Berbice Dutch: a language in South America

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Known to its speakers as di lanshi (= the language), Berbice Dutch was declared extinct, after the death of its last fluent speakers, Albertha Bell and Arnold King, in the early 2000s. Auntie Bertha and Uncle Arnold – as I knew them, using the usual terms of address for one’s respected elders in Guyana – were cousins who grew up together after King’s parents died in the flu pandemic of 1918 which reached even the remote tributaries of the Berbice River in Guyana, in South America; having survived that deadly flu as children, they both lived long lives, into their 90s.

Berbice Dutch: language of the Berbice colony

Like other creole languages in the Caribbean region, Berbice Dutch was once … ↪

The privileges and challenges of a ‘first language’ English speaker and language learner

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Today Lingoblog celebrates English Language Day with this post by Claire French.

In the lead-up to English Language Day this year, I have been thinking through the privileges and challenges of existing in the world, and in new languages, as a ‘first language’ English speaker.

The concept of ‘first language’ is of course a troublesome notion because of how it suggests that I speak the language more ‘correctly,’ or hold further ‘fluency’ than those speaking it as a second language, which sociolinguists know to be unqualified and ideological. Yet, it is not my hold over the language that is most noticeable to the multi-bilingual/global majority when they first come into contact with me, but the sound of my variety.

As … ↪

Prepare for: LingoSlam 2025!!!!!

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LingoSlam is the biggest event of the year. ViGør bands together to plan a fun afternoon of features by students and teachers alike at Aarhus University. Anyone can participate and show off their expertise in any arbitrary area. Participants will compete to win in five different categories: humoristic, creative/artistic, poetic, academic, and humdinger/best of all. Participants get 8 minutes to do whatever their heart pleases to compete for unique diplomas as proof of excellence.

So what can you expect from this exceptional afternoon? What magnificent sights will be presented? What words will be uttered? This is a secret for now, but one thing we can confirm is that our three judges of Lingoslam 2025 will be Rebekah Baglini, Maria Jørgensen, … ↪

The Etymology, Origin, and Legend of “Chopsticks”

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Today it is April 20, Chinese Language Day. What is more Chinese than chopsticks? Xie Rongrong takes you on a journey of the origin of the word chopstick.

Chopsticks are more than just utensils – they are a timeless symbol of culture, history, and even a little bit of magic. Used for thousands of years, these simple sticks have fed empires, inspired traditions, and even shaped language. But did you know their names hide stories of superstition, efficiency, and cross–cultural connections? From their ancient origins to their modern–day significance, chopsticks are packed with fascinating tales. Let’s dive into their history, uncover their meanings, and explore why they’re so much more than just tools for eating.

1. The Etymology of “Chopstick”:

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Phono-Semantic Matching

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Phono-Semantic Matching (henceforth, PSM) is a camouflaged borrowing in which a foreign lexical item is matched with a phonetically and semantically similar pre-existent native word/root. The neologism resulting from this source of lexical expansion preserves both the meaning and the approximate sound of the reproduced expression in the Source Language (SL) with the help of pre-existent Target Language (TL) elements. (Neologism is used here in its broader meaning, i.e. either an entirely new lexical item or a TL pre-existent word whose meaning has been altered, resulting in a new sense.) The following figure is a general illustration of this process:

Figure 1

Such multisourced neologization is common inter alia in two key language groups:

(1) languages using a phono-logographic script that … ↪

Questions or answers in a book with a questionable title?

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Who is Paul Anthony Jones, the author of the book under review? Is he related to John Paul Jones, the keyboard player in Led Zeppelin? Or was it bass? Why does this book have a question on the cover and not a statement, as all ‘normal’ books? Is it the only question discussed in the book, or are there also other ones that are discussed? If so, does the author provide answers to those questions?

Why didn’t the author finish his university studies in linguistics, to the dismay of his teachers? Why did he then become a freelance writer, who writes about languages? Is it true what he writes about this, that he does not regret the choice, and that … ↪

The Power of the Written Word in the Mother Tongue

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Today it is Romani language day. Anastasiia Tambovtseva-Koval writes about her experience as an educator teaching the Romani language in a written form.

It is well known that while the mind can perceive many languages, the heart is most deeply touched by the native one. Good teachers understand this and take it into account when educating their students. However, an interesting phenomenon arises with so-called “non-written languages.” I would like to share my personal experience with this in relation to the Romani language.

Romani is often considered an unwritten language. Although no single official standard for Romani writing exists, a significant number of written sources in the language can be found. These are typically based on the local alphabet, the … ↪