Language
At-Risk Indigenous Languages Spotlighted on New Google Earth Platform
The new initiative features recordings of native languages from around the globe
The National Spelling Bee Ended in an Unprecedented Eight-Way Tie
"We’re basically throwing the dictionary at you," pronouncer Jacques Bailly told the spellers. "[A]nd so far you are showing the dictionary who is boss"
Green Monkeys Borrow Their Cousins' Eagle Warning Call When Drones Are Near
Intriguingly, the call is very similar to the one produced by East African vervet monkeys, suggesting that these responses are evolutionarily hard-wired
Brain Implant Device Allows People With Speech Impairments to Communicate With Their Minds
A new brain-computer interface translates neurological signals into complete sentences
The History of the Spelling Bee
Even in the age of autofill, America is still in love with the centuries-old tradition
Computer Analysis Says 'Beowulf' Is the Work of a Single Author
Academics have argued about the origins of the Old English epic for two centuries
Cave Markings Tell of Cherokee Life in the Years Before Indian Removal
Written in the language formalized by Sequoyah, these newly translated inscriptions describe religious practices, including the sport of stickball
The Ability to Pronounce 'F' and 'V' Sounds Might Have Evolved Along With Diet
As our ancestors began eating softer agricultural foods, the shape of the human jaw and the sounds we make may have changed as well
Seven Innovations That Made a Splash at This Year's SXSW
The massive Austin event has become the place for unveiling cutting-edge tech, from educational apps to virtual reality art
Study Suggests ‘Mr. Greedy’ Children’s Book Is Almost as Hard to Read as Steinbeck Classics
The analysis judged texts’ complexity based on sentence length, average word length, vocabulary level, but did not look at reading comprehension
Sign Language Translating Devices Are Cool. But Are They Useful?
Michigan State University researchers are developing a small tool, with a motion capture system, that translates ASL into English
Who Was the First Woman Depicted on Currency and More Questions From Our Readers
You asked, we answered
Don’t Miss These Award-Winning Films at the Mother Tongue Film Festival
Kicking off February 21—International Mother Language Day—more than 20 films featuring 62 languages
The Oxford English Dictionary Wants Your Work-Related Slang
You can submit entries through an online form or tweet it with the hashtag #wordsatwork
Why Are Starfish Shaped Like Stars and More Questions From Our Readers
You asked, we answered
Why Are Fewer People Majoring in History?
Since the Great Recession, the number of history majors at colleges and universities has dropped by more than 30 percent
This Is What Happens Inside a Beatboxer's Mouth When They Perform
MRI scans of vocal percussionists show that beatboxing takes the vocal tract beyond human language
If a Moon Has a Moon, Is Its Moon Called a Moonmoon?
A new study suggests it's possible some moons could have moons and the internet wants to give them a name—but scientists have yet to actually find one
The Original Meanings of the “American Dream” and “America First” Were Starkly Different From How We Use Them Today
A new book from historian Sarah Churchwell examines the etymologies of two ubiquitous phrases
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