Discovery Dispatch

Germans bemoan the “idiot’s apostrophe”, and research on using AI to communicate with dolphins wins the $100,000 Dolittle Prize

Here’s what happened this week in language and linguistics.

Daniel W. Hieber, Ph.D.

29 May 2025 — 10 min read

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Vocabulary undergoes natural selection just like species. Plus a new database on the languages of the Americas.

Vocabulary undergoes natural selection just like species. Plus a new database on the languages of the Americas.

Here’s what happened this week in language and linguistics.

You probably missed this in Song of Achilles

You probably missed this in Song of Achilles

Also, here’s what Patroclus and Cleopatra have in common

Islands are incubators of linguistic diversity, and people are more likely to cooperate with those who use similar linguistic constructions

Islands are incubators of linguistic diversity, and people are more likely to cooperate with those who use similar linguistic constructions

Here’s what happened this week in language and linguistics.

Why do people use double negatives? And what’s the difference between a pidgin vs. a creole?

Why do people use double negatives? And what’s the difference between a pidgin vs. a creole?

Here’s what happened this week in language and linguistics.