English Language Articles by Kristianne TARVINA https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv en-us 2017-04-17 23:12:13 UTC 2017-06-01 00:41:58 UTC hello@padlet.com Remembering Nüshu, the 19th-Century Chinese Script Only Women Could Write 2352489 https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/166645645 http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/nushu-chinese-script-women

A women-only tradition that is closely becoming extinct that shows a Chinese script that only Chinese women knew how to write which is a contrast to the male dominated society.  Written language was not common back then as only the rich people were able to afford education. May be a warning that if written language is not passed down it may also become extinct/endangered. ]]> 2017-04-17 23:13:53 UTC https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/166645645 Locker-room banter is not just about Trump – it's men everywhere 2352489 https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/166647056 https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/feb/13/locker-room-banter-trump-men-gary-mcnair-misogynist-male-language
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Men everywhere have 'locker-room' talk where they themselves don't realise that it may cause others (especially women) to feel scared or offended. This is due to influences in the media such as Donald Trump and his 'grab her by the pussy' remark that makes it almost normal to talk in that way due to his power as the United States president.
]]> 2017-04-17 23:34:28 UTC https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/166647056 Faggots, punks, and prostitutes: the evolving language of gay men 2352489 https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/166651171 https://theconversation.com/faggots-punks-and-prostitutes-the-evolving-language-of-gay-men-73136                                           
Gay people are turning offensive language into more terms of endearment. They are trying to take words which had negative connotations attached to it and turn it into neutral terms such as faggot.

]]> 2017-04-18 00:09:58 UTC https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/166651171 There’s No One “Real” English: A Linguist’s Take on the Brilliant Complexity of Black English 2352489 https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167394676 https://heleo.com/conversation-theres-no-one-real-english-a-linguists-take-on-the-brilliant-complexity-of-black-english/12892/
Standard english isn't a 'real' english and any other englishes are not variations of standard english because they have their own set of rules and are complex so they should be analysed and looked at as two different things instead of looking down on other englishes such as Black English

People may think that other englishes are just slang of standard english but it is a whole other language all together because slang are just words and these englishes have specific and complex grammar  

]]> 2017-04-21 00:07:33 UTC https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167394676 NSFW: The True Story of Shitgibbon: 2017’s Most Memorable Insult 2352489 https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167395144 http://forward.com/culture/363226/nsfw-the-true-story-of-shitgibbon-2017s-most-memorable-insult/
Monosyllable words plus a trochee (a two syllable word that puts emphasis on the first syllable like PU-ffin or WA-ffle) make the best insults. This is because it has rythym by have one short sounding word followed by a strong sound such as in the word shit = monosyllable and GI-bbon = trochee]]> 2017-04-21 00:13:52 UTC https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167395144 FIRED FOR VENUS WILLIAMS REMARK, EX-COMMENTATOR DOUG ADLER SUES ESPN 2352489 https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167395908 http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2017/02/fired-for-venus-williams-remark-ex-commentator-sues-espn/64166/

Language choice is important as someone can get fired over their choice of words. The commentator used the word 'guerilla' but was falsely accused of saying 'gorilla' which is a racial slur against Venus Williams as she is African American. The homonym guerilla/gorilla got the commentator in a lot of trouble (verbal communication is rapid and can be interpreted wrong easily) ]]> 2017-04-21 00:23:53 UTC https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167395908 Fave vs. Fav, A linguistic explanation 2352489 https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167396598 https://www.fastcompany.com/3034831/fast-feed/fave-vs-fav-a-linguistic-explanation
People are debating on how to shorten favourite, people and companies such as New York Times use fave or fav however some people pronounce them differently 'fave' in peoples minds are pronounced similarly to 'cave' or 'save' (so predominant pronunciation) but the '-ave' ending has exceptions like some might pronounce fave like 'have'. Similar to gif/jif debate]]> 2017-04-21 00:31:01 UTC https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167396598 Is saying the N-word still the final frontier of taboo on television? 2352489 https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167397876 https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/mar/22/n-word-taboo-tv-carmichael-show-atlanta-insecure-language
As time goes by, taboo language such as the use of the 'n-word' starts to lose its 'tabooness' as it gets incorporated into the media, such can be said like the f-word as it is still a taboo profanity but as it has had media exposure it is more widely accepted into the general public as seen in the past. ]]> 2017-04-21 00:44:10 UTC https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167397876 Why Samsung’s name for its personal assistant may twist quite a few tongues 2352489 https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167398279 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/03/23/why-samsungs-name-for-its-personal-assistant-may-twist-quite-a-few-tongues/?utm_term=.7b77a1308399
'Bixby' may be hard for some people to pronounce it but it is a good name for a Samsung personal assistant because the cluster of consonants will make it easier for computers to pick up but also because it doesn't have any connotations to the word. Names for things are hard because you need to think about the global market and how it sounds for different languages and any connotations that may interfere with the product you are selling. Consonant clusters are harder to pronounce as the vowels allow the mouth to open and make clear sounds whereas consonants are sounds blocked by things like teeth or the tongue. ]]> 2017-04-21 00:48:48 UTC https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167398279 What is a vamp, and how do you re- one? 2352489 https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167398846 http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=31864
As time goes on, different words change meaning over time such as the word revamp. In this case , the word meaning broadened to just mean in general to re-image or improve a certain thing whereas in the past it just meant to change the front part of the boot. ]]> 2017-04-21 00:55:13 UTC https://padlet.com/2352489/r01no9i2zihv/wish/167398846