The wind is up; a dry wind. Between four walls, we're only aware of its presence by the sounds it makes. Whistling, hissing, sometimes howling. The effect on the building is noticeable: creaks in the ...

A swear word is like a linguistic punch in the nose. Virtually every language and culture has them—and virtually every language and culture formally disapproves of them. But that doesn’t stop them ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. One of the most important cognitive foundations of human language is ...

The English language is full of oddities, but some words sound so absurd you’d swear someone made them up after one too many pints. However, they’re real, many with histories stretching back centuries ...

Our world has gone global, but some words continue to be pronounced oh-so-locally Your accent is showing Language is more than what we say: It’s how we say it. Across the country, the same word can ...