"A Way With Words" Fundraiser

13 December 2011

I’ve written about the radio show/podcast A Way With Words before. It’s a fun, informative, and commercial-free hour each week, hosted by word mavens Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett.

At the moment, Grant and Martha are in the midst of a fundraising appeal. If you are so inclined, clicking on the link and making a tax-deductible* contribution this holiday season would help keep this educational resource on the air and on the net.

*At least in the U. S.; I don’t know the tax implications for other countries.

I Can Haz Language Play?

10 December 2011

Jill Vaughan and Lauren Gawne give a talk on LOLspeak at the 2011 Australian Linguistics Society annual conference.

The talk is a good example of how a silly and fun internet fad can demonstrate some rather sophisticated linguistics concepts and how ordinary people are very sophisticated in their use of language. But don’t expect lots of hilarious examples of LOLspeak. There are a few, but the talk is an academic discussion of a light-hearted phenomenon.

Omnes Viae: Roman Routeplanner

6 December 2011

Not all roads necessarily lead to Rome. Do you need to get from Londinium to Herusalem? OmnesViae can find you the shortest route.

(Hat tip to Jessica Lockhart)