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People who speak more than one language are fascinating. They provide insight into the power of language and how it shapes the way we think [...]
Two remarkable etymological maps show twin forces at work throughout human history. Read more
In more than a dozen countries as far apart as Portugal and Russia, 'Smith' is the most popular occupational surname. Read more
Giga- and nano- are not the final frontier. Read more
We make it no secret here that we think words are really cool. Read more
It may not make children better writers. But it is valuable all the same. Read more
The pandemic has driven a great leap forward in digital learning. Is there any point in looking back? Read more
When the Normans came and conquered in 1066, they brought the French language with them. So why did it not persist, and how did English [...]
Publishers avoid highlighting the people who choose every word of the books they bring to English readers. This lack of transparency is misguided and unfair. [...]
English has a long tradition of wrangling over its lack of a gender-neutral pronoun. Read more
Dutch has reached an all-time low in Wallonia as a language study choice for pupils. Read more
Lila Gleitman’s research illuminated the way children learn to speak. Read more
But they and interpreters rarely get their due. Read more
As long as people joke, swear and use irony, computers will never take the place of translators. Read more
They slice up the messy reality of life differently from your own. Read more
The Walloon government will mobilise €10 billion to boost the economy, one of the key measures of which will be to promote the learning of [...]
If you want an obituary in the New York Times, there is one sure-fire way: coin a famous word. People have found their way into [...]
If you frequently Google language-related questions, whether out of interest or need, you’ve probably seen an advertisement for Grammarly, an automated grammar-checker. In ubiquitous YouTube [...]
It can be hard sometimes, when speaking, to remember all of the grammatical rules that guide us when we're writing. When is it right to [...]
Language is endlessly variable. Each of us can come up with an infinite number of sentences in our native language, and we're able to do [...]
Backed by research and personal anecdotes, Spanish professor Anna Babel reveals the intricate relationship between language and culture, showing how social categories and underlying biases [...]
The people of Flanders have elected the word ‘knuffelcontact’ as their Word of the Year. ‘Knuffelcontact’ means hug buddy or cuddle contact in English and has [...]
Dans son célèbre roman "1984", George Orwell l’avait prédit : le totalitarisme détériore la langue et en crée une nouvelle pour mieux accroître son emprise et [...]
A recent NIHR report found that students with previously low connectedness scores saw improvement in well-being and eased anxiety. Read more
There are parallels between the two processes—as Charles Darwin saw. Read more
Si les trois langues officielles de Belgique sont le français, le néerlandais et l’allemand, les Belges semblent aussi tirer leur épingle du jeu lorsqu’il s’agit [...]
Home schooling in the coronavirus pandemic has been the time for educational technology to shine, but flaws have meant it hasn't lived up to its [...]
Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity. Read more
Those who think the world is full of intrigue and plots often have their own language Read more
Those who think the world is full of intrigue and plots often have their own language Read more
Most people in the world speak more than one language, suggesting the human brain evolved to work in multiple tongues. If so, asks Gaia Vince, [...]
“Irregardless” is part of a penumbra of unorthodox English words Read more
Good coinages are much rarer than failed ones. Here are some useful guidelines Read more
Bound by rules, yet constantly changing, language might be the ultimate self-regulating system, with nobody in charge. Read more
No sooner had Jean Castex been appointed than Parisians seized upon their new prime minister’s most distinctive feature: his regional accent. Read more
In remote teaching, it’s easy to forget that students are real people. Here’s why connecting early and often with them is vital, and how to [...]
In remote teaching, it’s easy to forget that students are real people. Here’s why connecting early and often with them is vital, and how to [...]
Four reasons you should join the online-teaching movement and spend some time this summer polishing your digital skills Read more
Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef' Read more
Mathematicians studied 100 billion tweets to help computer algorithms better understand our colloquial digital communication. Read more
There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way [...]
Now is the perfect time to take up a new language. Self-motivation and commitment are key to mastering this fun and useful new skill. Read [...]
The closely related Scandinavian languages rub along famously. Read more
We knew this would happen. Just six short weeks ago (although they’ve felt long), we worried that academe’s emergency shift to remote instruction would result [...]
There are good reasons why people feel differently speaking different languages, but it may not be because of the languages themselves. Read more
What role will Artificial Intelligence play in the world of languages – will it be an opportunity or a threat for language learners? What impact [...]
It is a quintessentially social skill—but easier than ever to develop at home. Read more
When Elizabeth Self starts teaching her 11 a.m. class via Zoom, she has to remember that it isn’t 11 a.m. for all of her students. [...]
Of all the words in the English language, the word “OK” is pretty new: It’s only been used for about 180 years. Read more
Marnix Broer, CEO of StuDocu, discusses the changing educational landscape during COVID-19 Read more
The next outbreak? We are not ready. Read more
COVID-19 doesn't care what language you speak. All of us are at risk. But millions of people who speak lesser-known languages don't have a single resource on COVID-19 [...]
This storm will pass. But the choices we make now could change our lives for years to come Read more
This International Mother Language Day (Feb. 21), Canadians celebrated their multilingual heritage by recognizing flexible uses of languages. According to UNESCO, “Mother tongue or mother [...]
Just a few generations ago, speaking two languages was supposed to be bad for you. Tests in America found that bilingual people had lower iqs, which [...]
English is fast becoming the world's universal language, and instant translation technology is improving every year. So why bother learning a foreign language? Linguist and [...]
The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. It was approved at the 1999 UNESCO General Conference and has been observed throughout the [...]
French-speaking green party Ecolo would like to see Dutch or German become required for pupils in Wallonia. In Brussels, Dutch is required in French-speaking education [...]
Over the course of human history, thousands of languages have developed from what was once a much smaller number. How did we end up with [...]
Language is complex, and when abstract or nuanced concepts get lost in translation, the consequences may be catastrophic. Given the complexities of language and cultural [...]
There are about 7,000 languages spoken around the world -- and they all have different sounds, vocabularies and structures. But do they shape the way [...]
You can conjugate in French, you can get your tongue around most Dutch pronunciations, you might even have a smattering of German. But have you [...]
When we talk about 'English', we often think of it as a single language. But what do the dialects spoken in dozens of countries around [...]
A Finn and a Spaniard walk into a bar. How do they strike up a conversation? It would be exceptional for either to speak each [...]
Is America ruining English or giving it new life? Most of this old transatlantic debate concerns words. Is elevator an improvement on lift? Why say transportation when transport will do? Sometimes [...]
Instead of looking at a foreign language as an art to be mastered and perfected, think of it as a tool you can use to [...]
It's obvious that knowing more than one language can make certain things easier — like traveling or watching movies without subtitles. But are there other [...]
As simple as it seems, it's often impossible to accurately translate the word "you" without knowing a lot more about the situation where it's being [...]
It’s all because of the similarities between words Psycholinguistics is a field at the intersection of psychology and linguistics, and one if its recent discoveries [...]
"They" has taken on a not-so-new meaning lately. This earned it the scrutiny it needed to win. Merriam-Webster has announced "they" as the word of [...]
“All Brussels 18-year-olds should speak Dutch, French and English” The Brussels Regional Government is setting a new ambitious goal: all pupils who pass through the [...]