World of Words
The etymology of “penguin”
Where does the word “penguin” come from? French, Welsh, or Latin?
World of Words
A semiweekly newsletter showcasing the diversity of the world’s languages. Articles cover the latest news and research in linguistics, deep dives about how language works, profiles of different languages, explainers of concepts in linguistics, reviews of language-focused books and media, and lots more! Some posts are only available to paid subscribers, but most are free.
World of Words
Did Kanzi the bonobo understand language?
Kanzi the bonobo, who learned language, made stone tools, and played Minecraft, dies at age 44. What can his remarkable linguistic abilities teach us about language?
World of Words
The etymology of "guacamole"
Where do the words “avocado” and “guacamole” come from?
World of Words
The linguistics of Trump’s official English policy
Trump issued an executive order making English the official language of the U.S.—sort of. Here’s what that order does, and what language in the U.S. looks like today.
World of Words
Hawaiian only has 8 consonants—What happens when it borrows words with other sounds?
The Hawaiian language only has 8 consonants. So how does it deal with sounds in words borrowed from other languages?
World of Words
The etymology of "love"
The etymology of the word "love" and all its related words in English.
World of Words
What alien languages can teach us about human language: The linguistics of The Three-Body Problem
Imagine if every word you thought could be heard by everyone around you. In this world, thinking would be the same as communicating. What would language—and society—be like?
World of Words
Why is “February” spelled with two ⟨r⟩’s?
Why is “February” spelled with two ⟨r⟩'s even though most people only pronounce one of them?
World of Words
Why do the British pronounce “herb” with an /h/?
Why don’t Americans pronounce herb with an /h/?
World of Words
Renaissance on the bayou: Revitalizing the Chitimacha language
The Chitimacha language was once thought to be extinct, but today is undergoing a renaissance as young people learn the language again.
World of Words
From counting to language: How writing evolved
The earliest version of cuneiform wasn't used to write language at all—it was used to count! And that Sumerian system of counting still influences our counting systems today. Here's the story of Sumerian numerals.
World of Words
William Labov (1927–2024)
William Labov was the father of sociolinguistics who pioneered the study of dialectology.