The hottest Language Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

re-encountering language

Thicket Forte • 379 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
📚 Literature Language
  1. Sometimes, new and surprising thoughts can come when we allow ourselves to explore language freely. Writing poetry can help unlock emotions and ideas we didn’t know we had.
  2. People often hide their pain behind a calm surface, but deep feelings can be revealed through creative expression. Language can connect us to the raw emotions of ourselves and others.
  3. Language isn't just about rules and grades; it can be a way to communicate something real and important. Embracing this freedom can make our words feel powerful and alive.

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
  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.

The Words of War

Humanities in Revolt • 179 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Language
  1. Mainstream war reporting often uses vague euphemisms and jargon, which can obscure the true impact of conflict on human lives.
  2. The language we use around war matters, as it can shape perceptions and beliefs. It's recommended to use direct language that accurately reflects the reality of warfare.
  3. It's important to be conscious of how we attribute responsibility in discussions of war, avoiding language that masks the true agents of violence and destruction.

EQ > IQ

Vectors of Mind • 176 implied HN points • 04 Aug 23
🔬 Science Language
  1. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is argued to be more fundamental to human evolution and the 'Good Life' than Intelligence Quotient (IQ), despite being harder to measure.
  2. Traits exist both as idealized forms and measurable approximations through psychological instruments like surveys, but the accuracy of these measurements is limited.
  3. The General Factor of Personality (GFP) is emphasized as a more fundamental concept than the general factor of intelligence (g), with language reflecting its importance and complexity.
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An old word for 2024

This Week's Top Ten • 98 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. The word 'xenodochial' means hospitable and friendly
  2. The author found the word in an old dictionary and hopes it becomes part of modern speech
  3. The word is seen as a neat way to describe being welcoming to strangers

☞ Milton's Rainbow

Cabinet of Wonders • 184 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
📚 Literature Language
  1. John Milton's description of the rainbow with only three colors is tied to old ideas about primary colors. This makes us think differently about how people viewed colors in the past.
  2. Isaac Newton's influence changed the way we see rainbows, leading to the common belief that they have seven colors. His mystical views helped shape color theory and public perception.
  3. There are deeper meanings and connections to how Milton might have perceived colors, especially considering the time he lived in. Exploring these ideas can reveal a lot about history and our understanding of color.

Newsletter updates

The Counterfactual • 59 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Language
  1. A guide on Large Language Models (LLMs) has been translated into Spanish, highlighting the complexities in translating technical terms accurately.
  2. The author recently participated in a podcast discussing philosophical questions about LLMs, sharing insights on topics like grounding and validity.
  3. Ongoing research aims to determine if LLMs can help measure and improve how easy texts are to read, with plans for future experiments to test this.

Ces commentaires m'ont consterné

L'Atelier Galita • 299 implied HN points • 23 May 23
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Recognizing everyday racism within oneself is the first step to becoming a good listener.
  2. Be cautious of the racism that may exist under the guise of being antiracist or universalist.
  3. Understand that everyone has the potential for everyday racism, but that does not make it acceptable or justified.

The Monday Media Diet with Sophia Smith Galer

Why is this interesting? • 542 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Language
  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.

12. Why You Should Read Fiction

Insight Axis • 138 implied HN points • 14 Jun 23
📚 Literature Language
  1. Fiction helps extract meaningful experiences and can often be more 'true' than reality.
  2. Reading fiction improves skills like remembering characters and history, which are valuable in non-fiction and technical writing.
  3. Language evolved for storytelling, making fiction a crucial part of human communication and creativity.

Bona Lavs

Mister Slang • 137 implied HN points • 04 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Polari was a secret language used by various groups like tramps, sailors, show people, and homosexuals.
  2. Polari was not a proper language with grammar but rather a lexicon of around 100 words and phrases.
  3. Polari declined with the changes in gay speech and the emergence of Gay Liberation in the late 1960s.

Core dump

Thicket Forte • 1 HN point • 16 Sep 24
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Language can feel increasingly insincere or artificial, making it hard to express true thoughts. Many conversations seem superficial or filled with 'bullshit' rather than genuine meaning.
  2. When interacting with language models (LLMs), it can be tricky to distinguish between human and machine-generated text. This can lead to a sense of confusion or 'linguistic vertigo.'
  3. There are different ways to generate language, like using your heart or gut instead of just your head. Words from deeper emotional or primal places can feel more authentic and meaningful.

'Speaking of Mothers' - a superb piece of writing from Sarah Henderson.

A B’Old Woman • 119 implied HN points • 27 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. The word 'mother' is important and meaningful in many cultures and societies. It's a term that represents deep connections and feelings.
  2. Some organizations are trying to replace the word 'mother' with terms like 'birthing parent', which many people find troubling.
  3. The concept of motherhood is seen as foundational to our understanding of family and identity, and losing that word could impact how we view these roles.

Causal Why vs Teleological Why

Breaking Smart • 12 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Language
  1. English is not very good at explaining the reasons behind things. It struggles to express deeper meanings behind actions.
  2. Languages like German and Russian might be better for discussing complex philosophical ideas. They offer more clarity in the way they handle 'why' questions.
  3. Understanding different languages can help us see how they shape our thoughts and inquiries about the world around us.

Kingdom of characters

The Global Jigsaw • 79 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. China's core identity is maintained through its unique written language and food.
  2. The written Chinese language has remained largely unchanged for 2200 years.
  3. Challenges arise in making Chinese characters compatible with modern technology like keyboards.

How to Embrace the B-Theory of Time Without Abandoning All of Human Language

Philosophy for the People w/Ben Burgis • 119 implied HN points • 30 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Language
  1. The B-Theory of time challenges the idea of an ontologically privileged present moment compared to the A-Theory.
  2. The B-Theory suggests that time is not dependent on human consciousness but is objectively defined.
  3. Embracing the B-Theory of time raises questions about the potential impact on human language and the truthfulness of statements.

On language, language models and writing

imperfect offerings • 119 implied HN points • 21 Apr 23
🚌 Education Language
  1. AI tools like language models cannot be credited with authorship in academic publications due to lack of accountability and responsibility for the work.
  2. Universities need to consider the implications of students using AI writing tools and ensure they are transparent, accountable, and responsible for their own use of these systems.
  3. Writing is a social technology that shapes new selves and identities, and universities play a crucial role in shaping what writing is, what it does for individuals, and why it matters.

D is for...

Mister Slang • 117 implied HN points • 29 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Some dirty words have origins in diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea.
  2. Venereal diseases were often associated with foreign countries in slang terms.
  3. There were various slang terms for venereal diseases and their symptoms, as well as treatments throughout history.

How Language is Changing in the Digital Age

The Digital Anthropologist • 19 implied HN points • 29 May 24
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Languages are constantly evolving, but the digital age might be accelerating the pace of change. Is a universal language possible?
  2. Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) pose new challenges to language preservation, but also offer opportunities to document and save languages for historical analysis.
  3. The future of human language could involve the development of a universal language, potentially influenced by digital technologies, cultural sensitivity, and global collaboration.

Making Sense of Consciousness Part 8: Summing Up

Rough Diamonds • 13 implied HN points • 26 Nov 25
📖 Philosophy Language
  1. Consciousness involves three main ideas: noticing things, being awake, and having a sense of self. Noticing things is the most important part.
  2. Being conscious helps us make better choices by understanding our own abilities and how they relate to our environment. It allows us to be cautious when we need to be.
  3. Pain and pleasure are conscious experiences that help us react to situations, but it's possible to perceive injury without suffering from it. Consciousness can vary, and this is an important aspect of our understanding of sentience.

Lace and Libels

Outlandish Claims • 19 implied HN points • 26 May 24
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. The evolution of language and meanings can lead to shifts in how words are understood over time.
  2. The concept of proof of work, used in bitcoin, can be observed in various aspects of human culture, indicating value and effort.
  3. Protecting artists from theft and censorship can encourage more art creation in the intersection of accessibility and quality.

Genre Grapevine on Why They Want Us to Call it AI

Genre Grapevine • 98 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🚌 Education Language
  1. Words are powerful and shape our understanding of the world and ourselves.
  2. The language used to describe machine learning tools can be deceptive, such as calling them 'artificial intelligence' when there's no actual intelligence behind them.
  3. Using accurate language is important in conversations about machine learning to avoid misconceptions and ensure transparency.

CannesGPT

Addition • 98 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Language
  1. AI system 'CannesGPT' generates creative ideas using case studies from Cannes Lions winners
  2. In-context learning aligns AI outputs with creative objectives for more original ideas
  3. Using foundation models like Claude and GPT-4 for different stages in AI idea generation pipeline

Crosscurrents

Internal exile • 49 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
📚 Literature Language
  1. Every reading experience is unique because our moods, attention, and context change how we understand a text. When reading 'Tristano', it felt like each interaction could vary tremendously.
  2. The book challenges the idea of meaning in literature. While you may try to find significance in the text, it often feels pointless since there’s no agreed-upon understanding.
  3. Chatbots and experimental literature both lack clear authorship, but a chatbot affirms your interpretation while with literature, you're left unsure if your understanding is correct.

Words about Words

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano • 157 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
📚 Literature Language
  1. Language is always changing, and it's normal for older generations to feel a bit disconnected from younger people's way of speaking. It's important for culture to evolve, and that includes how we communicate.
  2. When people say 'that's just semantics,' they might underestimate how important the right words are for clear communication. Taking time to choose the right words can really help us understand each other better.
  3. Metaphors can create deeper understanding by connecting new ideas with familiar ones. Mixing metaphors can be tricky, but when done well, it can lead to powerful imagery and insights.

The Ironist

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano • 109 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. People often want irony to be shown clearly because misunderstandings are frustrating. They might wish for a special font to spot irony right away.
  2. Irony relies on the gap between what is said and what is meant. If everyone understands it perfectly, it might not be true irony.
  3. Today's culture puts a strong focus on clarity and being understood. This change makes it harder for people to laugh off mistakes or misunderstandings.

Telugu Cinema’s Re-Release Culture, Model Collapse, and the Crisis of Cultural Data

Experiments with NLP and GPT-3 • 7 implied HN points • 30 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. The re-release craze is turning cinema into a museum: audiences and exhibitors prefer remastered hits over new films, creating a feedback loop that starves the industry of fresh stories.
  2. Industry power is concentrated in ageing superstars and a few pan‑Indian blockbusters, which destroys the mid‑budget ladder and silences young writers and directors.
  3. That cultural stagnation creates a real data problem for Telugu AI and digital culture—without diverse, current Telugu content, models and creativity will be constrained; solutions include screen quotas, digitization of texts, and support for new writers.

Turn-taking in the age of Zoom

The Counterfactual • 139 implied HN points • 05 May 23
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Turn-taking is a key part of human conversation, where one person speaks and then the other responds. This has been observed even in some animals, showing that it's a long-established communication behavior.
  2. Studies show that conversation timing is mostly consistent across different languages, with an average pause of about 208 milliseconds between turns. This quick exchange helps keep conversations flowing smoothly.
  3. Zoom and similar video call platforms can disrupt the natural rhythm of conversations, leading to longer pauses and more frustration. This change might affect how we communicate in the long term as remote communication becomes more common.

Every Story is a Degrowth Story!

Breaking Smart • 101 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. There are three main forces affecting our world: internet nomads, artificial intelligence, and climate change. Each of these will impact our lives in different ways over the next 10 to 15 years.
  2. Internet nomads, like political groups using social media, are likely to peak first and create short-term chaos, but may not last long-term due to their inability to build stable systems.
  3. AI will evolve quickly as technology improves and becomes more common, which might lead to bigger changes in society, while climate change will pose significant challenges, affecting everyday life in profound ways.

The Stone at Fimmvörðuháls

Orbis Tertius • 417 implied HN points • 09 Nov 23
📚 Literature Language
  1. The Stone at Fimmvörðuháls holds a mysterious inscription in Icelandic.
  2. Icelandic language remains pure and unchanged from Medieval times.
  3. Jón's recitation reveals a profound translation of the stone's message.

Passing Away

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano • 352 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Criticism of euphemisms like 'passed away' varies based on time and context.
  2. Language and values shift with time, affecting how we perceive events and people.
  3. As time passes, individuality fades, making collective interpretations more dominant.

Even More Words About Words

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano • 121 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
📚 Literature Language
  1. Many words in English have one side that is commonly used, while their pairs are often ignored. For example, you might be 'disgruntled' but have never been 'gruntled.'
  2. Language evolves and new words are created when two concepts come together. Words like 'email' started as 'electronic mail' and have changed over time.
  3. As words change, their pronunciation also shifts. For instance, 'bookshop' is pronounced differently than 'book shop,' showing how language and speech develop over time.

Saturday Commentary and Review #153

Fisted by Foucault • 313 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Democracy promotion efforts by the US have faced setbacks in various countries like Yugoslavia, Egypt, Libya, and Syria, leading to negative outcomes.
  2. Asia's strategic significance in the US-China competition is leading to a focus on democracy promotion in the region as a competitive advantage for the US.
  3. The evolution of music criticism, the effects of ideological capture on platforms like Pitchfork, and the changing landscape of American accents show the complexity of cultural influences over time.

Definitions have consequences

Trevor Klee’s Newsletter • 597 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Language
  1. Definitions can have significant consequences, especially when redefined in academic contexts.
  2. The term 'artificial general intelligence' can be misleading due to unclear definitions of 'intelligence' and 'general'.
  3. Understanding the consequences of how terms are defined is crucial in avoiding misunderstandings and panic.

Life, Death, and all the Words Between

Painful Signs, Or, Joel's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
📚 Literature Language
  1. Book 9 of the Iliad is crucial for understanding Achilles' character development and epic themes like heroism.
  2. The language of Achilles in the Iliad has been a subject of significant scholarly debate, revealing insights into his character and the nature of Homeric speech.
  3. The plot of Book 9 involves the Achaeans' attempts to persuade Achilles to return to battle, showcasing his complex responses and highlighting themes of politics, heroism, and narrative traditions.

For Some Ukrainians, Russian Language Triggers Trauma Response

Natto Thoughts • 79 implied HN points • 18 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Language
  1. The coexistence of Ukrainian and Russian languages reflects a historical colonial relationship between Russia and Ukraine, where bilingualism now gives Ukrainians an edge in understanding Russian aggressors.
  2. The Russian language has become triggering for some Ukrainians due to traumatic experiences during the ongoing conflict, leading to a shift away from using Russian in favor of embracing Ukrainian identity.
  3. Attitudes towards language in Ukraine are complex, with a growing support for the Ukrainian language and a nuanced approach that includes both Ukrainian and Russian speakers promoting Ukrainian in public life for a more inclusive civic definition of Ukrainian identity.