Language Ledger

Interjections like "mmhm," "oh," and "huh?" are essential tools for keeping conversations connected. Mark Dingemanse (@dingemansemark.bsky.social) invites you to rethink everything you thought you knew about them: substack.com/inbox/post/1...
doi.org/10.1146/annu...

#langsky

Basque, Irish, and other minority languages struggle to maintain daily use in bilingual societies. Uriarte & Sperlich’s model in @plosone.org explores how bilinguals’ daily decisions lead to this shift—and what could help sustain these languages.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
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Every text you send carries meaning—not just in words, but in the timing. Florian Busch (@flexionsmorphem.bsky.social) shows how smartphones turn delays, bursts of replies, and multitasking into tools for managing relationships. Learn more: doi.org/10.1016/j.la...
substack.com/inbox/post/1...

When you say "or," do kids and adults hear the same thing? Not in Romanian! 🇷🇴 A study shows that while adults pick up on subtle tonal cues, kids focus on straightforward meanings. 🧒👂 See how understanding changes over time: 

doi.org/10.5565/rev/...
substack.com/home/post/p-... 📖✨.

In Huozhou Chinese, diminutives are formed in a way that challenges conventional ideas about word creation. Published in Glossa (@glossa-linguistics.bsky.social), this study examines the role of rhythm and syllable adjustments in creating meaning: doi.org/10.16995/glo...
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In Yoruba, tone drives meaning. A single pitch shift turns "tall" into "taller" or "tallest," showing how sound conveys grammar. Learn more:
doi.org/10.32473/sal...
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How do we say "might" or "must" in different languages? A study by Priscila Simões and André Xavier looks at expressions of possibility and necessity in spoken and signed languages like Portuguese and ASL. Check it out:
doi.org/10.51359/217...
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Why don’t we notice mistakes like 'Do love you me?' when reading? A study in @jcgntn.bsky.social by Snell & Melo shows our brains process words in parallel, making us blind to small errors. Reading faster comes at a cost! Read more: doi.org/10.5334/joc....
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In Brazilian Portuguese, objects vanish—yet we still understand! A study in Salvador, Bahia, shows full pronouns (like ele) emerge when objects are alive or definite. History, culture, and grammar shape how people speak. Read more: doi.org/10.18309/ran...
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Why are round numbers like 1000 so common? A study by
@bodowinter.bsky.social finds cardinals dominate English, with ordinals for dates & nominals for IDs. Even how we write numbers—words vs. digits—depends on context. Learn more: doi.org/10.1111/cogs...
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Did you know the word também in Portuguese isn’t just 'also'? It builds lists, creates connections, and changes meaning depending on how you use it. Curious? Find out more: substack.com/home/post/p-...
doi.org/10.1590/1981...