Linguistics is the science behind the language. Why we say what we say, and what rules dictate how we are understood.
With more than 230 million people speaking Bengali as either a first or second language, it’s easy to see how there are several variations of the language. For those learning the modern language, the most noticeable difference between the Bengali dialects tends to be pronunciation. The most common difference is in phonology, but other differences, […]
Exploring the Bengali Dialects: Beyond Diglossia Read More »
You’ve probably experienced these scenarios, but never linked them to foreign language anxiety: For a language learner, these bouts of foreign language anxiety often make it seem like mastering another language is impossible. In fact, it’s common for learners, especially younger students, to link their anxiety with an inability to learn. But that’s far from
What’s Behind Your Foreign Language Anxiety? Read More »
Going from an elementary textbook to real-life usage often feels overwhelming and almost disorienting when learning a language. So often, phrases and vocabulary from a list and sample dialogues fail to account for variety or language styles. This is an intermediate topic and is likely one factor leading to a learning plateau. There’s just too
The Basics Practical Use of Style for Language Learners Read More »
What comes first, language or thought? A series of papers published in 1951 grappled with this very question and established itself in linguistic theory. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, proposed by American linguist Edward Sapir and his student Benjamin Whorf is probably one of the most mainstream linguistic theories out there today, going so far as to
It’s Not All Relative: The Problem with the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Read More »
Despite the advent of real-time translation technology and the continued dominance of English, among other “powerhouse” languages, millions strive to learn a second, third, or even fourth language. Whether that’s for school, work, or pleasure, there’s a variety of people looking to communicate with each other, across linguistic and geographical barriers. But desiring to know
What Language Learners Really Think: Language Learning in 2022 Read More »
Despite being one of the most spoken languages globally, there is a lack of resources for those seeking to learn Bengali online. Bengali, or Bangla (বাংলা), is largely spoken in Bangladesh and in the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam. This isn’t even including immigrant communities. As with many populous languages in Southeast
The Best Way to Learn Bengali: A Self-Study Guide Read More »
After following Lindsay Does Languages for at least the past five years, I decided to try out her Speaking Confidence Challenge. Because, like many language learners out there, I struggle with speaking. But I was also curious. As someone who studied linguistics in college, I wanted to observe her approach. Let me backtrack a bit
Why You Should Consider the Speaking Confidence Challenge from Lindsay Does Languages Read More »
The language tree is perhaps the most well-known representation of language evolution. But how accurate is it in regards to studying and comparing modern languages? As early as the 16th century, missionaries and European travelers were noting the similarities between their mother tongue and various other languages. The idea of a common ancestral language, which
How Accurate Is the Language Tree? Read More »
