Tag

Linguistics

All articles tagged with #linguistics

science4 days ago•13 min saved

Compass-first language: Guugu Yimithirr uses cardinal directions instead of left or right

Guugu Yimithirr, spoken in northern Queensland, describes space using cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) instead of left/right, a system that remains constant as one moves and even appears in memory. Related Cape York languages like Kuuk Thaayorre share this absolute-frame pattern, fueling ongoing discussion about whether language shapes thought or simply reflects cultural practice; researchers emphasize careful interpretation and note revitalization pressures on these languages.

via Space Daily|

#cardinal-directions #guugu-yimithirr #language-and-thought

science1 month ago•11 min saved

Language Meaning Reimagined as a Safety-First Framework

Researchers at the University of Vermont propose ousiometrics, a new framework that says language meaning is organized around power, danger, and structure (a safety bias) rather than the traditional emotion-centered valence/arousal/dominance model. Analyzing billions of word uses with a new ousiometer, they claim this three-dimensional approach explains more of meaning variation (over 90%) than the old model and has wide implications for AI, NLP, and how we understand risk and coordination in communication.

via SciTechDaily|

#artificial-intelligence #language #linguistics

science2 months ago•45 min saved

Daily dialogue declines: study shows fewer words spoken

A study of 22 data sets involving over 2,000 people finds that the average daily words spoken aloud fell about 28% from 16,632 in 2005 to 11,900 in 2019, a trend likely worsened by the pandemic; younger people are slightly more affected, and researchers warn of potential effects on conversational skills and social well-being, urging simple habits to reverse the decline.

via The Verge|

#conversation #linguistics #psychology

science2 months ago•32 min saved

Whale Codas Hint at Human-Like Language in Sperm Whales

UC Berkeley researchers studied 15 sperm whales over four years, attaching underwater microphones and analyzing codas; they found two frequency-based, vowel-like click types (a and i) that can form diphthongs, with different pods using distinct frequencies—suggesting regional accents and a highly complex system similar in pattern to human speech, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

via Daily Mail|

#animal-communication #cetaceans #linguistics

biology2 months ago•17 min saved

Sperm Whales Reveal a Sophisticated Vocal Alphabet

New research analyzing 2014–2018 recordings of Caribbean sperm whales finds signs of a highly complex phonetic system in their calls, including vowel-like patterns and diphthongs. Using GANs within Project CETI, scientists identify vowels differentiated by inter-click intervals and suggest these whales may have a developing vocabulary, with a goal to interpret around 20 expressions (e.g., diving, sleeping) by 2031.

via Gizmodo|

#biology #linguistics #project-ceti

science2 months ago•4 min saved

Whale Talk Mirrors Human Language, New Study Finds

Sperm whales’ codas show vowel-like differences and tonal patterns arranged in multi-layered structures that closely resemble human phonology, suggesting parallel evolution of language-like signals. The findings from Project CETI and UC Berkeley researchers, published in Proceedings B, push forward the goal of understanding whale speech and eventually enabling interspecies communication, though significant work and funding remain.

via The Guardian|

#animal-communication #codas #linguistics

science3 months ago•25 min saved

Can Grace and Rocky Really Talk? A Linguist's Take on Project Hail Mary

Ars Technica’s linguistics dive interviews Dr. Betty Birner and Andy Weir to unpack how Grace and Rocky’s language is portrayed, from pragmatics and theory of mind to symbols, embodiment, and cross‑species communication. The piece argues the film shortcuts language acquisition for narrative speed, while noting that math isn’t a guaranteed universal language and true alien understanding would hinge on deeper context beyond pantomime; still, it praises the film’s engaging buddy dynamic.

via Ars Technica|

#aliens #language-acquisition #linguistics

entertainment4 months ago•3 min saved

EG in the Grid: A Two-Word Theme in Adam Aaronson’s NYT Crossword

Adam Aaronson’s New York Times crossword showcases an EG theme: every theme entry is a two-word phrase with the first word starting with E and the second with G (e.g., ETHNIC GROUP, ENDOCRINE GLAND). The clues and syntax—such as “e.g.” and “for one”—signal the gimmick, but there’s no revealer; solvers discover the pattern gradually while the piece also reflects on language, culture, and the constructor’s anecdotes.

via The New York Times|

#crossword #entertainment #linguistics

science5 months ago•5 min saved

Old Words, Fresh Comeback: How Vintage Terms Find New Life in Modern Speech

The article examines why vintage words like “yap” and “skedaddle” are resurging in today’s talk, arguing that old terms are primed by media and memories and then spread through social networks led by influential youth. This “team sport” of language change means terms rise when a core group adopts them, diffuse through broader networks, and eventually fade, with some retro words enduring longer than others.

via The New York Times|

#language #linguistics #science

politics5 months ago•7 min saved

Newsom’s ‘piss on the cicadas’ line traced to a WWI French poem

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press conference quip about Donald Trump’s move to control permits in wildfire-hit LA drew quick scrutiny over a supposed French expression. Linguists couldn’t identify a standard idiom, and Newsom’s aide initially suggested it was just a Foreign-language flourish. A spokesperson later said the line quotes Guillaume Apollinaire’s WWI-era poem “Aussi bien que les cigales” (As well as the cicadas), a memory rather than a recognized saying. The episode underscores how language quirks can go viral and spark debate in politics.

via Politico|

#apollinaire #french-phrase #linguistics

science5 months ago•7 min saved

Language May Be Built from Simple Linear Blocks, Not Deep Grammar, Study Finds

A Nature Human Behaviour study argues the mind may represent language with flat, linear building blocks rather than complex hierarchical grammar. Experiments (eye-tracking and phone conversations) show common word-class sequences can be primed, including nonconstituent phrases like “in the middle of the,” suggesting language uses simpler patterns than traditionally believed and that the gap between human language and animal communication could be smaller than thought.

via SciTechDaily|

#cognitive-science #grammar #language

local6 months ago•4 min saved

Genius Dogs Eavesdrop to Expand Vocabulary, Study Finds

A border collie named Basket, living on the Upper West Side, is featured in the New York Times for her exceptional language learning abilities, recognizing over 150 toys by name and demonstrating intelligence comparable to a 1.5-year-old human, highlighting the bond and mental stimulation between her and her owner, Elle Baumgartel-Austin.

via West Side Rag|

#basket-the-border-collie #dog #linguistics

history6 months ago•5 min saved

Seven Unsolved Mysteries of Undeciphered Languages

Many ancient writing systems, such as Epi-Olmec, Indus Valley, Rongorongo, Linear A, and others, remain undeciphered due to limited texts and lack of a Rosetta Stone-like key. While AI offers some assistance, its effectiveness is limited by the small amount of available data, and deciphering these scripts continues to be a challenging puzzle that offers insights into lost civilizations.

via DW|

#ancient-languages #archaeology #artificial-intelligence

world6 months ago•2 min saved

Linguists Criticize Carney for Using British Spelling in Canada

Canadian language experts have urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to use Canadian spelling in official documents instead of British spellings, emphasizing that Canadian English reflects national identity and history. The letter highlights the importance of maintaining Canadian linguistic distinctions, especially in government communications, and questions recent deviations from this standard. The issue is compounded by Carney's UK experience, which may influence his language choices.

via BBC|

#british-spelling #canada #canadian-english

science7 months ago•3 min saved

Brain and AI: Unveiling the Neural Foundations of Language Processing

A recent study challenges the notion that AI language models lack sophisticated reasoning abilities, demonstrating that at least one model can analyze language with human-like proficiency, including diagramming sentences and handling recursion, which has significant implications for understanding AI's capabilities in linguistic reasoning.

via WIRED|

#ai #language-analysis #large-language-models