contributorNeal Whitman Behind the DictionaryLexicographers Talk About LanguagePrime Time for "Imma" April 26, 2010 By Neal Whitman
Pay attention to the lyrics of the songs at the top of the pop charts these days, and you'll hear one slangy word used with surprising frequency: Imma (spelled in various different ways). Our resident linguist Neal Whitman investigates.
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Article Topics:Behind the DictionaryLexicographers Talk About LanguageWhy the "Doughnut Hole" Metaphor is Inside Out March 29, 2010 By Neal Whitman
The recent passage of health care legislation in the U.S. Congress has got linguist Neal Whitman ruminating over a reform-related metaphor that doesn't make much sense when you stop to think about it.
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Article Topics:Behind the DictionaryLexicographers Talk About LanguageDo's and Don'ts for Singular "They" March 4, 2010 By Neal Whitman
For National Grammar Day, linguist Neal Whitman takes a look at a long-standing source of contention among grammar enthusiasts: singular they. (Grammar purists, prepare yourselves for some unconventional rules!)
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Article Topics:Behind the DictionaryLexicographers Talk About Language"Win-Win" and the Winter Olympics February 12, 2010 By Neal Whitman
Just in time for the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics, linguist Neal Whitman has been thinking about a phrase that seems to guarantee victory: win-win situation. What does this "no-lose" proposition really mean?
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Article Topics:Behind the DictionaryLexicographers Talk About LanguageA Few Choice Words December 30, 2009 By Neal Whitman
We welcome back linguist Neal Whitman, who has noticed that many educators are fond of "choice" language, as in "He made good choices." Neal plumbs the history of this usage and talks to teachers and administrators about how the words "choose" and "choice" have shifted in recent years.
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Article Topics:Behind the DictionaryLexicographers Talk About LanguageA Troop of One November 11, 2009 By Neal Whitman
Today is Veterans Day in the United States, and linguist Neal Whitman has been thinking about a question of military usage: if "50,000 troops" refers to 50,000 people, then does "one troop" refer to one person?
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Article Topics:Behind the DictionaryLexicographers Talk About LanguageThe Nouning of "Back to School" September 3, 2009 By Neal WhitmanJust in time for the beginning of the school year, linguist Neal Whitman investigates how "back to school" got transformed from a prepositional phrase to a noun phrase. It's time for back to school! With Labor Day just around the corner, back to school is days away for many students across the nation, and for many others it has already come. Continue reading...Article Topics: |
