Topic: Linguistics

We Resist Further Cooperation on 'Coöperation'

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One word we can't seem to get enough of these days—hint: not slacks!—is diaeresis, meaning those two dots that sit on top of a second vowel when two come right next to each other in separate syllables, as seen almost exclusively in The New Yorker.

By Jen Doll

Apr 24, 2012

In Defense of Slacks (the Word, at Least)

On Friday, The New Yorker's Ben Greenman kicked off a contest called Questioningly, asking "If you could eliminate a single word from the English language, what would it be?" We, in response, asked "If you could eliminate a single word from The New Yorker, what would it be?"

Comments | 1,459 Views

By Jen Doll

Apr 20, 2012

Words We Would Eliminate From 'The New Yorker'

If you could eliminate a single word from The New Yorker, what would it be?

Comments | 2,186 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Dec 12, 2011

Vocal Fry Isn't Just for College Girls

It turns out vocal fry, what the Internet is reporting as a new linguistic trend "creeping" into women's speech isn't much of a trend at all.

Comments | 20,059 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

Oct 31, 2011

Twitter Is Not the Enemy of the English Language

Contrary to all the LOLs, emoticons and hashtags happening in feeds across the Twittersphere, Twitter isn't destroying the English language.

Comments | 2,629 Views

By Adam Martin

May 6, 2011

Why You Can't Avoid the Obama-Osama Mixup

Linguists say it's a natural effect of the syllables; but it might be racism

Comments | 1,972 Views

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