If 😂 was a word, would that make emoji a language?
words
Posted inEditor's Pick
Barnaby’s Futura Fantasy
“In Crockett Johnson’s iconic comic strip, the type speaks for itself.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Stet: On Cutting—but Keeping—Everything
“I prefer to keep my darlings on ice.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
What Lies Behind the Words: On Translating While Trans
“For me, the real litmus test of fluency has always been: Can I use this language to convince a native speaker that I exist?”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Every Language Everywhere All at Once
“Audiences love foreign TV and film. So do streamers. There’s just one little challenge.”
Posted inNonfiction, Reading List, Story
For the Love of Wordle: A Reading List on Puzzles and Games
Seven longreads on the communal pastime of puzzles, games, and crosswords.
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Surprisingly Messy Culture Wars Within The New York Times Crossword Puzzle
“While the crossword remains a word game mainstay, what’s appropriate has changed with the times.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Typos, Tricks and Misprints
“Why is English spelling so weird and unpredictable? Don’t blame the mix of languages; look to quirks of timing and technology.”