man idk

Want to teach yourself linguistics on youtube? Looking for online courses about linguistics? Want to supplement the linguistics resources available for your linguistics class? Here’s an extensive list for you to pick from, with a few notes on style and content. 

General linguistics youtube channels: 

NativLang (animated)

Xidnaf (animated)

The Ling Space (person talking with a bit of animation, see also their summary post)

David J. Peterson’s conlanging youtube channel (person talking)

Arika Okrent (whiteboard videos)

Groups of videos or short series on specific topics: 

Tom Scott’s Language Files (person talking with graphic effects)

Artifexian’s conlanging videos

North Caroline Language and Life project

Common sounds in Australian Indigenous languages

Verner’s Law and how the Germanic languages developed from Proto-Indo-European (person talking plus animation)

How to apply for a Documenting Endangered Languages (DEL) grant

Videos illustrating Gricean Maxims  

Cuando Muere una Lengua / When a tongue dies - Videos in Mexican Indigenous languages from the project 68 voces (68 voices)

Christmas-themed stories told in ASL by an adorable child (ASL Nook)

Individual interesting videos: 

Do Sign Languages Have Accents? 

Sign Language Isn’t Universal

A cute video about doing linguistic studies with children (and a puppet) from the University of Connecticut

Structural Ambiguity (LingVids) and an example from Animaniacs

How English Sounds to Non-English Speakers  

Prisencolinensinainciusol (fake English song)

Is Cereal Soup? and Zipf’s Law from Vsauce 

The Dangerous Ambiguity of Prepositions

Can You Speak Emoji? PBS Idea Channel

World-record fast talkers (and how that works in the brain)

Crash Course Psychology: Language

How much information? (Veritasium)

Cross-sections of the head or vocal tract while speaking: 

Music video (Better Man Than He)

ArticulatoryIPA: many individual short videos of specific sounds showing them produced in the vocal tract 

eNunciate: ultrasound videos of the inside of the mouth superimposed on the side of a speaker’s face 

X-ray gif and animated gif

Beatboxer in MRI machine (plus IPA)

Two videos of the inside of the vocal tract (note: kinda gross)

Structured series or online course, introduction to linguistics: 

Introduction to Linguistics (TrevTutor - whiteboard, Khan Academy style)

Another intro linguistics series (DS Bigham, person talking)

The Virtual Linguistics Campus at Marburg University (person talking)

“Miracles of Human Language” (on Coursera from Leiden University)

Structured series or online courses on a specific topic (might be useful to follow some of the intro material first): 

Phonology (TrevTutor)

Mathematical linguistics (TrevTutor)

Syntax (TrevTutor)

A syntax series following the chapter structure of a free online syntax textbook (University of Edinburgh)

Sign Language Structure, Learning, and Change (on EdX from Georgetown University, in ASL with English subtitles and voiceover)

Language Revival: Securing the Future of Endangered Languages (on EdX from the University of Adelaide)

Long videos (documentaries or lectures): 

The Linguistic Society of America’s youtube channel has both public lectures from prominent linguists (tend to assume some background knowledge of linguistics) and some recordings of professional development webinars, such as how to write an abstract

The Five Minute Linguist talks: 2017 and 2018 (one long video of many short, engaging talks about linguistics)

Steven Pinker: Linguistics as a Window to Understanding the Brain

MIT OpenCourseware: Listening, Speaking, and Pronunciation lectures

Introduction to Optimality Theory in Phonology (UC Berkeley)

Rising voices/Hótȟaŋiŋpi, a documentary about revitalizing the Lakota language, in full on youtube (it’s just under an hour long)

A classic documentary on Canadian English

The Adventure of English (BBC documentary series)

A few linguistically-relevant TED and TEDx talks (NOT a complete list): 

Endangered languages: why it matters (Mandana Seyfeddinipur)

Deaf children need sign language (Drisana Levitzke-Gray)

Robots talking with Robots - How Lingodroids invent their own language (Janet Wiles)

Four reasons to learn a new language (John McWhorter)

Several short language-related videos from TED-Ed

American and British Politeness (Lynne Murphy)

Hacking Language Learning (Conor Quinn)

The linguistic genius of babies (Patricia Kuhl)

What makes a word “real”? (Anne Curzan)

Redefining the dictionary (Erin McKean)

See also my linguistics videos tag for an automatically-updated list of linguistics videos, often from sporadically-updated or smaller channels. 

For more documentaries and longer videos about linguistics, most of which aren’t online, see A very long list of linguistics movies, documentaries, and TV show episodes. 

For more resources to learn linguistics, including linguistics podcasts, blogs, books, and other advice, check out How to teach yourself linguistics online for free. 

【 general 】

les alentours (m) | vicinity

l’avenue (f) | avenue

la banlieue (f) | suburbia

le quartier (m) | area

【 commercial 】

l’animalerie (f) | pet shop

la boucherie (f) | butcher

la boulangerie (f) | bakery

la boutique de vêtements (f) | fashion boutique

le café (m) | coffee shop

le centre commercial (m) | shopping centre

l’épicerie (f) | grocery store

la librairie (f) | book shop

le magasin (m) | shop

le magasin de vins et spiritueux (m) | liquor store

la pharmacie (f) | pharmacy

la pizzeria (f) | pizzeria

la quincaillerie (f) | hardware store

la supérette (f) | convenience store

le supermarché (m) | supermarket

le traiteur (m) | caterer

【 public spaces 】

le jardin botanique (m) | botanical garden

la place (f) | plaza

le pont (m) | bridge

la rue (f) | street

la ruelle (f) | lane

【 religious 】

la cathédrale (f) | cathedral

l’église (f) | church (catholic)

la mosquée (f) | mosque

la synagogue (f) | synagogue

le temple (m) | church (protestant)

【 residential areas 】

l’appartement (m) | apartment

la cabane (f) | shack

le château (m) | castle

la ferme (f) | farmhouse

l’hébergement (m) | accommodation

l’immeuble en copropriété (m) | condo (condominium)

la maison (f) | house

la maison de maître (f) | mansion

la maison de ville (f) | townhouse

le manoir (m) | manor

le pavillon (m) | bungalow

la pension de famille (f) | boarding house

la petite maison (f) | cottage

la villa (f) | villa

le voisinage (m) | neighbourhood

【 school 】

le collège (m) | middle school

l’école (m) | schooll’école primaire (m) | primary school

le lycée (m) | high school

l’université (f) | university

【 tourist destinations/accommodation 】

l’auberge (f) | inn

la boîte (f) | nightclub

la fête foraine (f) | fun fair

le gîte (m) | holiday house

l’hôtel (m) | hotel

le musée (m) | museum

le parc d’attractions (m) | amusement park

la plage (f) | beach

la taverne (f) | tavern

le terrain de camping (m) | campsite

le théâtre (m) | theatre

【 transport 】

l’aéroport (m) | airport

l’arrêt de bus (m) | bus stop

la gare (f) | train station

le métro (m) | tube/subway

【 places with «chez» 】

a/n | these places are named with the person performing the job. for example, i am going to the dentist is «je vais chez le dentiste»

le coiffeur/la coiffeuse | hairdresser

le dentiste (m) | dentist

le/la vétérinaire | veterinarian

【 extra 】

la banque (f) | bank

la bibliothèque (f) | library

la campagne (f) | countryside

la caserne de pompiers (f) | fire station

la cave à vins (f) | wine cellar

le cimetière (m) | cemetery 

le cinéma (m) | cinema

le commissariat de police (m) | police station

l’hôpital (m) | hospital

la mairie (f) | city hall

l’opéra (m) | opera house

l’orphelinat (m) | orphanage

le parc (m) | park

le planétarium (m) | planetarium

le pressing (m) | drycleaner

la prison (f) | prison

le stade (m) | stadium

【 general 】

les alentours (m) | vicinity

l’avenue (f) | avenue

la banlieue (f) | suburbia

le quartier (m) | area

【 commercial 】

l’animalerie (f) | pet shop

la boucherie (f) | butcher

la boulangerie (f) | bakery

la boutique de vêtements (f) | fashion boutique

le café (m) | coffee shop

le centre commercial (m) | shopping centre

l’épicerie (f) | grocery store

la librairie (f) | book shop

le magasin (m) | shop

le magasin de vins et spiritueux (m) | liquor store

la pharmacie (f) | pharmacy

la pizzeria (f) | pizzeria

la quincaillerie (f) | hardware store

la supérette (f) | convenience store

le supermarché (m) | supermarket

le traiteur (m) | caterer

【 public spaces 】

le jardin botanique (m) | botanical garden

la place (f) | plaza

le pont (m) | bridge

la rue (f) | street

la ruelle (f) | lane

【 religious 】

la cathédrale (f) | cathedral

l’église (f) | church (catholic)

la mosquée (f) | mosque

la synagogue (f) | synagogue

le temple (m) | church (protestant)

【 residential areas 】

l’appartement (m) | apartment

la cabane (f) | shack

le château (m) | castle

la ferme (f) | farmhouse

l’hébergement (m) | accommodation

l’immeuble en copropriété (m) | condo (condominium)

la maison (f) | house

la maison de maître (f) | mansion

la maison de ville (f) | townhouse

le manoir (m) | manor

le pavillon (m) | bungalow

la pension de famille (f) | boarding house

la petite maison (f) | cottage

la villa (f) | villa

le voisinage (m) | neighbourhood

【 school 】

le collège (m) | middle school

l’école (m) | schooll’école primaire (m) | primary school

le lycée (m) | high school

l’université (f) | university

【 tourist destinations/accommodation 】

l’auberge (f) | inn

la boîte (f) | nightclub

la fête foraine (f) | fun fair

le gîte (m) | holiday house

l’hôtel (m) | hotel

le musée (m) | museum

le parc d’attractions (m) | amusement park

la plage (f) | beach

la taverne (f) | tavern

le terrain de camping (m) | campsite

le théâtre (m) | theatre

【 transport 】

l’aéroport (m) | airport

l’arrêt de bus (m) | bus stop

la gare (f) | train station

le métro (m) | tube/subway

【 places with «chez» 】

a/n | these places are named with the person performing the job. for example, i am going to the dentist is «je vais chez le dentiste»

le coiffeur/la coiffeuse | hairdresser

le dentiste (m) | dentist

le/la vétérinaire | veterinarian

【 extra 】

la banque (f) | bank

la bibliothèque (f) | library

la campagne (f) | countryside

la caserne de pompiers (f) | fire station

la cave à vins (f) | wine cellar

le cimetière (m) | cemetery 

le cinéma (m) | cinema

le commissariat de police (m) | police station

l’hôpital (m) | hospital

la mairie (f) | city hall

l’opéra (m) | opera house

l’orphelinat (m) | orphanage

le parc (m) | park

le planétarium (m) | planetarium

le pressing (m) | drycleaner

la prison (f) | prison

le stade (m) | stadium

Morning fam! Because I am a huge throbbing nerd for the Human Japanese series and use it every other day for routine study, their latest project - Satori Reader - was brought to my immediate attention.

Screenshots have been taken of the website’s free content to give you a peek into what is on offer. I’m giving it a trial run for the moment, but my fingers are itching to subscribe - something I can do at any point with relative ease.

For anyone who is floundering in the grey waters of intermediate study, and especially for those whose study is self perpetuated, there’s a good chance you’re looking for some sort of landmark in that churning mess to orient yourself by. A metaphorical island, with sparkling shoreline, verdant forest, and plentiful resources to help you grow and flourish.

I’m talking content. As many bloggers have mentioned, there is a plethora of material out there to help us learn the framework and mechanics of 日本語. It’s not at all difficult to source grammar lessons, vocabulary lists, kanji writing schematics, charts and even entire textbooks - and for that we are eternally thankful. However, the intermediate learner sitting at their own dining room table with an open laptop, a cup of tea, the latest anime OST on repeat and a Japanese novel in their quivering hands is leafing through the pages and quietly mouthing how in the everliving f**k…

This is where SR gently takes your hand and says, here’s how, you foulmouthed otaku.

This is an excerpt from a level 3 difficulty article about Kona the cat (可愛いね）

Like every other article available on the website, it is voiced over by a native speaker, clearly and naturally - with all the intonation you would expect to hear in conversation *heavy breathing* Not only that, but as the audio plays, the corresponding Japanese text is underlined in blue to show where in the text they are reading from. This means that if you are proficient enough, you can follow along at pace.

Too slow? They got you fam! Individual lines of text are divided into sound bytes, meaning you can take this task one sentence at a time.

Individual kanji, jukugo (several kanji that make up one word) and particles within the text can also be clicked to reveal a Human Japanese style dictionary entry. Words you’d like to revisit can be added to your studylist.

The symbol marking the end of each sentence, when clicked, offers you an english transliteration, which I advise you utilise with a degree of self control. Try to hold off clicking it until you’ve really given the sentence a go - clicking on kanji you don’t recognise and piecing all the information together in order to get an idea of what’s being said. Then, when you finally check the translation, your hard work might be rewarded with a confirmation that you indeed read correctly. Which, by psychology standards, is a healthy and affirming process. We are hardwired for rewards my dudes!

I could go into detail about the many little features that make this web project so well thought out and considerate of our individual study methods and goals, but I’ll leave that to you to explore and find out. For me at least, the true worth of SR lies mainly in the reading content and the empathetic format it’s presented in.

The way it Aladdin style reaches out, offering us a whole new world.

Give the free subscription a whirl! If you like it, consider a paid subscription. This directly funds future content which directly benefits you!

~ Thanks Human Japanese team ~

Update (╯✧▽✧)╯

After giving SR a good go and fully testing its arsenal of functions, I realised my initial review bordered on plain lazy. This update is going to give you warm prickles because it turns out that one of the features included in the Review section of SR is an integrated flash card program with full Anki support *prayer hands emoji*

This means that whatever vocabulary you add to your studylist automatically generates a flashcard that you can either review within the SR website, or via your Anki software. Here’s an example:

Straight away, SR gives you an edge in your revision by implementing context. In fact, as well as offering you the sentence you saved the word from, it offers you a link to the entire article it was taken from (see: REVEAL IN FULL ORIGINAL CONTEXT)

This is incredibly helpful, as dictionary entries for any word or phrase you select often include a specific explanation about how that word is being used within the context of the sentence or how it is being used by the narrator to portray his or her story.  

I hope that this extra glimpse into the Review section of Satori Reader gives you an idea of how incredible a resource this is.

Note: some of the words can have different meanings/are not false friends in Canadian French.

Actuel Actual Current

Avertissement(m) Advertisment Warning

Attendre Attend Wait

Bague(f) Bag Ring

Blesser Bless Injure, Hurt

Chair(f) Chair Flesh

Coin(m) Coin Corner

Déception(f) Deception Disappointment/Frustration

Dresser Dress Raise/Train

Envie(f) Envy Wish (BUT envier can mean to envy)

Eventuellement Eventually Possibly

Fastidieux Fastidious Tiresome, Boring

Fourniture(f) Furniture Supplies/Provision

Grappe(f) Grape Bunch/Cluster

Habit(m) Habit Garment

Joli Jolly Pretty

Journée(f) Journey Day

Librairie(f) Library Book shop

Location(f) Location Rental

Luxurieux Luxurious Lustful

Monnaie(f) Money Loose change/Currency

Piles Pills Batteries

Préservatif(m) Preservative Condom

Prune(f) Prune Plum

Raisin(m) Raisin Grape

Sensible Sensible Sensitive

S’introduire Introduce oneself Enter/Penetrate

Sympathique Simpathetic Nice

“Cent” (hundred) “Sans” (without) “Sang” (blood)

are all pronounced the same but not “Sens” (senses)

Also

“Ces” (these/those) “Ses” (his/her/its) “C'est” (It’s) “(Il) S'est” (It has/he has/she has) “(Je) Sais” (I know) “(Il) Sait” (He/she/it knows)

1. Est-ce que

literally “is it that,” can be placed at the beginning of any affirmative sentence to turn it into a question:

  Est-ce que vous dansez ?   Do you dance?   Est-ce que tu veux voir un film ?   Do you want to see a movie?   Est-ce qu'il est arrivé ?   Has he arrived? Place any question words in front of est-ce que: (eg. quand, quel, où)   Quand est-ce que tu veux partir ?   When do you want to leave? Pourquoi est-ce qu’il a menti ?   Why did he lie?  Quel livre est-ce que vous cherchez ?   Which book are you looking for?

2. Inversion

A more formal way to ask questions is with inversion. Invert the conjugated verb and subject pronoun and join them with a hyphen:

  Dansez-vous ?   Do you dance?   Veux-tu voir un film ?   Do you want to see a movie?   Est-il arrivé ?   Has he arrived? Again, place any interrogative words at the beginning of the question:   Quand veux-tu partir ?   When do you want to leave?   Pourquoi a-t-il menti ?   Why did he lie?   Quel livre cherchez-vous ?   Which book are you looking for? You can use inversion to ask negative questions.   Ne dansez-vous pas ?   Don’t you dance?   N'est-il pas encore arrivé ?   Hasn’t he arrived yet?

3. Statement as question

A very simple but informal way to ask yes/no questions is to raise the pitch of your voice while pronouncing any sentence:

  Vous dansez ?   You dance?   Tu veux voir un film ?   You want to see a movie?   Il est arrivé ?   He arrived? You can also use this structure to ask negative questions:   Tu ne danses pas ?   You don’t dance?   Il n'est pas encore arrivé ?   He hasn’t arrived yet?

4. N'est-ce pas?

If you’re pretty sure the answer to your question is yes, you can just make an affirmative statement and then add the tag n'est-ce pas ? to the end. This is also informal:

  Tu danses, n'est-ce pas ?   You dance, right?   Tu veux voir un film, n'est-ce pas ?   You want to see a movie, right?   Il est arrivé, n'est-ce pas ?   He arrived, right?

5. Notes

The French equivalent of the verb “to ask” is demander, but “to ask a question” is “poser une question.”

There are two main types of questions:

Yes/no questions, also known as polar questions or closed questions (questions fermées), ask for a simple yes or no answer.

Information questions, also known as WH questions, constituent questions, or open questions (questions ouvertes), ask for information with question words, like who, what, when, where, why, which, how, how much/many.

When using inversion with the third person singular (il, elle, or on) and a verb that ends in a vowel, you must add t- between the verb and subject pronoun:

 Aime-t-il les films ? - Does he like movies?   A-t-on décidé ? - Have we decided? Écoute-t-elle la radio ? - Does she listen to the radio?

There is a special French word, si, that is used only when responding in the affirmative to a negative question.

être de bon poil: to be in a good mood. 

être de mauvais poil: to be in a bad mood.