Category Archives: Linquistics
Mac Diacritics
A quick diacritic reference guide for Mac users who deal with non-English languages. Let me know if I should add more. Hope it helps one or two folks.
Filed under Linquistics
The Z Cult & Phonosemantics
I personally think that Nietzsche and Zen wouldn’t be even half as popular as they are if they weren’t spelled with a “Z”. Seriously, what is the draw of the “Z”? Is it the shape or its sound? Phonosemantics … Continue reading
Filed under Linquistics, Philosophy
Crow Mind
Urdu is a South Asian language and is the national the language of Pakistan. Urdu was one of my graduate school languages and a bit of a struggle for me because it uses the Arabic script. Though up until then … Continue reading
Filed under Linquistics, Philosophy
I speaks wrong English
The same people deluded by “The Definition Myth” are also deluded into think that there is such a thing as “correct” English. This dictionary website shows how wrong my English is. Because according to them, out of the 100 most … Continue reading
Filed under Linquistics
English Exceptions are the Rules
Unlike German and Spanish, reading English requires understanding that exceptions are the rules. Here is a fun list of different sounds from the same letters. It reminds me of how people can have similar outward religions (spellings) but have completely … Continue reading
Filed under Linquistics
Greek Flash Cards
Sick and tired of people lording their command of God’s language over you? Well, here you go, check out Sabio’s Greek Flash Cards to learn the Greek alphabet. Or if you want to know the language that shaped the whole … Continue reading
Filed under Linquistics
Linguistics
I love language! This an index of posts concerning Linguistic and Language. My Language Blunders Language Faux Pas: Part I : German & Urdu mistakes Language Faux Pas: Part II : Jewish & Chinese mistakes Language Faux Pas: Part III : Japanese & … Continue reading
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Filed under Linquistics
“Goad” : Word Exploration
When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.” Acts 26:14 (NRSV) This Bible passage … Continue reading
Filed under Christianity, Linquistics, Religion
Comparative Studies Insights
The Mahābhārata is written in Sanskrit. For millennium, Hindus have claimed that Sanskrit is a unique, sacred, and magically powerful language. I heard this claim over and over again in India and in Ashrams in this country. But is Sanskrit … Continue reading
Filed under Critical Thinking, Hindu, Linquistics, Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Religion, Religious Dialogue
Taxonomy
I love taxonomies ! Taxonomy is the practice and science of classification. It is an important tool to expand knowledge. Strengths of Taxonomies Help wrestle with data, with the world Help to see patterns that before escaped your eye Is … Continue reading
Filed under Linquistics, Philosophy, Science
7 Obstacles to Defining Atheism
For those having difficulty agreeing with someone on how to define Atheism, I suggest 7 obstacles you may need to overcome in order to have a fruitful discussion. (1) Dialogue Purpose You might start by trying to agree on the … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Christianity, Linquistics, Philosophy, Religion, Religious Dialogue
Tenacious Inerrancy
People get attached to words because words are packed with much more than just one dictionary definition — words are packed with history, community, values, feelings and memories. And though people’s positions on a concept or issue may change, they … Continue reading
Filed under Christianity, Critical Thinking, Linquistics, Philosophy, Religion, Religious Dialogue
Swine Flu & Pareidolia
Chinese characters are often composed of abstractly stylized pictograms. For instance, the word “Home” in Chinese is “Jia1” (click the link to see 43 other words with this sound–the number one means that sound is made with the first tone.). … Continue reading
Filed under Conscilience, Events, Health, Linquistics, News, Philosophy, Science
Amanojaku
During my seven years in Japan I was occasionally accused of being an “Amanojaku“. To the right you see a statue of an amanojaku at a Japanese Buddhist temple. The Amanojaku is a mischievous, if not outright evil, demon in … Continue reading
Filed under Atheism, Linquistics, Personal, Science
EN: Vibrant Connections
“En” is central to my understanding and tasting of reality — to my “spirituality” (a word I rarely use, for obvious reasons). The concept is pronounced differently in different East Asian languages: 縁 “En” (Japanese) 缘 “Yuan2″ (Mandarin Chinese) 연 … Continue reading
Filed under Linquistics, Philosophy, Religion
The Sanctification Cloak
My largest problem with religious thinking is not its superstitious element, but its use of the ”Sanctification Cloak“. Religious people do not monopolize cognitive errors — even atheists, skeptics, freethinkers, and scientists indulge in them. Yet many skeptic sites accuse … Continue reading
Filed under Christianity, Critical Thinking, Linquistics, Religious Dialogue
The Limits of Planning & Language
In preparing for battle, I have found that planning is essential, but plans are useless. – Dwight D. Eisenhower I found this quote in “Finding Your Inner Fish” by Neil Shubin (excellent!). Neil said, “this captures field paleontology in a … Continue reading
Filed under Linquistics
