LinguaTute
A loanword is a word which has been adopted from another language, although this process is often much more permanent than its name would suggest. Even the word “loanword” is a calque of the German “Lehnwort”; the original term is a combination of “lehnen” (to borrow, to lend) and “wort” (word), and this has been …
The human ability to communicate through language is truly astounding. It begs the question of why no other animal species can communicate as humans can, and the study of language, alongside psychology, can point us towards evidence why other animals might not possess similar linguistic capabilities. Comparisons with apes have provided promising theories of language, …
There is a wealth of popular linguistic articles in print and online that claim to systematically explain what is meant by the terms, “language” and “dialect”. Many opt for the neat conclusion that a language is written and codified as well as spoken (standard), whereas a dialect is merely spoken (vernacular). But such dictionary-clinging definitions …
In recent years, the need for gender-inclusive language has risen throughout many cultures, as seen in the widespread use of the 3rd person singular “they” and “them” in English. Italian, however, has opted to introduce an unfamiliar sound – the schwa – to determine gender-inclusive nouns. The Schwa There is a sound familiar to so …
The Schwa As A Symbol Of Gender Inclusivity In Modern Italian Read More »
The language we are exposed to in infancy – and perhaps even in utero – have a profound impact on our linguistic capabilities, as exhibited in a 2014 study of Chinese adoptees in Canada. A 2014 study conducted by the University of Washington, ‘Mapping the unconscious maintenance of a lost first language’, showed that internationally …
