Prentiss Riddle: Language

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Lingo-linky love

Catching up on a bunch of language-related bookmarks.

Word Spy is a website and mailing list devoted to neologisms. "These aren't `stunt words' or `sniglets,' but new words and phrases that have appeared in newspapers, magazines, books, press releases, and Web sites." From actorvist to zitcom, it's a must for the mezzabrow slanguist.

An old MeFi thread points out resources on British vs. American English, including the online American-British British-American Dictionary, said to be scheduled for a print edition in September although Amazon doesn't seem to know about it.

Imagine my surprise when I visited the Austin Chronicle website and there leapt off the screen a headline about the Esperanto Club of Austin. Nope, no in-depth exposé, it was just a meeting notice that caught the headline writer's eye. Konservu la strangecon aústinan!

I've got no business reading up on Brazilian profanity but I can't resist linking to a few resources. Entrada proibida! How to Cuss in "Brazilian" and How to swear in Brazilian Portuguese.

Natalie Chicha quotes an unnamed source on the differences among différence, différance and differance. It's a joke about academic pedantry which any academic pedant should enjoy.

Colin the Hairy punches my buttons on the subject of dual-language immersion.

A Glossary of Pachuquismos, or the slang of pachucos, which it defines as "old school term for Chicano zooters". (Via Reenhead.)

Caterina on the life and work of "language artist" Öyvind Fahlström, whose art consisted in part of constructed languages. Odd that I'd never heard of him, considering my time among obsessive conlangers. I wonder whether his projects were really "languages". Did they have grammar? Could they express a full range of human thought? (For the latter test it is permissible to spot them a generous helping of vocabulary, and "full range" means not some Vulcan-mind-meld Platonic ideal but just more or less as well as other languages do it.)

language 2003.08.06 link