English Language

Linguist Geoff Nunberg has some gift suggestions for the language lovers on your gift list.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on what it means to rename something.

Geoffrey Nunberg comments about the return of the "N" word in American dialogue.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg considers the movement to make English the official language.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg wonders what makes some words are favorite words, is it sound or are we affected by the word's meaning?

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg comments on the history and grammatical use of split infinitives.

Language Commentator Geoffrey Nunberg on how the word "French" has been associated with sexual activities and references... such as "French kiss", "pardon my French" and an 18th Century term for condoms: "French Letters.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg considers the rhetorical strategies of angry talk show hosts -- divorced from their politics.

Language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg takes the "Cosmopolitan" grammar quiz.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg looks at how some names lose their capital letter status, but in exchange gain a coveted slot as common nouns.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg comments on metaphors used for the Internet -- which he says are all wrong.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg considers who was and is now considered a visionary.

Professor Michael Kazin's new book, "The Populist Persuasion: An American History," explores the rise and change of populism and its effect on the political structure. He examines populism's roots as a leftist, liberal movement, and how populist ideas came to be used as rhetoric of conservative Presidents Nixon and Reagan.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg says that the word is akin to the New York City borough -- little known and misunderstood by many. He has this commentary.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg comments on the importance of the integrity of language to the French.

Language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg comments on his young daughter's use of the exclamation "YESSSS!"

Tannen is the author of the bestselling, "You Just Don't Understand." She has a new book about communication between the sexes, "Talking From 9 to 5: How Women's and Men's Conversational Styles Affect Who Gets Heard, Who Gets Credit, and What Gets Done at Work."

Language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg tells us about his handheld electronic dictionary.

Language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg reflects on the pronunciation of foreign words by broadcasters.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg talks about the computer language of the nineties, and looks at how new "information age" words sound remarkably like George Orwell's Newspeak.