People across the globe all see millions of distinct colors. But the terms we use to describe them vary across cultures. New cognitive science research suggests it’s about what we want to communicate.
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Linguistics – Analysis and Comment
New research gives weight to Noam Chomsky’s idea of a universal language ability.
The word Squ-w has an innocent origin, but its use in English has long been derogatory and racist. Place names which use this word should be changed.
Extremists haven’t always been associated with violence, or religious views.
To understand the full scale of the world’s linguistic diversity, we should be thinking about languages and how speakers relate to them.
‘If we can’t understand our rights, we have no rights.’ But efforts are being made to rebalance the inequalities.
Careful how you talk about Brexit. People are making assumptions as soon as you’ve said the word.
Humans behave like atoms when viewed from a distance.
Ethical engagement in multilingual communication is about mutual respect. More importantly, it’s about shaping a shared future through face-to-face communication.
There’s little research into origins of the geographic patterns of language diversity. A new model exploring processes that shaped Australia’s language diversity provides a template for investigators.
The founder of the West Virginia Dialect Project hopes to debunk some of the myths about the way Appalachian people speak and instill pride in a rich, oft-maligned culture.
Yes, sign language has grammar – and it goes way beyond what you do with your hands.
Research shows that context matters for understanding what a person’s words mean – especially when power dynamics are involved.
Learning languages rewires the brain and changes how we perceive time.
Grammar pedantry recently contributed to the downfall of World Bank chief economist Paul Romer. But ‘grammonds’ are people to be celebrated not vilified.
A linguistics scholar explains why the loss of Arabic in Israel would be a loss of history, culture and possibly human rights.
We use euphemisms about death and dying to soften the blow of the real words, or because we feel awkward being direct. But this can lead to misunderstanding and confusion.
The Conversation’s experts annotate Treasurer Scott Morrison’s 2017-18 budget speech.
Why is the PM constantly repeating this phrase and what impact is it really having on her campaign?
From the Amazon to Nicaragua, there are humans who never learn numbers. What can these anumeric cultures teach us about ourselves?
Cult TV show Gogglebox is more than light entertainment: it shows the diverse reality of Australian English, going beyond stereotypes about what Australians sound like.
When they start life, clichés are fetching and memorable phrases. But overuse has sucked them of vitality – and now they walk among the living dead.
This Masters degree sets a precedent in South Africa and gives universities that want to be truly inclusive a lot to think about.
The @RoguePOTUSStaff account claims to be a genuine inside source of West Wing dirt, and hundreds of thousands of people seem to trust it.
One of the ways by which Africa can overcome problems of underdevelopment is by using its abundant linguistic and cultural resources.