The hottest Language Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Eight billion hogs, screaming

Numb at the Lodge • 2 HN points • 28 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Heavenbanning creates a virtual online world for individuals where they feel appreciated and praised.
  2. Freedom of speech is more than just the ability to say anything; it's about the right to be heard and have your message distributed.
  3. Communication and language impose limits on free speech, as expressing oneself requires adhering to a structured system.
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Symbolic Mereological Expression Of A New Theory On Language

Autodidact Obsessions • 1 HN point • 10 Feb 24
🔬 Science Language
  1. Language exists in a quantum state of potential meanings until words are used, altering their semantic intentions.
  2. The application of words changes language from potential to actual, solidifying their meanings into rigid semantic intentions.
  3. A mereological framework views language as a whole composed of parts (words) and considers the relationships between these parts both before and after their usage.

I got over my slump, here's S7 🤩

Mehdeeka • 1 implied HN point • 25 Jan 24
💼 Business Language
  1. Regularly communicate with your customers through email to keep them engaged.
  2. Try using linguistic tactics like replacing 'but' with 'and' for a psychological effect in sales language.
  3. Focus on explaining the value of your product or service over its features in marketing.

The Sea by John Banville

Arjun’s Newsletter • 1 HN point • 26 Jul 23
📚 Literature Language
  1. Language is influenced by the people we spend time with and the media we absorb.
  2. The novel challenges traditional criticism by blending highbrow language with relatable characters.
  3. Banville's use of poetry and exploration of memory make 'The Sea' a novel that leaves readers more interested in language and imagery.

Slaughterhouse-Five

Arjun’s Newsletter • 1 HN point • 21 Jun 23
📚 Literature Language
  1. _Slaughterhouse-Five_ showcases Vonnegut's unique and inventive writing style.
  2. The novel explores the concept of time in association with war and human existence.
  3. The book continues to be relevant by offering a distinct perspective on the tragedy and realities of war.

Writer

Arjun’s Newsletter • 1 HN point • 05 Jun 23
📚 Literature Language
  1. Writing is a challenging business, but calling yourself a writer is important.
  2. Don't focus on making money from writing; focus on writing freely.
  3. Write for specific people and aim to connect with them on a deeper level.

The Evolution of the Alphabet

Maximum Effort, Minimum Reward • 1 HN point • 10 Mar 23
🚌 Education Language
  1. Different writing systems vary by how they encode language, from logographic scripts to alphabets to syllabaries.
  2. Abjads, like Arabic and Hebrew, represent only consonants, while alphabets include both consonants and vowels.
  3. The evolution of alphabets can be traced back to a common ancestor, like Egyptian hieroglyphs, leading to scripts like Aramaic, Hebrew, and Arabic.

The Literal and the Metaphor

Vic's Verdict • 1 implied HN point • 14 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. When communicating, consider whether to be explicit or implicit based on your audience and intent.
  2. In conversations, explicit language works well for tangible topics, while abstract topics require different forms of communication depending on the audience.
  3. Balancing transparency and ambiguity in language depends on the depth of the relationship and emotional intelligence of those involved.

On writing bindings in Odin

bumbread • 0 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Language
  1. Consider the naming problem when writing bindings - changing casing or renaming functions is acceptable for better integration with the language, but avoid renaming to maintain searchability.
  2. Leverage the strengths of the language when creating bindings - use language features like bitsets, tuples, and enums to make the bindings more user-friendly and reduce the need for excessive typecasting.
  3. Be conscious of the usability and integration of bindings - ensure that bindings are well-documented, easy to search, integrate with existing codebases, and offer value beyond just enabling procedure calls.

Are LLMs like bees?

Boris Again • 0 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🔬 Science Language
  1. Bees use a complex non-verbal language to communicate precise information like the location of food.
  2. Bees can operate with complex concepts but do not understand their essence or think abstractly like humans.
  3. The comparison between LLMs and bees raises questions about whether LLMs operate with concepts but lack true understanding or deep knowledge.

Nabokov, Borges, Leys, Lin Shu...

The Leftovers • 0 implied HN points • 28 Oct 21
📚 Literature Language
  1. Translation quality is subjective and can vary based on different perspectives like faithfulness to the original text or clarity in the translation.
  2. Vladimir Nabokov believed in the importance of faithfulness in translation, requiring a deep understanding of both the source and target languages.
  3. Jorge Luis Borges saw translation as a transformation that could sometimes improve upon the original text, emphasizing meaning over preserving every detail.

Investing in gender-neutral pronouns

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 08 Oct 16
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Gender-neutral pronouns can be a simple way to avoid unnecessary gender bias in writing and communication.
  2. It may be worth considering the moral argument for using gender-neutral pronouns, especially when gender identification is irrelevant.
  3. Starting to use gender-neutral pronouns at a young age can help reduce the associated costs and make it easier to make the change in communication style.

Bezzy, butthurt and bae

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 15
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Dictionaries have started adding internet slang like 'bezzy,' 'butthurt,' and 'bae' due to linguistic changes, culture shifts, and industry demands.
  2. Prank videos on YouTube, depicting fake robberies and shootings, may indicate a troubling trend or a response to the demand for extreme content.
  3. Trump's ability to craft tweetable, attention-grabbing messages plays a significant role in his appeal as a relatable figure in the current media landscape.

Seriously the best. (Read: worst.)

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 29 May 15
🕹 Technology Language
  1. The Internet is seeing a rise in the use of Esperanto, a language intended for global unity.
  2. There is a possibility that in the future, technology may enable people to upload their brains to machines, posing a question about eternal consciousness.
  3. Silicon Valley workers are reportedly facing challenges related to love and intimacy, leading to an interest in potential reality TV content.

#lol

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 21 May 15
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Suey Park faced online threats and reputational damage at a young age.
  2. The concept of memes evolving like animals is still unproven after almost 40 years.
  3. Naming your hard drive and anthropomorphizing devices is considered a peculiar practice.

What do the Fappening, Ray Rice and ISIS bombings have in common?

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 12 Sep 14
🕹 Technology Language
  1. Inside the online world of the women of ISIS reveals a chilling juxtaposition between mundane activities and macabre behavior.
  2. The Fappening, Ray Rice, and ISIS bombings are all linked by the rise of connected cameras, posing ethical questions about what should be watched, shared, and photographed.
  3. Our frequent use of a 'signature word' is revealing, showing why we gravitate towards certain unique terms and expressions.

Welcome to "Natto Thoughts"

Natto Thoughts • 0 implied HN points • 07 Apr 22
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. This Substack delves into the intersection of culture and technology, exploring the behaviors of individuals in the information age.
  2. The name "Natto Thoughts" draws a comparison to fermented foods like natto, highlighting the idea that thoughts, like fermentation, need time to develop and grow.
  3. The content of the Substack focuses on language, culture, institutions, political systems, and unwritten social rules that influence human actions.

Who Led Me Here?, by X.T.X. (Part 1)

Chinese Meme • 0 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. The song explores themes of confusion, regret, and the search for direction in life.
  2. The title of the song 'Who Led Me Here?' reflects the main theme of being lost and disoriented.
  3. The use of tree leaves as clothing in the song represents simplicity, humility, and a contrast to materialistic society.

Sketch of a new English orthography

Perambulations • 0 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🕹 Technology Language
  1. English spelling is complex due to its accumulation of bits and pieces of other languages.
  2. Efforts for English spelling reform have included developing custom scripts and simplified spelling movements.
  3. An ideal English writing system may balance phonetic fidelity with concision, embed emphasis information, address vowel complexity, and include characters for high-frequency sound combinations.

Conscience

Neosapien’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Language
  1. Consciousness involves a continuous flow of intermingling ideas that can lead to self-reflection.
  2. The human mind's ability to concentrate on specific thoughts within this mental chaos helps individuals make choices.
  3. Language plays a crucial role in transforming abstract sensations into concrete ideas, enabling communication and complex thinking.

Farewell, Cormac McCarthy

From the Desk • 0 implied HN points • 04 Jul 23
📚 Literature Language
  1. Cormac McCarthy's death marks the loss of a significant novelist
  2. McCarthy's writing style and themes address deeper, philosophical concepts
  3. His work combines beautiful prose with gripping storytelling and impactful characters

Word Alchemy

Vic's Verdict • 0 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Alchemy aimed to manipulate reality with the philosopher's stone representing mastery over the elements, now substituted by electricity.
  2. Science and technology contribute to mastering the physical world and falsifying beliefs collectively.
  3. Beliefs influence reality more than objective evidence, highlighting the importance of personal beliefs and precise language in shaping perceptions.

A mythology of progressing intelligence

Meaningful Particulars • 0 implied HN points • 24 Nov 23
🔬 Science Language
  1. Condillac's fable illustrates the origins of language through natural cries associated with objects.
  2. Herder disagreed, emphasizing that language involves intention and understanding, not just responses to signs.
  3. Human intelligence is qualitatively different due to reflective self-awareness and language, challenging the idea of a ladder of progress.

What makes consciousness so interesting anyway?

Meaningful Particulars • 0 implied HN points • 08 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Language
  1. There isn't a clear, agreed-upon definition of consciousness, despite much interest from scientists and philosophers
  2. Subjective phenomena in consciousness are connected with a specific point of view that is challenging to reconcile with objective, physical theories
  3. Consciousness is not a simple category, but a complex collection of mental experiences, emotions, and perceptions that defy easy definition

LLMs May Immunize People Against Bad Ideas

Pursuits • 0 implied HN points • 18 Mar 23
🔬 Science Language
  1. AI language models can influence people's perceptions and beliefs without needing consciousness or intentions.
  2. Economics and politics have more predictive power over AI than philosophy of mind. When faced with costly human answers, people switch to machine answers. No magic or intentionality is involved.
  3. Sophisticated language models challenge the concept of subjectivity by producing internally consistent but hollow criticisms. Exposure to this may lead people to develop a firmer belief in reality and become immune to falsehoods.

This aged well: 12 – The crayola-fication of the world: How we gave colors names, and it messed with our brains

This Aged Well • 0 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Language
  1. Different languages have various concepts of color which can affect our perception - some people cannot distinguish colors not due to colorblindness but because their language doesn't differentiate them.
  2. Language shapes how we think and perceive the world, impacting concepts like gender, nationality, and time.
  3. The way we name colors has had a significant impact on the human brain and cognition, highlighting the crayola-fication of the world.

Modified Axiom To Include Domains: Language Use In Communal Practices, And Semantic Intentionality Part 1: The Dialogue

Autodidact Obsessions • 0 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Language
  1. The post discusses the reimagined scene symbolizing Husserl and Wittgenstein's victory over post-structuralist thought.
  2. The author integrates notions of semantic intention and private vs. public language into a comprehensive format.
  3. The dialogue with ChatGPT-4 reveals the author's struggle with interface problems and the need for specific inquiry to achieve desired outcomes.

3. Language, code, our minds and the future

Insight Axis • 0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 21
🕹 Technology Language
  1. Our minds are influenced by the structure, content, and presentation of information, such as the language we speak, read, and write.
  2. Jobs won't be fully replaced by code and AI but rather evolve with these technological advancements, where humans will use computational tools to enhance their work.
  3. As programming becomes more common, our written and spoken language may change, simplifying sentences and potentially leading to a future where thinking in code affects how we write in prose.

Polymath Engineer Weekly #83

Polymath Engineer Weekly • 0 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Language
  1. Deliberate practice is crucial for improvement. Practicing mindlessly can hinder progress by reinforcing existing habits instead of enhancing them.
  2. Understanding different programming paradigms like supervision trees in Erlang can be beneficial for managing state and processes effectively.
  3. The Black-Scholes/Merton equation, originating from physics, revolutionized finance with trillions of dollars at stake, showcasing the impact of cross-disciplinary knowledge.