LANGUAGE

8 Professional Translators Choose Their Favorite 'Untranslatable' Words

Literary translation is no small feat.

What Is Foreign Accent Syndrome?

It starts in the brain.

10 Dance-Related Sayings From Around the Globe

Don’t be afraid to have a little boogie while you read these phrases, excerpted from A World of Wisdom: Illustrated Sayings and Proverbs From All Over the Globe.

This Is Why It's So Hard to Learn a Second Language as an Adult

It's not just your imagination.

Why Are Small, Fancy Hats Called Fascinators?

The name may seem like a perfect fit for the eye-catching accessory, but it used to describe a much different type of headgear.

Why is New York City Called The Big Apple?

The City That Never Sleeps has lots of nicknames, but this one might be the most ubiquitous.

The Fascinating Way That Words Can Change How We Perceive Colors

Is it blue, green, or grue? The colors we see in the world aren't only a function of our eyesight. The language we speak can impact the colors we recognize.

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.

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