The hottest Language Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

The culinary language of Catalunya

Longer Tables with José Andrés • 707 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🍲 Food & Drink Cuisine Language Recipes Ingredients Culture
  1. Catalan language has unique food-related words like 'Pà' for bread and 'Mar i muntanya' for 'sea and mountains'.
  2. Catalan is spoken in various regions beyond Catalonia, like Valencia, Balearic Islands, Andorra, Italy, and France.
  3. Learning some Catalan food words can enrich your culinary experience, like 'Botifarra amb mongetes' for sausage with white beans.

The Idea of a Revolution

kamilkazani • 1336 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Philosophy History Language Politics Revolution
  1. The word 'revolution' has evolved in meaning over time from circular to linear change in politics.
  2. Originally, a revolution referred to a return to the original state of affairs with changes in personnel.
  3. The French Revolution played a significant role in changing the meaning of the word 'revolution' to signify permanent and irreversible change.
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Problematic

kamilkazani • 628 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Language Communication Society Criticism Analysis
  1. Using the word 'problematic' in speech can be a powerful status signaling tool.
  2. The word 'problematic' is versatile, conveying nuance, sophistication, and a passive-aggressive tone.
  3. Avoid adding specific details when calling something 'problematic' to prevent an easy escape route for the accused.

The short outburst of activity during Ruby Changelog preparation—2025 edition

zverok on lucid code • 28 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Programming Software Development Documentation Language
  1. Ruby releases a new version every year on December 25th. This has been consistent since 2013, which makes it easier for developers to plan their updates.
  2. A changelog is created that details all the noteworthy changes in the Ruby language. This includes explanations and examples to help developers understand the updates better.
  3. The changelog process helps improve Ruby's documentation and sometimes identifies issues that need to be fixed before the new version is released.

You catch more flies with vinegar

Disaffected Newsletter • 1059 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Society Tradition Language Art
  1. Some common sayings might have their meanings reversed over time. A phrase like 'blood is thicker than water' could mean the opposite of what we think it does.
  2. The saying 'you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar' isn't accurate when it comes to actual flies. Sometimes vinegar works better for attracting pests like fruit flies.
  3. Making a fruit fly trap with vinegar is simple. Just mix vinegar in a jar with holes in the lid, and the flies won't be able to escape after they get in.

Ichigo Ichie

Seven Senses • 479 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Language Meditation Awareness Experience Art
  1. Language has a huge impact on how we see the world and connect with others. Some words from other languages describe feelings or actions that English can't fully capture.
  2. The Japanese term 'Ichigo Ichie' means 'one lifetime, one encounter.' It reminds us that every moment is unique and we should appreciate the present.
  3. We often get lost in thinking about the future and miss out on what is happening right now. Practicing mindfulness can help us enjoy our everyday experiences more.

8 essential words you've never heard before

The Rubesletter by Matt Ruby (of Vooza) | Sent every Tuesday • 641 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Language Comedy Art Relationships Mythology
  1. Enshittification refers to how digital platforms decline over time by abusing users and businesses to benefit themselves before eventually failing.
  2. Public solitude is the ability to feel alone even when in front of a large crowd, allowing one to focus in the present moment or during a performance.
  3. Specieist is a term for prejudice based on species, demonstrated by the debate between Elon Musk and Larry Page over the future of artificial intelligence.

Radicalised Bureaucracies

Paroxysms • 898 implied HN points • 03 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Society Language History Ethics Identity
  1. There has been a resurgence of interest in the Professional Managerial Class (PMC) and their impact on society, especially in relation to economic foundations and cultural dignity.
  2. The PMC is seen as converting economic issues into moral or cultural problems, focusing on symbolic recognition rather than material redistribution.
  3. The rise of radical bureaucracies within institutions has shifted towards a language of Critical Social Justice, emphasizing ethical values like equity and inclusion over technocratic principles.

Philosophy is the mathematics of language

Wood From Eden • 816 implied HN points • 23 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Language Mathematics Concepts Logic Epistemology
  1. Philosophy is the art of clarifying concepts and finding links between them.
  2. Philosophy is similar to mathematics in that it explores relationships between concepts, just as mathematics explores relationships between numbers.
  3. Concepts in philosophy change over time, making it a field that evolves constantly unlike mathematics which is built on stable concepts.

Words of Place

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 239 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Language History Geography Literature Society
  1. Seattle has a unique vocabulary that reflects its history and culture. Learning these words helps people connect with the city more deeply.
  2. Many terms in Seattle's lexicon come from local geography and community, like 'The Mountain' for Mt. Rainier or 'Skid Road' from the logging industry.
  3. The relationship between language and place is important. Understanding local terms can enrich our appreciation of the environment and the people around us.

Human culture in the age of machines

The Counterfactual • 79 implied HN points • 10 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Language Technology Media Cultural Change Society
  1. Language can change based on what we read and hear, including the influence of AI like ChatGPT. If more people use certain words from LLMs, those words might become more popular in everyday conversation.
  2. Technology, especially intelligent machines, can shape our culture by creating new ideas and behaviors. This includes changing the way we communicate and even how we think.
  3. The impact of machines on culture could lead to two different futures: one where everything becomes more similar (homogenization), and another where many unique cultures and languages emerge (diversification). Both possibilities pose interesting challenges for our future.

A straight-talking chinwag with Di from Mana Wāhine Kōrero is always a pleasure :-)

A B’Old Woman • 319 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Language Gender Indigenous Media Social Issues
  1. Di from Mana Wāhine Kōrero speaks openly about the impact of gender ideology on children. It's important to address how this can affect young people's understanding of themselves.
  2. The conversation touches on the importance of language, especially te reo Māori and women's language. Losing these languages can feel painful and impacts cultural identity.
  3. There was a discussion about an older Māori woman facing backlash for her t-shirt that stated 'Men are not women, even if you squint.' This highlights ongoing tensions around gender identity and expression.

On Cultivating “Genius” (Part I)

if not, Paris • 530 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Philosophy Literature Language Academia Art
  1. The term 'genius' and language have been questioned by structuralists and post-structuralists, blurring clear meanings.
  2. Academic discourse can prioritize sounding smart over communicating effectively, leading to confusion and inadequacy.
  3. Academia's cultivation of 'genius' can limit new ideas and perspectives, impacting the understanding of genius in the 21st century.

What Does the Word "Russian" Actually Mean?

Tessa Fights Robots • 23 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Identity History Ethnicity Language Narrative
  1. The word 'Russian' is complicated and doesn't define one's origins clearly. It refers to a huge area and mix of cultures rather than a specific identity.
  2. There are many theories about where the word 'Rus' comes from, including connections to Vikings or ancient tribes, but no one really knows for sure.
  3. People from Russia likely have diverse ancestry due to historical mixing, making them a blend of many nations and beautiful stories, not just defined by pain.

The Monday Media Diet with Sophia Smith Galer

Why is this interesting? • 542 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Media Books Journalism Language Apps
  1. Sophia curates her news from social media like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, finding content that aligns with her interests.
  2. She enjoys leisurely reading the weekend papers and is a fan of Private Eye, read in a unique way as a family tradition.
  3. Sophia recommends reading Megha Mohan's journalism and mentions Reverso Context as a great language app.

Guide to Punctuation

Castalia • 479 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
📚 Literature Writing Grammar Reading Language
  1. Periods are like your own voice, giving rhythm to your writing. They bring a sense of closure.
  2. Commas are your dependable partners, helping to organize ideas and making them clearer, even when there are little disagreements about how to use them.
  3. Dashes add excitement and new possibilities to your writing. They let you explore long thoughts in a fresh way, even if they feel a bit chaotic.

Wrong Twice A Day

Fragmentary • 491 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
📚 Literature Language Grammar Writing
  1. Pedantry in language can be a vice, but also adds to the evolution of language.
  2. Using terms like "12pm" for lunchtime can lead to confusion due to lack of clarity.
  3. The 12-hour clock system can be confusing; switching to a 24-hour system may be simpler.

Reflections in a Puddle

Fragmentary • 491 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🕹 Technology AI Ethics Society Culture Language
  1. Interacting with ChatGPT highlights its limitations and lack of true artificial intelligence.
  2. The hype around large language models as AI may be misleading; they are more like well-executed information tools.
  3. Adding new technologies has societal consequences that should be considered and policies set accordingly.

When In Rome!

The Quadrilateral • 471 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
🏝 Travel Tips Language
  1. Guide books like Rick Steves' Rome and Lonely Planet's Pocket Rome provide useful information for exploring Rome.
  2. When visiting Rome, expect clear English communication from locals, but trying to speak Italian is appreciated.
  3. For dining in Rome, explore smaller spots off main streets for better quality food, and don't be afraid to order house wine for a good experience.

The Politics of Names

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 379 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Names History Community Language Nature
  1. Place and species names often reflect who named them, usually white men, which can ignore the stories of local people and cultures. It’s important to understand the history behind these names.
  2. The American Ornithological Society wants to change bird names that honor problematic people to make them more inclusive and focus on the birds themselves. This change means letting go of some historical stories that are tied to those names.
  3. Exploring new names can help build connections to nature and understand different perspectives. Learning from the local knowledge of traditional communities can enrich our appreciation of the natural world.

Interpretability

Infinitely More • 28 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
📖 Philosophy Logic Mathematics Interpretation Language Concepts
  1. In math, we can understand one idea by using another. It's like using different languages to explain the same thing.
  2. Sometimes, when we translate ideas back and forth, we lose some meaning, similar to playing a game of telephone.
  3. To make this work, we create special objects in a new system that can help us relate and understand the original idea better.

The Ravineous City

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 219 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Urban Studies Geography History Nature Language
  1. Seattle has many natural ravines formed by a mix of geology, climate, and time. These ravines provide unique landscapes in the city.
  2. Different places use different terms for similar features; for example, Tacoma prefers 'gulch' over 'ravine'. This shows how local culture influences language.
  3. Ravenna is a well-known ravine in Seattle with interesting historical and linguistic connections. Its name reflects a mix of culture and nature.