linguistics
The Prisoner Who Revolutionized Language With a Teacup
While imprisoned for being a “reactionary,” physicist and engineer Zhi Bingyi began devising a system to help computing machines read Chinese characters.
Surprise! The Pandemic Has Made People More Science Literate
Despite rampant misinformation, Covid-19 has pushed science into the zeitgeist, as people have absorbed new words and how scientific discovery actually works.
What a Crossword AI Reveals About Humans' Way With Words
Dr. Fill, a puzzle-solving automaton, came out victorious at last week's national tournament—but human solvers shouldn't throw in the towel just yet.
Whoooaaa Duuuuude: Why We Stretch Words in Tweets and Texts
Notice you've been elongating your words lately? You're actually loading them with a whooooole lot of meaning.
‘Boomerspeak’ Is Now Available for Your Parodying Pleasure
The verbal stylings of the boomer generation—dot dot dots, repeated commas, mid-sentence caps—crystallized into a distinct genre this year.
Do We Need a Special Language to Talk to Aliens?
Scientists have tried contacting extraterrestrials with a number of bespoke linguistic systems. But we might be better off using our own languages.
The Meaning of All Caps—in Texting and in Life
Emphatic caps feel like the quintessential example of internet tone of voice. Sure enough, they’ve been around since the very early days online.
Coding Is for Everyone—as Long as You Speak English
Code depends on English—for reasons that are entirely unnecessary at a technical level.
The Internet Loves Pete Bootyjig, Buddajudge—Buttigieg!
As the internet falls for presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg's millennial POV, first it has to learn how to say his name.
Will Identity Politics Force the Stubborn Mind to Adapt?
I was ashamed by my inability to readjust to new grammar. If I didn’t, my failure would exact social costs, registering as unintended disrespect—or worse, bigotry.
Autocomplete Presents the Best Version of You
As goofy as some of your smartphone keyboard's predictions are, at least it tries to not make you look bad.
Academics Gathered to Share Emoji Research, and It Was 🔥
Linguists and data scientists see a new way to study language and communication in our little digital ideograms.
How Drag Race Fueled Pop Culture's Dominant Slang Engine
From face-beating to "yas, queen"-ing, drag slang has crossed all the way over—but is its past getting lost?
What a Border Collie Taught a Linguist About Language
The whistles that a shepherd uses to command her dog sound a whole lot like human language.
The Lingo That’ll Save Your Next Cocktail Party, From ‘Rovables’ to ‘Manthreading’
Our popular magazine feature Jargon Watch is finally hitting the internet.
Trump's Speeches Are Helping People Learn English. Really
In Facebook groups sharing posts focusing on language learning, early English students are turning to Trump-speak to learn basic vocabulary and concepts.
The Normalization of 'Normalize' Is a Sign of the New Normal
Have you wondered in the back of your mind whether you're seeing the word "normalize" more lately? You are—at least, if you inhabit certain filter bubbles.
The Beauty and Perils of Konglish, the Korean-English Hybrid
Konglish words look Korean, but sound distinctly English.
The Science of Swear Words (Warning: NSFW AF)
When English-speaking fantasy and science fiction writers invent new profanity in imaginary languages, those words have something very curious in common.
The AP Finally Realizes It's 2016, Will Let Us Stop Capitalizing 'Internet'
It has been decreed. Thank God.
WIRED Opinion: The Way Trump Talks in Debates Is Contagious
Pay close attention to the way the Republican primary candidates use their words tonight.
Linguists Not Exactly Wow About Facebook's New Reactions
Be nice to your grammar-obsessed Facebook friends right now. They are having a rough week.
To Make AI More Human, Teach It to Chitchat
The secret to making an artificial intelligence more convincing? Program it to kibbitz.
What Happens When You Take 'Man' Out of Marines
Military job titles are going to be changed to be less sexist—but only some of them. And that says something about how language handles gender.