Category Archives: LANGUAGE

‘Ticket-holding fits’? (lost in translation)

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Kevin

Have you ever been so excited to ride a boat that you had ticket-holding fits? Perhaps, but I don’t think that’s what the translator of a certain Chinese sign meant. A photo on Leonie Doyle’s blog (Lightlyskipping) shows a sign … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Languages, HUMOR, LANGUAGE, Language Error | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘The Calculendar Commercial’ video (Rebecca Black – ‘Friday’-Inspired)

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Kevin

Have trouble figuring out the days of the week? You need The Calculendar! (Available in many languages.) This TV-commercial parody was inspired by the lyrics Yesterday was Thursday, Thursday Today it is Friday, Friday [. . .] Tomorrow is Saturday … Continue reading →

Posted in Comedy / Humor Media, Foreign Languages, HUMOR, LANGUAGE, My Videos, Site Administration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Happy Chinese New Year ‘tu’ you!

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Kevin

It’s Chinese New Year’s Day. Happy Year of the Rabbit! According to Language Log and Dog sun, the clever thing for Chinese cards now is Chinese-English mixing of greetings. Thus: “Happy New Year 兔 you!” (Happy New Year tu you!; … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Languages, LANGUAGE | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

2010 Australian word of the year: googleganger

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Kevin

Australia’s Macquarie Dictionary announced their word of the year (WOTY) for 2010 yesterday: googleganger 'goohguhlganguh [American dialects end in "-ur" for many] noun a person with the same name as oneself, whose online references are mixed with one’s own among … Continue reading →

Posted in Dialects, LANGUAGE, Site Administration, Words / Dictionaries | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Spot the Ambiguity’ video

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Kevin

Steven and Brandon have a misunderstanding. Can you spot the ambiguity? Link to video Closed-captioning (CC) and transcript available.

Posted in Comedy / Humor Media, Foreign Languages, HUMOR, LANGUAGE, My Videos, Site Administration, Words / Dictionaries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘The Time That’s Spruced With Pine’ (my video)

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Kevin

After a short, original light-verse poem, hear about Christmas and Japanese New Year’s and learn some Japanese words related to New Year’s. Link to video Closed-captioning (CC) and transcript available.

Posted in Comedy / Humor Media, Foreign Languages, HUMOR, LANGUAGE, Language Media, My Videos, Site Administration, Words / Dictionaries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Dictionary of American Regional English’ nearly complete and tweets

Posted on December 20, 2010 by Kevin

If you’re interested in American dialect words, look no further than the Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE). The nearly completed multi-volume dictionary (with Volume I, A–C released in 1985 and Volume V, Slab–Z due in 2011 [Fall 2010 newsletter]) … Continue reading →

Posted in Dialects, LANGUAGE, Language Media, Language-Sites, Linguistics, Words / Dictionaries | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Talking to Zoo Animals’ (my video)

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Kevin

Here’s my story of talking to zoo animals and imitating their calls. It’s a true story, but I took some dramatic license. I didn’t actually wear glasses as a young child. And I don’t remember the monkeys’ food being invisible. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dialects, HUMOR, LANGUAGE, My Videos, Site Administration | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Language and Humor: First Show’ (My first live-action video)

Posted on September 12, 2010 by Kevin

This is the first show of “Language and Humor.” You’ll see that everything goes well until— Actually, you’ll see that it never starts going well. Could I— Could I have a moment alone, please? Link to video Closed-captioning (CC) and … Continue reading →

Posted in HUMOR, LANGUAGE, My Videos, Site Administration | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Resources for constructing alien languages

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Kevin

If you want to create a realistic science fiction/fantasy world, language helps a lot. Here are some conlang (constructed language) resources for creators and those interested. How to write the next great alien language (io9.com on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Elvish and … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Languages, LANGUAGE, Linguistics, Words / Dictionaries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment