Thereโs a funny thing about pop culture: the more fleeting it seems, the more lasting its impact often is. And perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in the words that owe their origins to Billboard-topping, chartbusting numbers. We might forget it, but several of the words we use today started on a lyrics sheet in a studio that [...]
The fact that no one really sits down to read anymore (or, at least, thatโs the way it might seem) is a symptom of many concurrent cultural and societal influences. However, this lack of reading acumen is more than just a change in preference; itโs having real impacts on entire generations, including those who grew up enjoying the earthy [...]
For Deaf individuals, this question is integral to understanding the unique and complex systems at work in the language part of the brain. Sign language is neurological in the same way that spoken languages are. However, the brain processes sign language differently from spoken languages, which can impact the cognitive faculties of a Deaf individual (often for the better!). [...]
Sign language is uniquely relational. Unlike phone calls, which can be completed over distance with no visual element, sign has not enjoyed the same ease of communication during the Industrial Revolution and beyond. The good news is that this is changing, and itโs doing so faster than ever. As technological advancements continue to outpace themselves every year, sign language [...]
One of the most fascinating aspects of sales and marketing is how a single campaign will yield vastly different results depending on the background of the individual who receives it. While the product itself is likely to go unchanged, how itโs presented and the language used may look and sound drastically different. Careful research will need to be invested into [...]
Whether you love it or dread it, small talk is woven into the fabric of everyday life. From elevator chats to pre-meeting pleasantries, it plays a quiet but crucial role in helping us navigate the social world. But why does small talk matter, and why do so many people find it excruciatingly hard? As it turns out, small talk [...]
Women face the brunt of these judgments about language, and they occur primarily due to two linguistic patterns: uptalk and vocal fry. Although both strategies are used by men and women, cultural conditioning has increasingly framed them as signs that women are less serious, less knowledgeable, and more prone to errorโsimply because of the natural ways they speak. Are You [...]
International marketing has existed for over a thousand years, but itโs only been for the last 100 or so that humans have studied it as a distinct field. Understanding the nuances of how different cultures respond to a businessโs appeal to consumers is beneficial for all individuals who are looking for the most effective strategies in marketing, as well [...]
The Basics of Fingerspelling Fingerspelling describes using individual alphabetical letters to spell out a word rather than utilizing a single sign thatโs equivalent to a word. If a person named Adam were to introduce himself using fingerspelling, he would create the signs for A-D-A-M in sequence because there is no single sign that means โAdamโ (or at least not [...]
Travel can already be an exhilarating experience, but tourists are often limited by their lack of understanding of language, culture, customs, and more. When you learn a second (or third or fourth!) language, youโll be taking a big step toward making travel more immersive, enjoyable, and rewarding. In fact, some experiences are only possible if you speak another language! A [...]
