Extreme heat in Japan

"Japan announces new name for days over 40C after hottest summer ever", by Ruth Wright, Euronews (4/20/26) They have words for it.  The one that's taking the online media by storm is kokushobi  酷暑日.  That literally means "harsh / cruel + hot days".  I can attest to this characterization of scorching  days in Japan.  I remember […]

Code-mixed headline

A note from Ambarish S.: There’s an ongoing controversy in India with Prime Minister Modi being accused of blackface during an election campaign in the south, where people have darker skin on average. The Alert (a Hindi news website of unknown reputation) had the following Hindi sentence on it’s X: तमिलनाडु रैली में मोदी जी […]

ish

Much heard on Language Log.   Selected readings "Slang affixation: it's all mystery-y-ish-y" (6/25/09) "ish and moreish", Separated by a Common Language (9/6/07)

Somatic sounds in the hospital

I never dreamed that I would be subjected to an MRI or a CAT scan or other sophisticated diagnostic system that enables medical specialists to see detailed tomographic images from inside your body. For both of these devices, the patient lies on a flat surface and is inserted in a tube-like scanner.  They both make […]

Way way

My rehab roomie has an unusual habit when speaking.  He randomly inserts the syllable "way" in his phrases (seldom finishes a complete sentence) and often repeats it multiple times.  Some examples: I way I way way My wife way My son way I want way way way to toilet way. Bed way Way way way […]

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