Current Linguistics
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.
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You probably missed this in Song of Achilles
Also, here’s what Patroclus and Cleopatra have in common
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The etymology of ‘one’: From Proto-Indo-European to Modern English
There are over thirty English words that derive from the Proto-Indo-European word for ‘one’. This is the story of how they came to be, and what that story teaches us about how language works.
Current Linguistics
The sad passing of Kanzi, penguin etymology, and what “fixin’ to” / “finna” mean
Here’s what happened this week in language and linguistics.
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The etymology of “penguin”
Where does the word “penguin” come from? French, Welsh, or Latin?
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The etymology of "guacamole"
Where do the words “avocado” and “guacamole” come from?
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The etymology of "love"
The etymology of the word "love" and all its related words in English.
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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?
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Why do the British pronounce “herb” with an /h/?
Why don’t Americans pronounce herb with an /h/?
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Does “fruition” come from the word “fruit”?
Does "fruition" come from the word "fruit"?