John H. McWhorter

The many meanings of the word get.

Was English influenced by Phoenician?

Can a white author write vernacular dialogue for Black characters?

Animals communicate, sure, but that’s not the same as language.

Lots of military titles have strange pronunciations and backstories.

There’s more than one way to ask why. Look to Russian for an explanation.

There’s more than one way to ask why. Look to Russian for an explanation.

Avoidance speech requires speakers to refrain from using certain words when addressing in-laws.

Enslaved Africans created a creole that is spoken widely today.

An inquiry into what makes Black English sound Black.

Turkish, Ladino, Persian, and other languages of the Ottoman Empire.

Lots of languages get along just fine without a future tense.

Karen has emerged as a pejorative moniker for an unwoke white lady.

Karen has emerged as a pejorative moniker for an unwoke white lady.

The curious grammar of questions in languages around the world.

Knowing two languages may make you more empathetic.

Knowing two languages may make you more empathetic.