Trump signs executive order making English the official language of the U.S.
In the nearly 250-year history of the United States, English had never been designated as the nation's official language.
Language
Why Trump's authoritarian language about 'vermin' matters
The former president called his political opponents "vermin" and said immigration is "poisoning the blood" of the U.S., echoing language used by Adolf Hitler, raising questions about authoritarianism.
For Ukrainian musicians, rejecting Russia is a matter of national pride
Ukrainian musicians are turning away from Russia, and sometimes the Russian language, as they try to reassert their country's identity. Some who used to sing in Russian now only perform in Ukrainian.
What crying baby mice could teach us about human speech
Scientists have found a cluster of rhythmic brain cells in newborn mice that may explain why spoken languages around the world share a common tempo.
Germany debates how to form gender-neutral words out of its gendered language
The German language is full of male and female nouns. Officials and businesses are tweaking words, including adding asterisks, to make them inclusive.
Prepone That! Your Accent Is Funny! Readers Share Their ESL Stories
Gripes and genius moments from readers about learning English as a second language
Oxford's Defining Words Of 2020: 'Blursday,' 'Systemic Racism' And Yes, 'Pandemic'
Too much happened in 2020 for Oxford Languages to choose a single word of the year. So they opted for dozens.
Latinx Is A Term Many Still Can't Embrace
People born or descended from Spanish-speaking nations are still debating if any of the ethnic labels used to identify them in the United States feel right.
Historic Recordings Revitalize Language For Passamaquoddy Tribal Members
A partnership between members of the Passamaquoddy tribe and the Library of Congress to transcribe wax cylinder recordings from 1890 is bringing the tribe's language back to life.
Our Language Is Evolving, 'Because Internet'
Whether you're extremely online or still confused by how a simple period can be interpreted as passive-aggressive, linguist Gretchen McCulloch has a guide to how our on-screen speech is morphing.