Language in the Wild

Relationships

Why We Say We're "In Love"

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on March 5, 2023

The words we choose to talk about love signal whether we feel passion or just affection.

The words we choose to talk about love signal whether we feel passion or just affection.

Artificial Intelligence

Will ChatGPT Erode Our Ability to Tell Human from Machine?

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on February 5, 2023

The revolutionary new chatbot can carry on interactive conversations and write compelling term papers. Does it challenge what we think of as essential human traits?

The revolutionary new chatbot can carry on interactive conversations and write compelling term papers. Does it challenge what we think of as essential human traits?

Gaslighting

What Word Sums Up Your Year?

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on January 8, 2023

What’s in a word? Looking back over past words of the year and what they tell us about ourselves and our society.

What’s in a word? Looking back over past words of the year and what they tell us about ourselves and our society.

Intelligence

Has COVID Changed How We Process and Understand Words?

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on December 11, 2022

Ever struggle to quickly come up with a word for something? New research looks at how a new experience changes the way words are processed.

Ever struggle to quickly come up with a word for something? New research looks at how a new experience changes the way words are processed.

Gratitude

Why Do We Say Thank You?

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on November 20, 2022

The word “thank” evolved from an ancient word for thought, a reminder that gratitude starts in the mind, not in the mouth. What else can the history of saying thanks teach us?

The word “thank” evolved from an ancient word for thought, a reminder that gratitude starts in the mind, not in the mouth. What else can the history of saying thanks teach us?

Gender

Masculine, Feminine, or Truly Gender Inclusive?

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on October 9, 2022

How does the language we speak affect the way we see the roles of men and women?

How does the language we speak affect the way we see the roles of men and women?

Intelligence

Queen Elizabeth’s Speech Reveals a Queen Who Shifted With the Times

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on September 11, 2022

Tracking Queen Elizabeth’s speech tells us a bit about how she — and Great Britain — changed over the seven decades she ruled.

Tracking Queen Elizabeth’s speech tells us a bit about how she — and Great Britain — changed over the seven decades she ruled.

Teamwork

The 4 Core Rules of Successful Conversations

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on August 14, 2022

What principles help make for successful conversations and how do conversational rules help us understand what others mean?

What principles help make for successful conversations and how do conversational rules help us understand what others mean?

Gratitude

Why So Many Assume "You're Welcome" Is Insincere

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on July 10, 2022

Here's how “You’re welcome” went from being a polite gratitude response to a snarky retort. Yup. You’re welcome.

Here's how “You’re welcome” went from being a polite gratitude response to a snarky retort. Yup. You’re welcome.

Relationships

Where Do the Words We Call Our Fathers Come From?

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on June 17, 2022

Whether it’s "dada" or "father," the range of names that English has developed for labeling fathers tells us something about the importance of our earliest relationship with him.

Whether it’s "dada" or "father," the range of names that English has developed for labeling fathers tells us something about the importance of our earliest relationship with him.

Persuasion

Linguistics Explains Why Some Names Capture One's 'Essence'

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on May 8, 2022

Why do we have strong negative or positive associations with certain names? Sound symbolism suggests certain sounds have intrinsic meaning, making some names more memorable.

Why do we have strong negative or positive associations with certain names? Sound symbolism suggests certain sounds have intrinsic meaning, making some names more memorable.

Relationships

Bruce Willis Is Retiring From Acting Due to Aphasia. What Is Aphasia?

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on April 1, 2022

The recent announcement about Bruce Willis's aphasic condition has led many to wonder what exactly this communication disorder is and whether it can be treated.

The recent announcement about Bruce Willis's aphasic condition has led many to wonder what exactly this communication disorder is and whether it can be treated.

Cognition

The Enduring Power of Profanity

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on March 6, 2022

A look at the history behind swearing, cursing and obscenity—and why a little bad language might actually be good for you.

A look at the history behind swearing, cursing and obscenity—and why a little bad language might actually be good for you.

Cognition

Talk To Me, Baby: Improving Your Child's Language Skills

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on February 6, 2022

Want to know the most important things you can do to help your child’s language development? Find out here.

Want to know the most important things you can do to help your child’s language development? Find out here.

Media

Which Word Takes Top Prize as Word of the Year?

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on January 9, 2022

The American Dialect Society's annual vote highlights new and notable words and lands on the one that most captured this year’s angst and preoccupations.

The American Dialect Society's annual vote highlights new and notable words and lands on the one that most captured this year’s angst and preoccupations.

Leadership

The Power of a "We"

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on December 5, 2021

How leaders, politicians, and narcissists use pronouns can teach us important lessons on communicating power and status.

How leaders, politicians, and narcissists use pronouns can teach us important lessons on communicating power and status.

Fear

The Sound of Fear

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on October 24, 2021

Take a look behind the scenes at how horror movie music mimics human screams to trigger an emotional fear response

Take a look behind the scenes at how horror movie music mimics human screams to trigger an emotional fear response

Cognition

Using Language in Our Social Lives

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on October 10, 2021

Social meaning is a crucial part of what drives not just the words we say, but, importantly, how we say them.

Social meaning is a crucial part of what drives not just the words we say, but, importantly, how we say them.

Relationships

The Psychology of Pronouns

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on September 5, 2021

Analyzing patterns of pronoun use proves surprisingly revealing about self-identity and relationships.

Analyzing patterns of pronoun use proves surprisingly revealing about self-identity and relationships.

Cognition

Language Change as a Coping Strategy?

Valerie Fridland Ph.D. on August 1, 2021

How coming up with new words for things, ideas, and experiences has long been a way language rises to the task of helping us explain, share, and cope.

How coming up with new words for things, ideas, and experiences has long been a way language rises to the task of helping us explain, share, and cope.