language

A language is a system of communication using symbols (including physical gestures, sounds, and other means of expression). The origin of human language is not fully known, but the use of complex language is often said to be what separates humans from the rest of the animal kingdom. Humans use language almost constantly, as we continually communicate information.

In and around these classifications, there are many types of languages in use today, numbering in the thousands worldwide.  Some languages, such as English and Japanese, are widely spoken within a certain culture; others, like languages of many indigenous peoples, have largely died out as their populations of native speakers were marginalized. Languages such as Latin are considered "dead", having no native speakers, but are still studied in academic circles. Still other languages, such as Perl or HTML, were designed specifically for communication with machines. Signed languages make use of gestures instead of sounds, a special innovation of the deaf community. And linguistic innovation continues unabated: LOLspeak and Emoji are only two of the language-related developments born of online communication.

In the blogosphere, posts tagged with language may have to do with learning a foreign tongue, or with reflection on words or sounds; they may explore the meaning of language, discuss a child's vocabulary learning process, or use words in a new way (e.g. poetry). One thing they'll all have in common, however, is that they are written or expressed using one of the world's many functioning languages.

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Original Technorati articles tagged “language”

• in Lifestyle
  The Benefits of Integrating Art into the Classroom
  benefits of an art education include improved reading, language, math, thinking, and social skills
  by alicarnold / on Apr 9, 2013
• in TV
  Language of the Romani: A Viewers’ Glossary
  American Gypsies: National Geographic's new documentary series.
  by bbarnett / on Jul 18, 2012
• in Entertainment
  We Still Live Here: Âs Nutayuneân (2011) Focuses on A Nearly Lost Language
  Documentary captures a linguistic miracle as Cape Cod’s Wampanoag Indians reclaim their lost language and reconnect with their heritage.
  by missbobetier / on Mar 13, 2012

Latest blogosphere posts tagged “language”

 

• From our continental correspondent – comics in Belgium? Political turmoil!

  
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  ( A quick note in advance : if you’re not familiar with Belgium’s constitutional setup, read up here – and don’t laugh, this is serious ) It seemed like quite a good idea : let’s put up an exhibition in the Flemish Parliament buildings celebrating that artform that our country is rightly famous for: ...
  3 days ago

• Samsung is preparing Galaxy S4 Mega release?

  
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  Presented two new items – Galaxy Mega 6.3 and Galaxy Mega 5.8, – recall unite the same 8-megapixel camera and a new version of the operating system Android 4.2.2 with shell TouchWiz. Special features of the interface – Display “tablet” desktop screen in landscape orientation, and INDEX mode with two active ...
  3 days ago

• Fruit truck crash causes jam in LA (America drops jelly for accidental pun)

  
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  ARE Americans now au fait with jam? Isn’t it jelly over there? The LA Times reports on an accidental pun: Big rig carrying fruit crashes on 210 Freeway, creates jam
  3 days ago

• Infojustice: Trans-Pacific Partnership IP Chapter Stalled

  
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  Infojustice.org reports from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in Lima, Peru that the intellectual property chapter shows no sign of resolution and the end of the TPP talks in 2013 is now highly unlikely. Related Articles: Donations Rise For Wikileaks To Post Trans-Pacific Partnership Text Canada, ...
  3 days ago

• Mr. Thornes Spellbook 2: Master Edition - Over 72 Spelling Lists! - App Review

  
  Fun Educational Apps for Kids — Authority: 484
  Apps for Spelling - Spelling is one of those things that every child needs to know. Many of us remember studying (or memorizing) word lists for the weekly spelling test. Then promptly forgetting the words. This app sets out to make spelling memorable. Like its predecessor, Mr. Thornes Spellbook 2: Master Edition ...
  3 days ago

• Obscene Hand Gestures from Around the World

  
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• The Alphabet vs The Goddess

  
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  The Alphabet vs The Goddess:The Alphabet vs The Goddess: The Alphabet vs The Goddess Q and A: Thinking Allowed:
  3 days ago

• Do I not like like

  
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  Theres a pretty sketchy and rather vague piece from yesterdays Mail on Sunday here which uses work on a corpus of contemporary English to make some rather sweeping claims about declining standards of "correct grammar". Needless to say, its full of prescriptivist claptrap. One of their particular bugbears is the ...
  3 days ago

• New stable branch of the programming language – Perl 5.18

  
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  After years of development presents a new stable branch of the programming language – Perl 5.18. In preparation for the new release has been changed about 400 thousand lines of code changes affected the 2100 files, developed with the participation of 113 developers. A branch of 5.18 is released under an approved ...
  3 days ago

• Pleas-ing words

  
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  One man " pleaded guilty to DWI." Another " pled guilty of DWI." A third " entered a plea of guilty to DWI charges." Whats going on, aside from way too much drinking? Prepositions are little words with great power. As discussed here many times, just a few letters can radically alter meaning. Just change "Im ...
  3 days ago

• Don McNamara Author- GRANDPA DON FUN WITH ABBY & ALYSSA

  
  The Brainpan — Authority: 149
  GRANDPA DON    FUN WITH ABBY & ALYSSA       by Don McNarrara       Introducing the pre-schooler and early reader to sign language        www.abbyandalyssa.com
  3 days ago

• Séminaire en ligne gratuit sur les TICE et les langues : jeudi 20 juin 2013 de 19h à 20h30

  
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  Bonsoir à tous, Un petit mot pour vous inviter à mon prochain séminaire en ligne   ! Voici l’invitation du séminaire qui aura lieu le jeudi 20 juin 2013 de 19h à 20h30  : https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8905964/Breeze/invitatiton_MHF_outils_TICE_2.pdf Et l’enregistrement du dernier (et 1er) ...
  3 days ago

• Google Glass Diary, Part 3: How Search Works On Google Glass

  
  Search Engine Land: News About Search Engines & Search Marketing — Authority: 720
  There are seven voice commands built in to this first “Explorers” edition of Google Glass. Two of those six are search-related: “google…” and “get directions to….” The others are “take a photo,” “record a video,” “send a... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article.
  3 days ago

• Google Glass Diary, Part 3: How Search Works On Google Glass

  
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  There are seven voice commands built in to this first Explorers edition of Google Glass. Two of those six are search-related: google... and get directions to.... The others are take a photo, record a video, send a... Please visit Search Engine Land for the full article. [ Search Engine Land ] ...
  3 days ago

• WHO Director Highlights Noncommunicable Diseases, Pandemics; Blasts Industry Counter-Efforts

  
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  World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan today had strong messages for the opening day of the annual World Health Assembly: in these rocky times, public health work is a high ground that helps bring security and development, and if you are not doing all you can to advance global health for all, then ...
  3 days ago

• Where Does the Phrase “to Put Under the Hammer” Come From and What Does It Mean?

  
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  It is the auctioneer’s hammer that is referred to in the phrase “to put under the ...
  3 days ago

• The Language of Fantasy Worlds

  
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  Dothraki is a real language created for a world of complete fantasy. Linguist David Peterson...
  3 days ago

• Laws Sovereignty

  
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  Justin Richland, University of Chicago, is publishing Jurisdiction: Grounding Law in Language in the Annual Review of Anthropology. Here is the abstract. Jurisdiction, a concept often demarcating law’s territorial scope, and thus the bounds of state sovereignty, is offered here as a theory of legal language and ...
  3 days ago

• Czech President Milos Zeman criticised for homophobic snub of gay academic

  
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  The president of the Czech Republic has been criticised over claims he refused to honour an academic with a title because the man in question is also a gay rights activist. Czech President Milos Zeman has refused to fully explain his stance, saying he doesn’t want to “humiliate” the candidate, Martin Putna, ...
  3 days ago

• CARRY ON by fun. | ASL Version (by Dan McDougall)Great...

  
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  CARRY ON by fun. | ASL Version (by Dan McDougall ) Great interpretation and facial expressions!
  3 days ago

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