have been written by …

Trump says Japanese first lady doesn't speak English despite video showing her speaking the language

President Trump said that Japanese first lady Akie Abe “doesn’t speak English,” although videos have shown her speaking the language.<p>Trump said in an …

Nine Skills Worth Learning for Any Career - and How to Learn Them

I recently had the pleasure of reading Scott Adams’ book <i>How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big</i>. At one point in the book, Adams refers to …

How Emojis Can Help Your Relationships

Texting is super helpful when it comes to relaying messages instantly (just never do it while driving or walking — unless your city has designated lanes), but it seriously sucks at capturing tone. You know, that certain feeling you put into a statement or a facial expression you make to let the …

The Accent Whisperers of Hollywood

<b>‘W</b>hy should I trust you?” Dominic Cooper said to Samara Bay, his dialect coach. “Trustya,” she replied, crushing the words together. “Why should I trustya,” Cooper repeated. The actor and coach were standing in the driveway of an old stone mansion in New Orleans’s Garden District, on break from …

5 Body Language Tips From 'Shark Tank'

Certain gestures can make you look unsure and vulnerable. Before you walk into a room of investors, take a few cues from body language expert Judi James.

Learning From A Complex Communications Experiment In My Own Home

<i>By Carolyn Massiah</i><p><i>UCF Forum columnist</i><p>I am living in what I believe is the most complex communications experiment that could be designed by researchers.<p>I have a 15-year-old son. He is very much like me. He is witty but also sometimes very direct in his communication style. I can appreciate talking …

Fears of British English’s disappearance are overblown

PAUL REVERE’S ride through Concord, Massachusetts, warning that “the British are coming! The British are coming!”, is said to have saved America’s …

If You're Between 30-50, I Bet You Learned The Word 'Ajar' From A Car

I should be clear here that I’m not an official expert in words; I’m no entomologist. You can tell that’s true because I just typed the word for …

JLo’s Use Of Non-Binary Pronouns For Sister’s Child Has Us Screaming YES

Jennifer Lopez just set the perfect example of how to respectfully address non-binary people, and her fans are loving it!On Monday, the "World of …

Eight Ways It Pays To Learn A Second Language [Infographic]

Image: iStock<p>Learning a second language is something most of us aspire to, but never get around to. This is unfortunate, as it's one of the most …

UK's first sign language poetry slam

Deaf poets have been fighting it out in the UK's first ever poetry slam for users of sign language.<p>The BBC followed one competitor, 20-year-old Honesty Willoughby from Bristol, through the process of composing a poem and performing it on the night.<p><i>Camera Daniel Gordon, Jamie Hamilton, Elise</i> …

Hemingway’s Cuban English

The Havana experience of the author, born 118 years ago today, summons intriguing questions about multilingualism and writing.

You Can Now Learn High Valyrian from DuoLingo

Emilia Clarke (Photo: Screenshot via HBO)<p><i>Game of Thrones</i> is back for another season, and the return to Westeros has been pretty great so far. And …

Countries Where You Can Make the Most Bank Teaching English

Let’s say you want to travel abroad -- for years, even -- but you don’t want to drain your bank account or leave any huge gaps on your resume. Let’s …

Babies can learn second language in 1 hour per day - Futurity

With just one hour of learning each day, babies as young as a 7 months old can begin to learn a new language—even when their parents don't speak it.

8 food words that have no English equivalent

Trying to grasp the colloquial language in a new country can be one of the most intimidating aspects of traveling abroad. You want to sound hip and …

How can ‘support’ be twisted into so many meanings? It’s unsupportable

Mind Your Language on the vague officialese that is turning into new language: one called ‘Ras’<p>The Foreword didn’t bode well. This was on the first page of <i>The Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices</i>. It was a ‘Foreword by Mathew’ as though he were some promising infant. In the second sentence he …

Babies can understand the difference between two languages while in the womb, scientists find

Unborn babies are able to recognise the difference between two languages, scientists have found.<p>Foetuses are able to distinguish between English and …

The People of 2050

If you were to stop by my house and ask to use the wifi, I would point you to the <b>#Peopleof2050</b> network. The password is simple: a set of two emoji …

When Is a Proper Name a Proper Noun?

Rose Jacobs explains why it’s so hard to teach English-as-a-second-language students how to use a, an, and the, proving the madness of searching …

10 Pieces of Lying Lingo from Across the United States | Mental Floss

Maligner. Fabricator. Fibber. Con artist. There are all sorts of ways you can say "liar," but in case you're running out, we’ve worked with the …

BBC Learning English - Course: English in the News Thai / Unit 1 / Session 4 / Activity 1

Learning English<p>Inspiring language learning since 1943<p>ไทย เปลี่ยนภาษา<p>Essential English Conversationหลักสูตร<br>• English on the Streetหลักสูตร<br>• English in the Newsหลักสูตร<p>English<br>• Pусский<br>• Español<br>• فارسی<br>• 中文<br>• Tiếng Việt<br>• Português<br>• ไทย<p>หลักสูตร<p>ค้นหา<p>Essential English Conversationหลักสูตร<br>• English on the …

This glove costs less than $100 and will translate sign language | Miami Herald

For a fraction of the cost of a new iPhone, researchers at University of California, San Diego, developed a smart glove that can translate the …

13 Paid iPhone Apps on Sale For Free Today Hurry Up Don’t Miss The Chance

1) Translator HD !!<p>With Translator HD, you can translate any text between 58 world languages. All you have to do is select your source and target …

A New Smart Glove Translates Sign Language In Real Time

For less than $100, the wearable immediately turns hand signals into digital text<p>American Sign Language can now be translated in real time into …