> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://linguisticdiscovery.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Welcome to Discovery Dispatch! - URL: https://linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/2025-04/ - Published: 2025-01-29T16:00:09.000Z - Updated: 2025-04-27T01:46:46.000Z - Description: Discovery Dispatch is a weekly roundup of the latest language-related news, research in linguistics, interesting reads from the week, and newest books and media! - Author: Daniel W. Hieber, Ph.D. - Tags: Current Linguistics, Zipf's Law, linguistic nativism, functionalism Welcome to the first issue of *Discovery Dispatch*, a weekly roundup of the latest language-related news, research in linguistics, interesting reads from the week, and newest books and media on language and linguistics! This weekly digest is different from the *World of Words* newsletter. The newsletter contains original articles I've written on different topics, while *Discovery Dispatch* is more of a curated list of what's new this week. Let's dive in! Here's what's new this week: ## Updates - Linguistic Discovery just reached 900,000 followers! I’m so humbled by this, and thankful to all of you that engage with my content and keep me motivated to do more! ![Graph showing Linguistic Discovery’s growth in followers by year. 2020: 5,150; 2021: 85,915; 2022: 175,788; 2023: 501,487; 2024: 896,631; 2025 to date: 901,570.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/2025/01/image-3.png) - This weekend was the annual meeting of the [Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas](https://www.ssila.org/en/home?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) (SSILA) online, which is always one of my favorite conferences. Typically the conference is held concurrently with the annual [Linguistic Society of America](https://www.lsadc.org/?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) conference (*the* big yearly conference in U.S. linguistics), but this year the organizers decided to stick with an online format so that more people could attend and present from all over, without it being cost prohibitive. You can see all the cool talks that were given [here](https://www.ssila.org/2025-program?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com). ## New from Linguistic Discovery [Why do the British pronounce “herb” with an /h/?Why don’t Americans pronounce herb with an /h/?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/favicon-16.ico)Linguistic DiscoveryDaniel W. Hieber, Ph.D.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1417533366444-43834ad6b3bb-1)](https://linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/herb/) [Renaissance on the bayou: Revitalizing the Chitimacha languageThe Chitimacha language was once thought to be extinct, but today is undergoing a renaissance as young people learn the language again.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/favicon-12.ico)Linguistic DiscoveryDaniel W. Hieber, Ph.D.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/banner-1.png)](https://linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/renaissance-on-the-bayou/) [From counting to language: How writing evolvedThe 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.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/favicon-15.ico)Linguistic DiscoveryDaniel W. Hieber, Ph.D.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/cuneiform-numerals-1.png)](https://linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/sumerian-numerals/) This next one's actually an older post that was never sent out via email, so here it is in case you missed it! [‘dog’ vs. ‘horse’ in Native American languagesWhy are dogs called ‘little horses’ in some Native American languages?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/favicon-11.ico)Linguistic DiscoveryDaniel W. Hieber, Ph.D.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/photo-1637378735949-09b696a5aaa6-1)](https://linguisticdiscovery.com/posts/dog-vs-horse-in-native-american-languages/) ## This Week's Reads/Watches/Listens - Fellow educational TikToker [Kelsie Ehalt](https://www.tiktok.com/@wedgie%5Fbce?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com)'s channel is all about cuneiform (hence the brilliant handle [@wedgie\_BCE](https://www.tiktok.com/@wedgie%5Fbce?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com)). Like many creators in light of recent TikTok drama, Kelsie has been shifting towards [longform videos on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@wedgie%5Fbce?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) lately, and their first few videos are fantastic. If you've been enjoying my content about cuneiform and Sumerian numerals in the past few weeks, you'll love [Kelsie's channel](https://www.youtube.com/@wedgie%5Fbce?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com): ## Sign up for the Linguistic Discovery newsletter! A weekly newsletter showcasing the diversity of the world's languages. Topics include: ⚙️ how language works and changes 🌍 surveys of the diverse ways that languages do things 🗣️ language profiles ℹ️ explainers of terms and concepts in linguistics ⭐ reviews of books and other media. 🆕 a weekly digest of the latest language-related news Some posts are for paid subscribers only, but most are free. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. **You can also subscribe on* [**Patreon*](https://www.patreon.com/linguisticdiscovery?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) *or* [**Substack*](https://linguisticdiscovery.substack.com/) *if you prefer to use those platforms instead. You'll get all the same content and extras.* Last year, Jess Zafarris (author of the etymology books [*Once upon a word: A word-origin dictionary for kids*](https://amzn.to/3YH2SGH?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) and [*Words from hell: Unearthing the darkest secrets of English etymology*](https://amzn.to/3UQYCSI?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com)) and Rob Watts (host of the popular YouTube channel [RobWords](https://www.youtube.com/@RobWords?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com)) launched the [*Words Unravelled*](https://www.youtube.com/@WordsUnravelled/?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) podcast, in which they teach you all about the stories behind everyday words. I've spent the last several weeks bingeing all their episodes and just caught up last week. Jess and Rob are always a ton of fun to listen to, and I come away from every episode having learned something new. You can listen to them on both YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts: [Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess ZafarrisTwo of the internet’s leading word nerds are here to unravel the stories behind everyday terms. Join YouTuber Rob Watts (aka RobWords) and author Jess Zafarris in exploring the wonders of the English language.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/favicon_144x144.png)YouTube![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/YImm3QtF4lyc8vt6KiGJvIwKjHVD-8u69fHlDePxRbQhbHRKMJSkljuyQ7FK5UFp_RQpWACl-s900-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)](https://www.youtube.com/@WordsUnravelled/videos?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) [Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess ZafarrisSociety & Culture Podcast · 30 Episodes · Updated Weekly![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/favicon-180.png)Apple Podcastshuckleberry79![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/1200x1200bf-60.jpg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/words-unravelled-with-robwords-and-jess-zafarris/id1737751787?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) - Ryan Starkey of [Starkey Comics](https://starkeycomics.com/?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) never disappoints with his infographics. Here's a fun one about the etymology/etymologies for *Tetracerus quadricornis*, the four-horned antelope: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/2025/01/image-2.png) - In every natural language, the most frequent word in the language occurs twice as frequently as the 2nd-most-frequent word, and three times as frequently as the 3rd-most-frequent word, and so on. This pattern is called **Zipf's Law**, and [IFLScience has a short article](https://www.iflscience.com/almost-all-languages-appear-to-follow-zipfs-law-and-we-have-no-idea-why-76965?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) explaining how this works, what it tells us about language, and some ideas about why the pattern occurs. [Almost All Languages Appear To Follow Zipf’s Law, And We Have No Idea WhyEven the languages we haven’t deciphered yet, such as the one in the Voynich Manuscript, appear to follow this rule.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon.png)IFLScienceJames Felton![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/zipfs-law-meta.png)](https://www.iflscience.com/almost-all-languages-appear-to-follow-zipfs-law-and-we-have-no-idea-why-76965?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) - The latest issue of [*Babel* magazine](https://babelzine.co.uk/?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) has a great interview with Tim Brookes, head of the [Endangered Alphabets Project](https://www.endangeredalphabets.com/?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) and author of [*An atlas of endangered alphabets: A global exploration of the writing systems on the verge of vanishing*](https://amzn.to/4hoRPsb?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com). [Babel MagazineThe quarterly language magazine that brings you Babelzine, the cutting-edge linguistic research in an accessible and colourful format.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/favicon-19.ico)Babel Magazine | The magazine for lovers of languages and linguisticsStephen Fry![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/Babel-Best-Of-cover.jpg)](https://babelzine.co.uk/?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) [An Atlas of Endangered Alphabets: Brookes, Tim: 9781529408249: Amazon.com: BooksAn Atlas of Endangered Alphabets \[Brookes, Tim\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. An Atlas of Endangered Alphabets![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/favicon-7.ico)Follow![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/ATVPDKIKX0DER-131-3236809-0444007-MDAHJBVNS9VMS5J9SSF9-uedata-s--2Frd-2Fuedata-3Fstaticb-26id-3DMDAHJBVNS9VMS5J9SSF9-0)](https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Endangered-Alphabets-Tim-Brookes/dp/1529408245?dplnkId=08cc67ab-fa47-4d8b-a091-4aa7c0aef7e5&nodl=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=dwhieb-20&linkId=2b676a6261fe9743bb5f6fd087d8d14f&language=en%5FUS&ref%5F=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl&ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) ### Other Articles [Which Are The Most Spoken Languages In The United Kingdom?While English is the predominant language in the United Kingdom, a rich tapestry of other languages is also spoken. Discover the most widely used languages in the UK and learn about their historical roots and significance.”![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/favicon-17.ico)BabbelThomas Moore Devlin![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/UKLanguages.png)](https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/most-spoken-languages-in-united-kingdom?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) [Meta takes us a step closer to Star Trek’s universal translatorThe computer science behind translating speech from 100 source languages.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/cropped-ars-logo-512_480-300x300.png)Ars TechnicaJacek Krywko![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/GettyImages-1341773965-1152x648.jpg)](https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/01/meta-takes-us-a-step-closer-to-star-treks-universal-translator/?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) [The Race to Translate Animal Sounds Into Human LanguageWith big cash prizes at stake—and AI supercharging research—interspecies translation is closer than ever. But what, if anything, would animals want to tell us?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/favicon-18.ico)WIREDArik Kershenbaum![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/WW25-Science-AK-Lily-LK.png)](https://www.wired.com/story/artificial-intelligence-translation-animal-sounds-human-language/?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) [Hot Wooder: The Philadelphia Accent Is In Danger of Disappearing Because of MillennialsKate Winslet’s Philadelphia accent in ‘Mare of Easttown’ could be a linguistic time capsule in a couple of decades.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/MFFavicon_216ef394-60ef-4fac-9984-97a8819af760_400x.png)Mental FlossMichele Debczak![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/647114-michele-k-short-hbo-477eee641fc18a9edaf3a817b35bbd59.jpg)](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/647114/philadelphia-accent-disappearing-because-millennials/partners/47910?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) ## Books & Media This book came out in 2023, but only just came across my radar: [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/715CTkzGEmL._SY425_.jpg)](https://amzn.to/3CpJ4iH?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) You might be familiar with the fierce debate in linguistics between nativism, which claims that certain aspects of grammar are innate, and empiricism (specifically usage-based linguistics or functionalism), which claims that there are no special cognitive faculties for language, just the same cognitive capabilities we use for learning everything else. This book purports to provide an overview of that debate. However, on initial inspection, I get the impression that van der Hulst doesn't fully grasp the functionalist perspective in linguistics. For instance, he defines functionalism as it's defined in philosophy, but not the way it's defined in linguistics among linguistic functionalists themselves. I expect, being a dedicated functionalist myself, that I'll be pretty irritated by the unwitting bias in the book when I read it. But if you'd like a mostly nativist perspective on the issue, check out the book: [Amazon.com: A Mind for Language: An Introduction to the Innateness Debate: 9781108471572: van der Hulst, Harry: BooksAmazon.com: A Mind for Language: An Introduction to the Innateness Debate: 9781108471572: van der Hulst, Harry: Books![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/icon/favicon-8.ico)Follow![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c7/75/c775a216-7ca2-4c5f-96a7-f2defe0fd756/content/images/thumbnail/ATVPDKIKX0DER-130-3492217-5150525-P3E12F408PSPDG6VTA50-uedata-s--2Frd-2Fuedata-3Fstaticb-26id-3DP3E12F408PSPDG6VTA50-0)](https://amzn.to/3CpJ4iH?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) Some other books I discovered (or rediscovered) this week: - [Linguistic fingerprints: How language creates and reveals identity](https://amzn.to/40PtTZu?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) (2023) — All about forensic linguistics. - [Your voice speaks volumes: It's not what you say, but how you say it](https://amzn.to/4ghk2ju?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) (2021) — Language attitudes, ideologies, and prejudices. - [The greatest invention: A history of the world in nine mysterious scripts](https://amzn.to/40xWHnV?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) (2022) - [Life and language beyond Earth](https://amzn.to/4jv0Mlv?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) (2023) — Xenolinguistics! The study of alien languages. ## Other Resources - [Books on Language & Linguistics](https://www.amazon.com/shop/linguisticdiscovery?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) - My curated list of books on language and linguistics, as well as various topical lists on specific subjects (sign language, animal communication, language typology, and more). - [Linguistics Podcasts](https://linguisticdiscovery.com/podcasts) - A list of over 60 linguistics podcasts, both active and dormant. --- That's everything new from this week! I hope you found this first *Discovery Dispatch* useful and interesting! [Drop me an email](mailto:contact@linguisticdiscovery.com) and let me know what you thought of this issue, and how I can improve future ones. Have a wonderful week! \~ Danny ## Sign up for the Linguistic Discovery newsletter! A weekly newsletter showcasing the diversity of the world's languages. Topics include: ⚙️ how language works and changes 🌍 surveys of the diverse ways that languages do things 🗣️ language profiles ℹ️ explainers of terms and concepts in linguistics ⭐ reviews of books and other media. 🆕 a weekly digest of the latest language-related news Some posts are for paid subscribers only, but most are free. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. **You can also subscribe on* [**Patreon*](https://www.patreon.com/linguisticdiscovery?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com) *or* [**Substack*](https://linguisticdiscovery.substack.com/) *if you prefer to use those platforms instead. You'll get all the same content and extras.* 💡 The Amazon and Bookshop.org links on this site are affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission from those companies for purchases made through them (at no extra cost to you). If you'd like to support Linguistic Discovery, purchasing through these links is a great way to do so! I greatly appreciate your support! [Check out my entire Amazon storefront here.](https://www.amazon.com/shop/linguisticdiscovery?ref=linguisticdiscovery.com)