LANGUAGE

Pepper the Robot at the 2017 New Yorker TechFest in New York City

A Robot Called Pepper Can Teach Visitors Swahili at the Smithsonian

His newest job involves helping visitors understand African art's influence on global culture.

ABBA Classics Sung in Swedish (and Spanish)

Mamma mia!

Why Swaziland Was Just Renamed eSwatini

Yes, they were tired of being confused with Switzerland. But that was only part of the problem.

Image: London Stereoscopic Company, Getty Images. Background: iStock. Composite: Lucy Quintanilla, Mental Floss

15 Intriguing Facts About George Eliot

George Eliot is best remembered for writing classic books like 'Middlemarch' and 'Silas Marner,' but she is also connected to Lady Gaga in an unexpected way.

The Surprising Link Between Language and Depression

The overuse of certain words is a marker of depression.

Here's the Right Way to Pronounce 'Pulitzer'

Do you say "pew-litzer" or "pull-itzer"?

9 Innocent-Sounding Words with Surprisingly Naughty Origins

These everyday words look and sound perfectly innocent, but they actually have questionable origins.

The Typo That Helped End World War II

One missing letter led to the Ministry of Defence accidentally hiring a seaweed expert instead of a codebreaker. Turns out that's just what they needed.

Designer's New Typeface Combines Braille With Written Text

Kosuke Takahashi wants to change the way braille appears in public spaces.

17 Hilarious Definitions from Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of the English Language was published 263 years ago this month.

Why Are There So Many Different Languages?

Human migration played a big role. Here are the reasons why there are so many different languages around the world.

The Literal Translation of Every Country's Name In One World Map

Welcome to the United States of Amerigo!

16 Tips From Famous Authors for Writing Better Poetry

The elusive art of poetry isn’t so hard to master if you know how to set the stage.

15 Antiquated Words for 'Happy' We Should Bring Back

Celebrate today's International Day of Happiness with these old-school words and phrases.

21 Phrases You Use Without Realizing You're Quoting William Shakespeare

An incredible number of lines from William Shakespeare's plays have become so ingrained in modern vernacular that we no longer recognize them as lines from plays at all.

'Embiggen,' a Made-Up Word from The Simpsons, Has Officially Landed in the Dictionary

"It's a perfectly cromulent word."

What Is ‘gh’ Doing in So Many English Words?

Once upon a time, the "gh" did stand for a specific sound—one we don’t have in English today.

9 Untranslatable Words for Comfort That Go Beyond Hygge

Why doesn't English have a word for the joy of watching bad weather from the confines of a warm house?

Speaking in a Foreign Language Can Impact Your Moral Judgment

Ethical integrity has more to do with language than you'd think.

Here's the Right Way to Pronounce Kitchenware Brand Le Creuset

If you were never quite sure how to pronounce the name of beloved French kitchenware brand Le Creuset, don't fret: For the longest time, southern chef, author, and PBS personality Vivian Howard wasn't sure either.

Adjwad Creative (speech bubble) // iStock via Getty Images Plus

25 Great Insults From 18th-Century British Slang

For history buffs and word nerds, "you jerk" just doesn't have the same ring as "you unlicked cub" and these other 18th-century insults.

Researchers Claim to Crack the Voynich Manuscript Using AI, But Experts Are Skeptical

The mysterious text has stumped codebreakers for decades.

The Magical—and Endangered—Whistling Language of Oaxaca

It's one of 42 documented examples of whistling languages across the world.

Love Hygge? Meet Lagom, Your New Favorite Scandinavian Philosophy

It's how Swedes live a more balanced life.

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