Dear Language Nerd, My English Second Language teacher last year always said to us, “Do you know the secret way to learn the irregular verbs? … Memorize them all!” Ha ha ha, right? But is there a better way? From Andrew *** Dear Andrew, I won’t lie, you’re going to have to do some memorizing. […]
Hello Language Nerd, I’m on my way to Mexico City in a few days, and I don’t know a word of Spanish. Can you help? Peter P. *** Dear Peter, Spanish is not one of the languages the Language Nerd has studied, but you’re in luck — I’m wandering through Mexico at the moment myself, […]
Alternate Title: Catapostrophy! *** Language Nerd, Language Nerd, people who can’t use apostrophes right make me crazy. Why are they so difficult for so many? -Amelia *** Dear Amelia, In order to understand the trials and travails for the apostrophe of today, we must first look to the apostrophes of yesteryear. The yesterpostrophes, if you […]
Language Nerd, how does anyone ever learn English when a word like “cleave” can mean can mean “to split apart” or “to stick together”? Why would a word be its own opposite??? -Patricia Quinn *** Dear Patricia, Learning English is no joke, and contronyms are an unpleasant part of the process, but at least they […]
Dear Language Nerd, Why do Spanish speakers put “e” on the front of words in English, like saying “estudent” for “student”? Gammie *** Dear Gammie, It’s actually not about the “e,” but about the “st.” Spanish words never start with “st,” “sc,” “sp,” “sn,” or “s” plus any other consonant. (“S” plus vowel is fine, […]
Hello Language Nerd, A friend of mine recently bought a book that claims to list about two dozen fundamental words from the “first language,” when humans were still one small group speaking together. It says that all languages have words descended from these originals. My friend thinks it’s great, but I’m not convinced – didn’t […]
Dear Language Nerd, I was watching a rerun of Buffy the Vampire Slayer the other day (because that show is great, I hope you do not think otherwise, if you do you are crazy) and I noticed something really interesting in the dialogue. Giles the librarian is discussing the terrible-danger-of-the-moment, the steroids that the swim […]
Dear Language Nerd, Back when I was in school, we studied the interrobang, a question mark and exclamation point put together. But I haven’t seen it since, and so I ask you: whither the interrobang‽ Yours, Erwin Munz *** Dear Erwin, As far as I can tell, you were in the definite minority in studying […]
Help me please! Me and my friend write each other in secret code. But my brother always understands!! How can he do that? And how can I stop him??? From Emma *** Dear Emma, If your brother can read it easily, then your code is too simple. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Ask anyone […]
Happy Mardi Gras, Language Nerd! Why do the parade “krewes” spell “crew” with a k? Thanks! Gwen H. *** Dear Gwen, Happy Mardi Gras to you too! The word “krewe” is an American Mardi Gras original. Mobile, Alabama, had Carnival celebrations waaaaay back in 1711, when the “Boeuf Gras Society” tramped up and down Dauphin […]