Can the language someone uses be as unique as their fingerprints? As I describe in my forthcoming book, “Linguistic Fingerprints: How Language Creates and Reveals Identity,” that was true in the case…
Tag: Linguistics
‘Thirst trap’ and ‘edgelord’ were recently added to the dictionary – so why hasn’t ‘nibling’ made the cut?
A student in my graduate seminar recently mentioned seeing her “niblings” at Thanksgiving. Some of the students in my class were clearly familiar with the term. But others frowned, suggesting that they…
Linguists have identified a new English dialect that’s emerging in South Florida
“We got down from the car and went inside.” “I made the line to pay for groceries.” “He made a party to celebrate his son’s birthday.” These phrases might sound off to…
Merriam-Webster’s word of the year – authentic – reflects growing concerns over AI’s ability to deceive and dehumanize
When Merriam-Webster announced that its word of the year for 2023 was “authentic,” it did so with over a month to go in the calendar year. Even then, the dictionary publisher was…
Language induces an identity crisis for the children and grandchildren of Latino immigrants
A young Latina mother I was interviewing once laughed uncomfortably as she described her sons’ embarrassment when put on the spot by older Latinos. They would speak to her sons in Spanish,…
What is ‘algospeak’? Inside the newest version of linguistic subterfuge
A linguistic arms race is raging online – and it isn’t clear who’s winning. On one side are social networks like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. These sites have become better and better…
Why somepeopletalkveryfast and others … take … their … time − despite stereotypes, it has nothing to do with intelligence
Pop culture abounds with examples of very fast talkers. There’s the Judy Grimes character played by Kristen Wiig on “Saturday Night Live,” or that guy from the 1980s who did commercials for…
Terms of address can be a minefield, especially as their meanings change
A male colleague could be forgiven for not knowing if using “guys” to refer to female co-workers is acceptable in the modern workplace. But should he address them as “ladies,” he risks…