language
The Mystery and Occasional Poetry of, Uh, Filled Pauses
They are especially unusual in Japanese.
Articles by Dan Nosowitz
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Stories
Stories shared by this traveler.
language
Why Do Canadians Say 'Eh'?
The story behind Canada’s most distinctive verbal tic.
language
Whether You Say Freakin', Friggin', Or Frickin' Depends On Where You’re From
F-word substitutes vary by region.
linguistics
Are 'Semester Abroad Accents' Real or Fake?
That suspicious new London lilt may not be as put-on as it seems.
music
Why Justin Timberlake Sings 'May' Instead of 'Me'
Linguistics and vocal styling converge in this late '90s pop trend.
film
How a Fake British Accent Took Old Hollywood By Storm
The story behind the strange way Katharine Hepburn (and others) spoke.
linguistics
Y’all, You’uns, Yinz, Youse: How Regional Dialects Are Fixing Standard English
The real enemy? "You guys."
jewish
Why Linguists Are Fascinated by the American Jewish Accent
The linguistic field of prosody, the story of melody, pitch, and other hard-to-study verbal traits, is suddenly hot.
linguistics
Why Northerners Think All Southerners Have One Accent
A small North Carolina island shows how different the Southern accent can be.
linguistics
Is There a Place in America Where People Speak With Neutral Accents?
Newscasters and Stephen Colbert seem to think the standard American accent exists.
japan
The Strange World of Japanese Hangover Cures
It's a $178 million industry, and no one knows if it works.
photography
Meet Waterbod, the David Attenborough Of Instagram
You'll see L.A.'s animal kingdom in a whole new way.
architecture
How Dirt Houses Became Beloved By The Tiny House Movement
Meet the wondrous cob.
stores
What Do You Call the Corner Store?
Bodega, deli, offy, party store, and more.
animals
Why It's So Hard to Find, Let Alone Save, the World's Cutest Porpoise
The tiny mammal is facing imminent extinction after only being discovered in 1987.
brain
I Asked Leading Entomologists: 'What’s The Smartest Bug In The World?'
Some insects can count, recognize human faces, even invent languages.
murals
In A City Of Murals, The Simplest One Stands Out
The bright pink wall of this L.A. clothing store has become an Instagram icon.
sports
What It's Like to Run a Fan Site For the Arguably Worst Team in NBA History
The Philadelphia 76ers have brought shame to the City of Brotherly Love.
linguistics
What's Going On With the Way Canadians Say 'About'?
It's not pronounced how you think it is.
language
The Delightful Perversity of Québec's Catholic Swears
The Canadian province has expletives like no other.
poison
Do Not Eat, Touch, Or Even Inhale the Air Around the Manchineel Tree
Meet America's deadliest tree. Found in Florida, of course.
food
Everything You Know About Mole Sauce Is A Lie
If what you know is that mole's most important ingredient is chocolate.
military history
The Story Behind the Incredible Obstacle Course Video That Went Viral
It turns out that military competitions are especially nuts.
sports
The Fascinating Local Color from Illegal NBA Playoff Streams
It's not legal, advisable or convenient, but you can learn a lot about a place from its halftime shows.
