What is the first question people ask when you tell them what you do? Are there common misconceptions or generalizations that people make? How do you tactfully and/or humorously correct them? [more inside]
posted on Apr 28, 2008 - 153 answers

What do you know about the Japanese word/concept of 'Ma'? I know it denotes the negative space between objects and it relates closely to the similarly used Japanese word 'Mu'. [more inside]
posted on Dec 27, 2007 - 15 answers

Help me speak and write two phrases in Farsi. [more inside]
posted on Apr 29, 2007 - 2 answers

Help me find evidence contrary to this analysis that claims the internet causes language to be "dumbed down". As Hemingway said: "Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?"
posted on Jan 14, 2007 - 23 answers

LanguageArts: to the bilingual (or more) people in the hive... [more inside]
posted on Sep 5, 2006 - 24 answers

UrbanLegendFilter: Anyone ever hear of the isolated Antarctic base where the crew watched the same videotape over and over, went crazy, and started speaking their own private language? [more inside]
posted on Aug 3, 2006 - 19 answers

A question for those familiar with American Sign Language (or other signed languages): When hearing speakers are surprised or shocked or wish to indicate they have just said something they shouldn't they often clap their hands over their mouth. This is usually immediate and seems almost involuntary. Is there something similar used by deaf signers or do they tend to use the same gesture hearing people do? [more inside]
posted on Apr 9, 2006 - 9 answers

Music and emotions [more inside]
posted on Mar 20, 2006 - 19 answers

People in my company often use a period instead of a question mark at the end of an interrogative sentence. I pointed this out to an old boss as I was proofing one of his e-mails, and he told me this is standard custom now in business communication. Is this so? What the hell?
posted on Mar 25, 2004 - 45 answers