Fewer U.S. college students are studying a foreign language − and that spells trouble for national security
A new report from the Modern Language Association shows an unprecedented drop in the study of foreign languages among college students.
The Conversation > Language
Your mental dictionary is part of what makes you unique − here's how your brain stores and retrieves words
Most people can draw from tens of thousands of words in their memory within milliseconds. Studying this process can improve language disorder treatment and appreciation of the gift of communication.
The Conversation > Language
'Killing' trees: How true environmental protection requires a revolution in how we talk about, and with, our forests
Getting serious about protecting global biodiversity requires not just policy but a revolution in how we talk about, and with, our planet’s forests.
The Conversation > Language
Why some Indians want to change the country's name to 'Bharat'
The government’s use of the Hindi word for ‘India’ revives debates over whether Hindi should be the national language – and reopens some old wounds.
The Conversation > Language
Why somepeopletalkveryfast and others ... take ... their ... time − despite stereotypes, it has nothing to do with intelligence
Language, geography, age and other factors can all affect how fast a person talks. But sometimes, these perceived differences are only in the listener’s head.
The Conversation > Language
X marks the unknown in algebra – but X's origins are a math mystery
How did the letter x get its enduring role as a symbol of the unknown? A mathematician explains why it’s hard to say for sure.
The Conversation > Language
English dialects make themselves heard in genes
People with a common history – often due to significant geographic or social barriers – often share genetics and language. New research finds that even a dialect can act as a barrier within a group.
The Conversation > Language
Linguists have identified a new English dialect that's emerging in South Florida
It came about through sustained contact with native Spanish speakers who directly translated phrases from Spanish into English, a form of linguistic borrowing called ‘calques.’
The Conversation > Language
Brain tumors are cognitive parasites –how brain cancer hijacks neural circuits and causes cognitive decline
Glioblastoma is the most aggressive type of brain cancer, causing significant decline in cognitive function. New research suggests a common anti-seizure drug could help control tumor growth.
The Conversation > Language
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
What it takes to become a spelling bee champ
The road to becoming a champion speller is made easier with support from family and friends, but ultimately it depends on an individual student’s commitment to learning, a scholar writes.
The Conversation > Language
Six decades, 210 Warlpiri speakers and 11,000 words: how a groundbreaking First Nations dictionary was made
The Warlpiri Dictionary has been 60 years in the making – and it’s shortlisted for the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards, a rarity for a dictionary.
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
Esol English classes are crucial for migrant integration, yet challenges remain unaddressed
Although English to speakers of other languages (Esol) is treated like any other subject, it can offer far more to those learners.
The Conversation > Language