Languages
Positive Words and Optimism
It has been a tough couple of years for optimistic words. Positivity is in short supply. Negative words and phrases fill our lives, coming at
June 23, 2022
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Red Pens Make their Mark
When proofreaders take out their red pens, their main purpose is to get rid of any errors that may hinder comprehension or sidetrack the reader.
November 28, 2018
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The origins of the Oxford Dictionary
In my last blog I spoke about Noah Webster and how he reformed parts of the English language in his Webster’s dictionary. Now, let’s take
April 20, 2016
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English and Its Turbulent Origin
English is probably the most widely spoken language in the world. In most cases when someone visits a country where they do not speak the
March 11, 2016
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Q&A- All you Need to Know about the English language
I recently discovered the Oxford Dictionary blog which features interesting posts such as “London Underground: the origins of some unusual names”. It also features a
January 25, 2016
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Two Different Internal Logics
In English, we use concision (many short words or phrases) as well as an economy of language (fewer words), the preference we demonstrate for the
June 19, 2009
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Adjectives: Differences in English and Spanish
In English, adjectives are always spelled the same and, syntactically, are almost always placed before the noun. In Spanish, there are a few that are
April 3, 2009
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Subject Verb Object
Both English and Spanish follow the S-V-O (subject – verb – object) order, though each to a different degree. In contemporary English, this scheme is
March 27, 2009
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History of English Lesson
How I love the history and development of languages! It is a never-ending labyrinth of discovery and surprises, all reflecting the wonderful creative nature of
March 13, 2009
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Different Types of Calque
Paronymous calque or loan word: is the result of an incorrect correspondence between two words that have similar forms or etymologies but that have evolved
March 13, 2009
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What is a calque?
It is a class of loan in which phrase is borrowed from another language, but each of the elements of the phrase are translated. This
March 6, 2009
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Sapir-Whorf and Experimentation
If any of you languagephiles out there are not familiar with the Spair-Whorf hypothesis, it posits that the language a person speaks influences his or
January 15, 2009
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