New extensions for corpus data
I’ve been on a TED marathon recently. Just the other day this presentation by Deb Roy appeared and blew my mind. This is an amazing project that really underlines the power of corpus data in providing a snapshot of the secret world of language use. Deb at one point makes the suggestion that this approach is as important as the telescope was. I completely agree. The visualizations help drive this point home in that they are very effective in communicating the complex relationships between language use and behavioral interaction in an intuitive way.
Hats off.
Deb Roy: The birth of a word
English woman develops French-sounding accent – USATODAY.com
Another curious report of brain trauma leading to language variation.
English woman develops French-sounding accent – USATODAY.com.
What Does Palinspeak Mean?
The New Republic – John McWhorter Feed
San Basilio de Palenque Journal – A Language, Not Quite Spanish, With African Echoes – NYTimes.com
An example of a Spanish-African based creole language.
San Basilio de Palenque Journal – A Language, Not Quite Spanish, With African Echoes – NYTimes.com.
Color naming and the shape of color space
Color naming and the shape of color space
An article again moving towards other methods of characterizing the apparent differences between languages and names for colors.
via Project MUSE – Language – Color naming and the shape of color space.
On Language – The Keypad Solution – NYTimes.com
This article highlights how even deliberately created language forms are subject to the power of the cohort. I don’t see spelling reform happening any time soon; But I did find Naomi Baron’s prediction to be quite interesting: as people’s fluency with technology increases ‘textisms’ will decrease. The impetus for all the chatter about declining writing standards may just evaporate.
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