Believe it or not: one more book on language and language history
The Oxford Etymologist casts a glance at a book exploring the history of language and its development that is “definitely worth reading.”
Open access and the academic community: a librarian’s view
We asked Henrik Schmidt, Licence Manager from the Research Collaboration Unit at the National Library of Sweden, for his views on open access and the transformation of the research environment.
Some hopelessly obscure words: the case of cowan
Some words don’t interest anyone. They languish in their obscurity, and even lexicographers miss or ignore them. Yet they too deserve to get their day in court. One such word is “cowan.”
What we say when we say “just sayin’”
The distinction between nouns and adjectives seems like it should be straightforward, but it’s not. Grammar is not as simple as your grade-school teacher presented it.
On squashing and occasional squeezing
The Oxford Etymologist explores squash, squeeze, and the development of squ- words featuring the infamous s-mobile.
In praise of sloth
The hero of today’s blog post is the adjective “slow.” No words look less inspiring, but few are more opaque.
Translating Proust again
“There is no ideal, ultimate translation of a given original. Classic texts in particular, from Homer onwards, are susceptible of multiple readings and retranslations over time.” Brian Nelson discusses translations of classic works and the difficulties with translating Proust in particular.
Etymology as guesswork, being also a study in the history of the word guess
A good deal of our scholarship is guesswork, and today’s story deals with the origin and history of the word “guess.”
An etymological stinkpo(s)t
The Oxford Etymologist’s subject today is the origin of the verb “stink”.
Rising seas, eroding beaches, and fewer fish in Africa
Robert Paarlberg describes the impact of human-induced climate change and local economic and political forces on fishing communities in Code d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria.
Is it a noun or an adjective?
The distinction between nouns and adjectives seems like it should be straightforward, but it’s not. Grammar is not as simple as your grade-school teacher presented it.
Five children’s classics that stand the test of time [reading list]
The books people remember most are often the ones from their childhoods, and it’s no surprise; many children’s books have survived decades of changing tastes and digital distractions, continuing to entertain generations of children and even adult readers.
Language peeves and the word peeve
The Oxford Etymologist considers the etymology of the word “peeve.”
Alzheimer’s: do we focus too much on new treatments?
Paul T. Menzel discusses the focus on new treatments for Alzheimer’s versus existing patient-led options.
No release from an etymological entanglement
The Oxford Etymologist responds to readers comments on his most recent blog post topics.
A few things at a glance
The Oxford Etymologist responds to readers comments on his most recent blog post topics.