Autoanthropology

But what would be so awful, I asked each of my informants, about a brief friendly chat with a fellow commuter? This was clearly regarded as an exceptionally stupid question. Obviously, the problem with actually speaking to a fellow commuter was that if you did it once, you might be expected to do it again […]

Back to happier news

Language Log extols Edinburgh Uni’s results in the UK’s RAE “But with these figures out, even these shy people will have to admit, if pressed, that if you want to study in the biggest language sciences community in the U.K., and the best one as judged by volume of work judged to be of world-leading […]

Does anyone have Staythesame.gov yet?

I haven’t generally been extremely hopeful about Obama as president as far as “Change” goes — my feelings tend more to the “intelligent, self-reflective, moderately liberal guy? okay, that sounds pretty good” sort — but I am fairly disappointed that he’s appointing a Secretary of Energy who thinks the problems are on the supply side […]

Sun-kissed frost

When I left the house this morning, an hour earlier than usual, it was bright but not light: the sun had risen, but wasn’t yet shining directly onto the roads and buildings. The air was crisp and cold, the sky pale blue and orange, the hills clear and purple, the clouds a golden mass on […]

A poet of language science

I don’t often create posts that involve extensive quotations from other blogs, but I so enjoyed Prof. Pullum’s Language Log entry on vagueness and British weather that I feel compelled to quote it here: Those many idealistic souls who imagine that we would do better with a language that was free of vagueness and ambiguity, […]

austenbook: AWESOMEST EVER

Austenbook The above set me to what probably sounded like a horrible crying/coughing fit but was actually out-of-control laughter, thigh-slapping, &c., much like my recent discovery of Dogs in Elk and I Has a Sweet Potato. Hat tip for Austenbook: Shari. Thank you, Shari!