Lingua franca refers to any language used between people who have no other language in common.
Articles on Linguistics
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Throughout the history of the language, what has been considered ‘bad’ speech often becomes ‘proper.’ You just have to give it time.
A new book for scholars, students, and curious readers invites readers to think critically about the promises and perils of language tech and examines AI’s impact on poetic practice.
With the dissolution of the Soviet Union came rapid societal shifts. In Georgia, people called for the end of the Russification of their country and their culture.
AI tools can help communities respond to floods, heatwaves and other climate emergencies – but only once trained to interpret the nuance of everyday language.
Both President Trump and Vice President Vance pronounce Iran as ‘Ih-RAN,’ not ‘Ih-RON.’ A linguist says that how the country’s name is pronounced may be a political choice.
A linguist explains what makes human English human, and why you shouldn’t overdo it with large language models.
Writing is a relatively recent invention layered on top of something much older and more fundamental.
Judgements of politeness go beyond language and culture – they are also deeply tied to emotion and moral intuition.
I often feel that I live in my body alongside another person who wants to continually move and say things.
Wine is a multi-billion-dollar business. But new research shows how expert ‘winespeak’ can exclude many wine drinkers worldwide.
The words used to describe this peppery green are a linguistic fossil record revealing the history of Italian migration.
Australians love a nickname, and certain jobs are no exceptions. So whether you’re a journo, brickie, shrink or cop, there’s a rich history behind the slang.
Words reflecting anger and swearing are more common in people with personality dysfunction.
Not all words are created equal – and those that sound more surprising are more likely to grab our attention and stick in our memory.
How not to get drawn in by rage bait.
If Danish speakers experience hygge, then they should have a word to talk about it; if English speakers don’t, then we won’t.
The different personalities of typefaces and how it affects our psychology.
Many Native American languages only have a few native speakers left.
The language and rhetoric of extremists helps fuel brutal, often deadly, violence. Spotting the strategies can help protect people from radicalisation.
Top contributors
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Professor of Linguistics, Monash University
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Senior Lecturer in Linguistics, Monash University
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Roger J. Kreuz is a Friend of The Conversation.
Associate Dean and Feinstone Interdisciplinary Research Professor, University of Memphis
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Associate Professor in Linguistics, Macquarie University
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Associate Professor in Sociolinguistics, University of Cambridge
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Professor of Linguistics, University of York
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Professor of Linguistics, University of Nevada, Reno
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Senior Research Fellow of Linguistics, University of Colorado Boulder; Griffith University; University of New England
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Professor of Linguistics and English, Florida International University
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Associate Professor of Linguistics and Director of Language Lab, The University of Western Australia
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Professor of English Language and Literature, University of Oxford
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Francesco Perono Cacciafoco is a Friend of The Conversation.
Associate Professor in Linguistics, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
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Professor of Psychology, Cornell University
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Maïa Ponsonnet is a Friend of The Conversation.
Researcher, Linguistics, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)
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Honorary Associate Professor in Writing, The University of Queensland