Word of the week

mesmerise - attract strongly, hypnotize, put into a trance. The word came to exist via back formation from the word "mesmerism" in the 19th century, which originated in French "mesmerisme". According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, Franz Anton Mesmer was an "Austrian physician, who developed a theory of animal magnetism and a mysterious body fluid which allows one person to hypnotize another." Curious.

Google Translate - a joke or a competition?

Everyone who ever tried to use Google Translate knows it has its flaws and a professional will seldom use it as a translation tool. Can it ever become a competition for interpreters? Explore the topic at: http://www.macnewsworld.com/story/Google-Translates-No-Babel-Fish-but-Its-Cheaper-Than-a-Personal-Interpreter-74134.html

Word of the week

nincompoop - silly person, fool, simpleton. The word was thought to origin in a Latin phrase "non compos mentis" which means "mentally incompetent", but linguists discarded the theory due to the lack of the second n in the earliest form of the word: nicompoop. Perplexed, etymologists searched other explanations. The late John Ciardi suggests that the word comes from Dutch phrase "nicht om poep" meaning "the female relative of a fool", others attribute the origin of the word to a proper name "Nicodemus" who appears in the Gospel as a naive simple person. In French, his name - Nicodeme -  is still being used to denote a fool.

Hearing with your skin

Scientists prove that the tactile information we perceive plays a significant role in hearing and understanding of language. How? Read the article at http://www.brightsurf.com/news/headlines/50684/Tactile_input_affects_what_we_hear_UBC_study.html

A movie of interest - The Linguists

A documentary about a search for the last traces of dying languages. Check out the trailer here:
http://www.thelinguists.com/

Word of the week

inglenook - a recess or a seat beside a large fireplace, a chimney corner. The word is of Scottish origin, it was first used in 18th century and it is a blend of the words "ingle" - derived from Gealic aingeal meaning light, fire,  and "nook" - a word of unknown origin used to denominate a corner.

He was sitting in the inglenook, reading.

Word of the week

obnubilate - to darken, cover with clouds, obscure, haze over, befog. The word has its origins in Latin "obnubilare", which, surprisingly, means to cover with clouds or fog. It is often used metaphorically.

Their words obnubilate their intentions.
I saw an obnubilated figure.