The Maya language doesn't acknowledge time, not even with prepositions like "before" and "after." These kinds of linguistic tics are often overlooked or outright lost when we talk about translation, but there's also a lot we can learn from them about the powers of perception and language.
How to talk about time in a language that doesn't have any tenses
How Zoom is changing American Sign Language
As the pandemic has driven adoption and (over)use of videoconferencing software like Zoom, it's required changes in American Sign Language. From Scientific American: One adaptation arises as a result of a video meeting's limited frame size. "The signing space is expansive," says Michael Skyer, a senior lecturer of deaf education at the Rochester Institute of… READ THE REST
History of Prisencolinensinainciusol, the gibberish English song that charmed Italy and the world
NPR wrote about Adriano Celentano's 1972 faux-English-language-hit "Prisencolinensinainciusol" (previously and previously at BB) on its 40th anniversary in 2012: Celentano, now 74 years old, says that he wanted to break down language barriers and inspire people to communicate more. "Ever since I started singing, I was very influenced by American music and everything Americans did,"… READ THE REST
Noam Chomsky on Nim Chimpsky and the emergence of language
I first learned about Nim Chimpsky while reading Karen Joy Fowler's brilliant novel We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. I'd heard the name before, but I just thought it was a joke about Noam Chomsky. Which it is. But also, he was a real chimp, who was raised like a human child and acquired over… READ THE REST
This JBL tower speaker brings professional, theater-quality sound to your home
It seems like every company is putting out their own speakers these days. From industry heavyweights like Sony and Pioneer to boutique brands you've never even heard of, store shelves are packed with speaker options. But a small handful of elite names rise above the general noise of the speaker wars. The educated audio consumer sees… READ THE REST
Get started on a UI/UX design career with this training package
Want to reprint a famous author's writing on your website? You could get sued. Dropped a clip from a TV show or movie into your YouTube video? You could get sued. Have almost any identifiable song playing in the background of your Facebook video? Heck, you probably won't get sued… but that's only because Facebook… READ THE REST
These STEM learning kits will prime your kids' creativity and ingenuity
For a kid, STEM has almost become like eating your vegetables or cleaning your pet's litter box. Your parents might say it's necessary, but that doesn't mean you'll to enjoy it. But like many ideas that take root in a young mind, they aren't always correct. The reality is that STEM and STEM-related activities aren't always… READ THE REST