” I prefer to keep my darlings on ice.”
words
Posted inEditor's Pick
What Lies Behind the Words: On Translating While Trans
“For me, the real litmus test of fluency has always been: Can I use this language to convince a native speaker that I exist?”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Every Language Everywhere All at Once
As our choices for films and television shows made around the world increase in the streaming era, so do the challenges of translation. Rafael Motamayor explores the art — and complicated process — of translating foreign content for international viewers. We are far removed from the days of flagrant cultural erasure through dubbing — Pokémon […]
Posted inNonfiction, Reading List, Story
For the Love of Wordle: A Reading List on Puzzles and Games
Seven longreads on the communal pastime of puzzles, games, and crosswords.
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Surprisingly Messy Culture Wars Within The New York Times Crossword Puzzle
“While the crossword remains a word game mainstay, what’s appropriate has changed with the times.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Typos, Tricks and Misprints
“Why is English spelling so weird and unpredictable? Don’t blame the mix of languages; look to quirks of timing and technology.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Strange Persistence of First Languages
“Spurred by my father’s death, I returned to the Czech Republic hoping to reconnect to him. In doing so, I also reconnected with my native tongue, and with parts of my identity that I had long ignored.”
Posted inBlog Post
How Do Words Get Added to the Dictionary?
Four times a year, lexicographers update and add words to the OED. Katherine Connor Martin helps decide what makes the cut.
Posted inEditor's Pick
Falling in Love with Words: The Secret Life of a Lexicographer
In an excerpt from her new book, Merriam-Webster lexicographer Kory Stamper describes how she fell in love with words and offers a peek into the complex process of making dictionaries.