Etymology

California, Canada, The Bronx. Between cities, states, countries and continents, we know hundreds of place names like the back of our hand. But have you ever stopped to think about origins of those place names?

Check out some of these places to discover the linguistic origin behind the names. Some of them might surprise you!

» Read More of 10 Unusual Origins of Place Names

The recent release of James Cameron’s cinematic juggernaut Avatar has focused attention on fictional languages – specifically on Na’vi, the artificial language created for the film.

Dozens of fictional languages have appeared in literature and film, but only a handful of these artificial languages were fully developed enough to be spoken day-to-day. Have you heard of these fictional languages?

» Read More of Artificial Language: Na’vi, Elvish & More

Schools in Manchester, England banned slang in schools last month, as professors claiming the slang language is hampering students’ abilities to decide what language is appropriate for certain environments.

But how can we tell when language is slang? Many words that used to be considered slang language have now become accepted as a common addition to English lexicon, and would be considered acceptable on any occasion.

» Read More of Banning Slang?: Language in Transition

You might know some fun facts about the presidents. But did you know that one had a Japanese word named after him? Or that one was a translator before he became a US president?

Learning another language is a useful skill — especially for national leaders! This Presidents Day, learn some unusual language facts about the presidents you won’t have learned in history class.

» Read More of Language Facts About the Presidents

Looking for a way to show you care this Valentine’s Day? Say it in another language with an international love idiom!

There are dozens of idiomatic expressions about love in English, and many countries have similar love idioms — with some slight variations. Try out these love idioms for any romantic situation!

» Read More of Love Idioms in Any Language

One of the most exciting things about language is that it’s always changing and undergoing transformations – even in a very short time!

This decade has seen the birth of many words and phrases, some of which have become the most popular words of the past few years. Do you remember adding these to your vocabulary?

» Read More of Most Popular Words of the Decade

Many countries celebrate a similar form of Halloween around the world – with costumes, candy and trick-or-treating. But those countries also have their own unique traditions.

Find out what people call their own celebrations like Halloween around the world.

» Read More of Names for Halloween Around the World

You probably use idioms in your language every day without thinking – but the meanings of those idioms can be mystifying for non-native speakers.

Although many of their meanings are shared across cultures, idioms vary from language to language in fascinating ways that can speak volumes. Do any of these idioms sound familiar?

» Read More of Popular Idioms in Another Language