How do our words relate to our thoughts? What does language tell us about human nature? What are we doing, language-wise, when we swear, use innuendo or name our babies? Harvard professor Steven Pinker examines these questions -- and much more -- in his terrific new book, The Stuff of Thought. We had a fascinating conversation with him about his research into language and cognition:  Continue reading...

Don't start a babag over language! Check out these lists that collect words, words and more words from the fringes of English?

International House of Logorrhea

Compendium of Lost Words

Word Oddities

Luciferous Logolepsy

SKB Dictionary

In Part One of this series, I talked about three common ways to create product and company names: from people's names, from connecting two words, and by creating a blend or portmanteau. As naming exercises go, those three techniques are among the most basic. In this installment we move into Intermediate Naming: techniques that require a bit more mastery of the workings of language but can reward you with distinctive, memorable names.  Continue reading...

We asked author Kristy Kiernan, whose latest novel is Catching Genius, about books that inspire her writing. She graciously sent us these picks: (Thanks, Kristy!)

1 Dead in Attic by Chris Rose. "This is non-fiction from a journalist in New Orleans. It's a compilation of his columns from right after Katrina. The introduction gave me chills because I'm a writer; the rest of the book gave me chills because I'm human."

A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander. "Okay, I'm cheating on this one a little. I was lucky enough to get an Advance Reading Copy and the book isn't available until Feb. 1, 2008. However, this gives you time to pick up her first two books, And Only to Deceive and A Poisoned Season, and get hooked on these historical suspense novels set in Victorian England, featuring the most likable heroine I've ever read in a series, Lady Emily Ashton."

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Journalist Amy Gahran of the blog Contentious shares her secret for getting people to read your blog: "Strategic commenting." As Amy explains, "If you view your blog as part of a public conversation, rather than a mere publication, then an easy way to attract more interest and interaction becomes obvious." Read her post here.