Reports

Language Matters - February 5, 2018

Millions, Billions and Other Large Numbers

The word billion was not introduced in the French language until the fifteenth century and didn’t find its way into English until the end of the seventeenth century, which is fairly late in the history of counting. What words were used before this time to talk about large numbers?

Word Stories - January 1, 2018

Mixed drinks

For some, there’s nothing better than a drink to get into the holiday mood. In that spirit, we invite you to start the year by partaking in this intoxicating mix of stories consisting of three words in equal parts: cocktail, punch and grog.

Language Matters - December 4, 2017

BC and AD, BCE and CE: What’s the Difference?

The Gregorian calendar is the global standard for the measurement of dates. Despite originating in the Western Christian tradition, its use has spread throughout the world and now transcends religious, cultural and linguistic boundaries.

Word Stories - November 6, 2017

Noble Family

We continue our exploration of noble gases in this month’s edition of Word Stories, looking at two more members of this close-knit family.

Language Matters - October 2, 2017

Metaphorical Gender in English: Feminine Boats, Masculine Tools and Neuter Animals

Why are ships frequently referred to as she and her? This question points to the phenomenon of using creative gender assignment on nouns in English. This article will provide an outline of gender in language and the creative use of gender in English.

Word Stories - September 4, 2017

Rooted in secrecy

Ammon- and krypto-, roots of this month’s words in question, have a common meaning: “hidden”. Despite their mysterious roots, each refers to a well-known chemical substance, the most famous of which is the fictional kryptonite.

Language Matters - August 7, 2017

River Thames, Mississippi River, Lake Michigan, Cayuga Lake: The Where and Why of Word Order

Why do the words “river” and “lake” sometimes follow the proper name, as in River Thames and Lake Michigan, and at other times come before them, as in Mississippi River and Cayuga Lake? Rivers and lakes have different sets of naming conventions.

Word Stories - July 3, 2017

Weird Stories

We pursue our exploration of the animal kingdom in the following Word Stories. Among the weird creatures inhabiting the earth, some enjoy more fame than others. Lexical good fortune has given the long-snouted aardvark a premium spot in most English-language dictionaries, while it has also starred in a number of popular TV series, including the Ant and the Aardvark (1969–1971). The kiwi, a flightless bird, gained celebrity status with its selection as the national symbol of New Zealand, subsequently developing its brand by lending its name to several other uses.