Where does the 'ñ' come from? The history of a very special Spanish letter
Although the spelling “ñ” only exists in Spanish and Galician, it is true that the sound is not the exclusive heritage of Romance languages; it even exists in languages that do not come from Latin.
The Conversation > Language
'You can’t speak what you can’t hear' – how Māori and Pacific sports stars are helping revitalise vulnerable languages
More Indigenous sports stars are speaking their mother tongues in TV interviews and elsewhere. The challenge now is to develop truly bilingual commentary teams to keep the ball alive.
The Conversation > Language
What is that voice in your head when you read?
Called your ‘inner voice,’ it develops along with your reading skills.
The Conversation > Language
How close are we to reading minds? A new study decodes language and meaning from brain scans
American scientists have used brain scans and machine learning to reconstruct the meaning of stories that people hear, see, or even imagine.
The Conversation > Language
Caveat emptor: a new book on the best lines in Latin misses the bigger picture
Collecting choice Latin lines is easy – the difficulty is trying to work out what they add up to. And women, in particular, come off badly in this collection of Latin’s greatest hits.
The Conversation > Language
Rough Cut: Netflix's first Welsh language series is a further boost for subtitled content
Welsh language heist drama, Dal y Mellt, is being streamed on Netflix with the title, Rough Cut.
The Conversation > Language
Why some people lose their accents but others don't – linguistic expert
Your subconscious sense of identity can influence how much your accent changes.
The Conversation > Language
Pip Williams shows how World War I transformed women's lives, in a new novel that captures the 'poetic materiality' of books
Pip Williams’ follow-up to her internationally bestselling debut novel explores World War I, women’s rights and sisterhood –but what makes it special is its unwavering attention to the making of books.
The Conversation > Language
'Everything Everywhere All at Once' and other Oscars 2023 films show a trend towards linguistic realism in Hollywood
Despite increasing use of non-English languages demonstrating broader acceptance of linguistic diversity in a globalized world, films sometimes suggest associations between ‘foreignness’ and villainy.
The Conversation > Language
Unlocking secrets of the honeybee dance language – bees learn and culturally transmit their communication skills
Honeybees possess one of the most complex examples of nonhuman communication. New research suggests that it is learned and culturally passed down from older to younger bees.
The Conversation > Language
Why does Turkey want other countries to start spelling its name 'Türkiye'?
When a country changes its name or requests changes to the spelling of its name, there are almost always political motives.
The Conversation > Language
Fewer Australians are learning Indonesian, and Indonesia could do far more to fix that
Indonesia hasn’t made a strategic effort to push bahasa Indonesia in Australia. That’s in stark contrast to how French and other languages are promoted in Australia, including through cultural events.
The Conversation > Language
Politicians weren't confident discussing Brexit – my analysis of parliamentary debates shows how
Phrases like ‘I suppose’ and ‘I would argue’ can project a lack of confidence when speaking.
The Conversation > Language
Welsh place names are being erased – and so are the stories they tell
Welsh place names often reflect local legends, fauna and topography. The coining of English names to replace them has sparked an ongoing campaign to protect them.
The Conversation > Language
Emerging from a coma: response to language can help assess states of consciousness
New research shows that post-coma patients who appear to be in a minimally conscious state can still mentally react to language. This finding could help improve their diagnosis and treatment.
The Conversation > Language
Reviled, reclaimed and respected: the history of the word 'queer'
The word ‘queer’ has a history as a widely used and respectful term in the LGBTIQA+ community, as well as being a slur.
The Conversation > Language