How The Ukulele Got Its Name

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At some point the ukulele morphed from the charming but relatively obscure instrument that Tiny Tim used to accompany himself while he tiptoed through the tulips to the still-charming but also ubiquitous accessory of hip musicians everywhere.

You could say that the ukulele is having a moment. Except that most moments don't go on for a decade and a half.

The Origins Of The Word 'Boycott'

A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for social or political reasons. But why is it called a 'boycott'?



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10 Ancient Languages With Unknown Origins

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Languages can provide us with a great deal of knowledge about a society's culture, way of life, evolution, and even their migration patterns. They have given us a profound insight into the minds of ancient people, and have enabled us to form the story of humanity's distance past.

However, some discoveries have given us just the exact opposite, and have presented us with the unnerving truth that our past might be shrouded in a mystery we might never solve.

The Origins Of 10 Nicknames

The distinction between a regular name and a nickname is often blurred. It is a form of endearment and amusement. As a concept, it is distinct from both pseudonym and stage name, and also from a title, although there may be overlap in these concepts.

Why is Dick from Richard? Why is Bill from William? Why is Chuck from Charles? Why is Peggy from Margaret? The origins of 10 nicknames.

10 Historical Words That Don't Mean What You Think

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There are a surprising number of historic words that many of us definitely are using erroneously. Like nirvana. Many of us use it as a substitute for heaven or paradise, but the Buddhist word actually means breaking free from the endless cycle of reincarnations. What other words are you using incorrectly? Let's take a look.

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7 Delightful Dutch Words That Have No English Equivalent

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Ever find yourself searching for the right word to express an emotion, but coming up short? That's not surprising. English, while undoubtedly useful and beautiful in its own way, isn't the be-all-end-all when it comes to self-expression.

These Dutch words have no English equivalent - we can draw on them when we have something to say but don't have the right words to say it.

How Far Back In Time Could You Go And Still Understand English?

If you had a time machine, how far back could you go and still understand English? At what point in history would you not be able to understand the English language?



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25 Maps That Explain The English Language

English is the language of Shakespeare and the language of Chaucer. It's spoken in dozens of countries around the world, from the United States to a tiny island named Tristan da Cunha. It reflects the influences of centuries of international exchange, including conquest and colonization, from the Vikings through the 21st century.

Here are 25 maps and charts that explain how English got started and evolved into the differently accented languages spoken today.

10 Insanely Difficult Languages To Master

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Not all languages are born equal. Some are significantly harder to learn than others. Here are the top ten hardest major languages to learn, from the 'very difficult' to the 'so difficult they'll make your head explode.'

The Man Who Made Up The Klingon Language

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In the 50 years since the original crew of the USS Enterprise set out on its mission, Star Trek has inspired generations of scientists, astronauts, civil rights leaders, engineers, and presidents. But don't forget linguists.

Star Trek crafted a fully developed tongue for the Klingons. 'It's given people a language awareness,' says Marc Okrand, the mind behind the Klingon language. 'You learn more about your own language by studying another one. Klingon has been a way to hook people into thinking about language.'

A Guide To The 58 Different Terms for 'Water'

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What exactly is a sound? What's the difference between a bight and a bay? A sike and a ghyll? Why are there nearly 20 different words for a small stream?

If you grew up on the coast you may be pretty familiar with shoals and inlets, but perhaps things get fuzzy when trying to pin down the definition of the fjords found in Norway or a Scottish loch. Here is a rundown of the many different types of bodies of water.

18 Common Words That Have Unexpected Science Definitions

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Many words in the English language that seem remarkably common have a surprising secondary definition known mostly to scientists in different disciplines. Here are 18 words drawn from the American Heritage Science Dictionary that have an alternative meaning in various science disciplines.

Words That Seem Related, But Aren't

Male and female. House and penthouse. Mother and stepmother. These words suggest one thing, but their histories tell us another.



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What Latin Sounded Like - And How We Know

Classical Latin went extinct, yet we still know how to pronounce it. Take a trip back to Catholic school, then back even further to old Rome. We'll see what Latin pronunciation did - and did not - sound like in the mouths of the Romans.



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10 Earliest Examples Of Writing Systems

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As civilization evolved, the written word became absolutely necessary for proper documentation - whether for governmental operations or retelling myths.

Rediscovering ancient or extinct languages is an arduous process, often dictated by luck, but it is an invaluable tool in the study of our growth as a species.

How English Gave Birth To Surprising New Languages

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Languages are ever changing, mixing and mutating, and sometimes they give birth to new ones. Sanskrit gave birth to Hindi and others; Latin is ancestor to a set of languages including Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Romanian, Afrikaans came from Dutch.

But how about English? What will it give birth to?

How People Call Cats In Different Countries

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If you've ever tried to call a cat somewhere in a foreign country, you've noticed that they don't always react. Why? Because apparently international cats react to different sounds.

In England, they say 'chh-chh-chh.' In Israel, they say 'ps-ps-ps.' As for India, they say 'meow-meow.' Each country gets a cat's attention with different noises.

Francis Van Helmont And The Alphabet Of Nature

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Largely forgotten today in the shadow of his more famous father, the 17th-century Flemish alchemist Francis van Helmont influenced and was friends with the likes of Locke, Boyle, and Leibniz. While imprisoned by the Inquisition he wrote his Alphabet of Nature on the idea of a universal 'natural' language.

10 Fascinating Facts About Egyptian Hieroglyphs

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The elegant and mysterious design of hieroglyphics have captured our imagination for thousands of years. They remained undeciphered and silent for centuries until the Rosetta Stone was discovered in the 18th century, and we could finally hear the voices of the ancient Egyptians.

Here are some interesting facts about Egyptian hieroglyphs covering everything from their early origin to the present day.

How The World's First Written Languages Spread

The introduction of writing systems changed the world. It allowed humans to physically express thoughts and language, as well as record events for future generations to study. Although different writing systems developed independently in different areas of the world, many are tied together by common roots.



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