Category Archives: English

A brief history of plural word…s – John McWhorter

View full lesson here: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/a-brief-his… All it takes is a simple S to make most English words plural. But it hasn’t always worked that way (and there are, of course, exceptions). John McWhorter looks back to the good old days … Continue reading

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Elision & Contraction in Old English

 

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Leftovers from Older English

 

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What’s The Difference Between “Yule” And “Christmas”? – Everything After Z by Dictionary.com

The lyric from “Deck the Halls” goes “Troll the ancient yuletide carol.” Amidst all the fa-la-la-ing, did you ever ask yourself exactly what yule is? While some people use the word as a synonym for Christmas, there’s more to yule than … Continue reading

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How Geography KILLED a Letter

Fun facts: I had a speech impediment as a child where I couldn’t pronounce TH properly, instead using an F sound. Good thing I got all that cleared up before making this video. If you’re curious what thorn looks like … Continue reading

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How did the letter P come to be in English

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meaning and origin of the British phrase ‘big girl’s blouse’ — word histories

1969—a weak, cowardly or oversensitive man—analogy between a cowardly man “in a flap” and an oversize garment hanging loose, fluttering The post meaning and origin of the British phrase ‘big girl’s blouse’ appeared first on word histories. via meaning and origin … Continue reading

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Eccentric British Houseboats Built from Decommissioned Ambulances, City Buses, and Airplane Parts

Tucked into the estuary of the River Adur in the coastal town of Shoreham-on-Sea in Sussex, England is a row of houseboats in dazzlingly slapdash designs and bustling with the creative energy of its residents. One such person is Hamish … Continue reading

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The hierarchy of disagreement: The best and worst argument techniques – Big Think

A classic essay defines different ways to disagree, from the worst to the best, with lessons that ring true in our divisive times. Source: The hierarchy of disagreement: The best and worst argument techniques

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4 reasons to learn a new language

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