TED-Ed
TED-ED: Buffalo buffalo buffalo: One-word sentences and how they work - Emma Bryce
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo' is a grammatically correct sentence. How? Emma Bryce explains how this and other one-word sentences illustrate some lexical ambiguities that can turn ordinary words and...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: How to use a semicolon - Emma Bryce
It may seem like the semicolon is struggling with an identity crisis. It looks like a comma crossed with a period. Maybe that's why we toss these punctuation marks around like grammatical confetti; we're confused about how to use them...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: How can you change someone's mind? (hint: facts aren't always enough) - Hugo Mercier
Why do arguments change people's minds in some cases and backfire in others? Hugo Mercier explains how arguments are more convincing when they rest on a good knowledge of the audience, taking into account what the audience believes, who...
TED Talks
David Peterson: Why language is humanity's greatest invention
Civilization rests upon the existence of language, says language creator David Peterson. In a talk that's equal parts passionate and hilarious, he shows how studying, preserving and inventing new languages helps us understand our...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: Aphasia: The disorder that makes you lose your words - Susan Wortman-Jutt
Language is an essential part of our lives that we often take for granted. But, if the delicate web of language networks in your brain became disrupted by stroke, illness, or trauma, you could find yourself truly at a loss for words....
SciShow
Should You Stop Saying 'Like' and 'Um'?
Y’know lots of people say you shouldn’t use, like...filler words, but uh, should you really like, stop using them?
TED-Ed
TED-ED: Where do new words come from? - Marcel Danesi
There are over 170,000 words currently in use in the English language. Yet every year, about a thousand new words are added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Where do they come from, and how do they make it into our everyday lives?...
SciShow
Why Baby Talk Is Good for Babies
You may have heard that using baby talk is bad for children’s language development, but research seems to show the exact opposite.
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The tragic myth of Orpheus and Eurydice - Brendan Pelsue
The marriage of Orpheus, the greatest of all poets and musicians, to Eurydice, a wood nymph, was heralded as the perfect union. Anyone could tell the couple was deeply in love. So when their wedding ceremony ended in Eurydice's untimely...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The rise and fall of the Assyrian Empire - Marian H. Feldman
Before the sun never set on the British Empire; before Genghis Khan swept the steppe; before Rome extended its influence to encircle the Mediterranean Sea; there was ancient Assyria. Considered by historians to be the first true empire,...
TED-Ed
Who decides what's in the dictionary? | Ilan Stavans
While the concept of a dictionary dates back to ancient civilizations, the first English dictionary wasn't published until 1604. In the centuries that followed, many more dictionaries were written by individual authors who chose what to...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: How to write descriptively - Nalo Hopkinson
The point of fiction is to cast a spell, a momentary illusion that you are living in the world of the story. But as a writer, how do you suck your readers into your stories in this way? Nalo Hopkinson shares some tips for how to use...
Curated Video
Is Body Language Really A Language?
New ReviewVerbal communication covers what we say,, the words we’re saying, whether spoken or signed. So, is body language a language? Short answer: no. Body language is not a standalone language in the linguistic sense, however it is an important...
Learning Mole
AI in Language Translation
Zoom into 'AI in Language Translation' to discover how artificial intelligence breaks down language barriers and connects the world! A quick, amazing journey into tech-powered communication, perfect for young linguists and tech enthusiasts.
Great Big Story
Wasei Eigo, when English meets Japanese creativity
Explore how Wasei Eigo transforms English into uniquely Japanese expressions.
Makematic
Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange, a vast system of international trade, changed global commerce forever. Named after famous explorer Christopher Columbus, it reshaped diets, economies, and societies across continents.
Learn German with Herr Antrim
English Words Gone Wrong in German
English Words Gone Wrong in German Ever wondered how English words can take on a completely different meaning when adopted by another language? In this video, we explore the fascinating case of English words that have been "kidnapped" by...
Curated Video
Different Perspectives on China
Michael Berry, Professor of Cinese Culture at UCLA, talks about the impact his time in China and becoming fully fluent in Chinese had on him and how it provided him with an alternative perspective on differences in culture, values and...
Great Big Story
The rise and fall of Hollywood's Mid-Atlantic accent
Discover the history of the Mid-Atlantic accent, from its Hollywood heyday to its decline in modern times.
Professor Dave Explains
Analytic Philosophy Part 3: Language and Meaning
Continuing with analytic philosophy, after the Vienna Circle had its influence, the tradition continued and grew into several new areas, inspired largely from Wittgenstein and other prominent figures. John L. Austin developed his theory...
Curated Video
How Brands Ruin Slang
From the Brands Saying Bae in the 2010s, to the “wassup” ads of the 90s, advertisers are always trying to find ways to sound cool. But when brands on social media use a slang word in their marketing, that basically guarantees it's over....
Curated Video
Why Sign Language Was Banned in America
Sign Languages are just as linguistically valid and vibrant as spoken languages, and beneficial to learn for Deaf and hearing people. So why for decades was it illegal to teach them in American schools?
Curated Video
The Stories Behind Food Names
It shouldn't matter what a food is called as long as it tastes good, right? Well, maybe not.
Curated Video
Can Computers Really Talk? Or Are They Faking It?
New advancements in technology are making it harder than ever to tell the difference between a computer and a human speaker... but what's going on under the hood? Is it really "language," or just a digital illusion?