Linguistics

New Post!

Bilingual brains - does age matter?
by Lauren Probert
Take a look into what learning a second language can do for your brain and the politics behind bilingual-brain research!

Editor's Article du jour

Creolisation

As the new year rolls in, we never know what changes will arrive in 2022 and how our languages may evolve. Who knows what we'll be saying by the end of the year?! Michael Hendle tells us how languages can change and evolve in this article.

​Read here.

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The Pronoun Problem

Rosie Bell takes a look into two different languages and how they are exploring gender-neutral pronouns.

'Feminisé.e : to what extent does gendered language affect our attitudes to gender?'
​Eleanor Shearwood examines whether the French language is a fair reflection of the modern society it is spoken in and questions ‘to what extent does grammatical gender actually affect the thought processes of language user?’

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Why can’t I say that? The Origins, Evolution and Usage of Profanity.

A look into taboo words and the difference between profanity and slurs.

Creolisation

Discussing the difference between creoles and pidgin languages and what they can show up about language development.

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“Untranslatable” Words

From schadenfreude to mudita, what does it really mean for intriguing words to be lost in translation?

Italy: Division in Unity

Ever wondered why Italy is home to such a rich range of dialects? Read on to follow the evolution of the Italian language from its roots right to the present day.

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Linguistics Editor: Rosie Bell

Hi, I’m Rosie and I’m the linguistics editor for The Definite Article! I study Liberal Arts and specialise in French, Classics and Archaeology. One of my favourite aspects that combine all these subjects is language and linguistics and that languages are like windows into the cultures that have come before us, and how the way we speak today was impacted by the past. Every language is like a fossil - ancient or otherwise - that has been affected by the changing world around it, and when we study the linguistic nuances in detail we can learn more about ourselves and why we speak the way that we do--in scientific terms as well!  As well as looking into the past, it can be fun to see how we ourselves are editing our languages to fit new cultural values and societal progression. I’d love to hear everyone's take and am excited to discuss this subject together!