Communication
Grammaticalization: A Process of Worn Down and Developing Words
There are free words which are worn down in Grammaticalization. What are the new things which come up like a cycle in this process? […]
Foreign Languages
Communication
What Role do Prefixes and Suffixes Play in Languages?
Prefixes and suffixes have a major role in human languages. What is it that creates prefixes and suffixes? […]
Communication
Evolving Human Languages and the Process of Grammaticalization
Language is ever evolving and the sounds keep changing. Why does the changing material wear away too? […]
Foreign Languages
Learning French Manners and Culture
In this full lecture you will explore French manners and culture, and use a beginner’s understanding to build on simple phrases in French. Then reflect on several “word families” that will help you build your vocabulary and make connections across the language. Along the way, you’ll also pick up a few common verb forms, adjectives, and adverbs. […]
Communication
The Japanese Language: Context Is Everything
Japanese language is highly contextual. It’s hard to know how to say something in Japanese unless you know the details of the social context. And that reflects a long-standing Japanese concern with order, with hierarchy, and with consensus. […]
Communication
4 Reasons to Learn a New Language – John McWhorter
English is fast becoming the world’s universal language, and instant translation technology is improving every year. But with 6,000 languages coexisting in 200 nations, bilingualism […]
Communication
Language Evolution: How One Language Became Five Languages
By John McWhorter, Ph.D, Columbia University Recent research has shown that all languages may be able to trace their roots back to a common tongue […]