Why the pandemic introduces language that is ‘hard to explain’ Q&A Why the pandemic introduces language that is ‘hard to explain’ Linguist Andrea Beltrama discusses new words and phrases that have entered the language during the current health crisis, and the “massive” impact the pandemic has had on language.
Is the word ‘picnic’ racist? How to deal with questions about language right now Penn In the News Philadelphia Inquirer Is the word ‘picnic’ racist? How to deal with questions about language right now Nicole Holliday of the School of Arts & Sciences spoke about avoiding offensive nomenclature. “The default should be whatever that person wants to be called,” she said. New database aims to make Alzheimer’s diagnosis easier and earlier nocred New database aims to make Alzheimer’s diagnosis easier and earlier A five-minute online session will allow neural health to be tracked across time, so that doctors can make an earlier diagnosis and researchers can evaluate medications and other treatments. Bridging the communication divide for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities Alum Kate Panzer had just a little experience sewing before she began making the clear-fronted masks. “I’ve learned so much about sewing,” she says. “People across the world have pulled out their sewing machines to provide this resource.” (Image: Courtesy Kate Panzer) Bridging the communication divide for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities Clear-fronted face masks, better and more frequent interpreters, and amped up involvement from local organizations have made a big difference during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hearing isn’t always believing with ‘mondegreens’ Penn In the News Christian Science Monitor Hearing isn’t always believing with ‘mondegreens’ Mark Liberman of the School of Arts and Sciences explained how expectations shape our comprehension of language. Why do young children pick up language easier than adults? Why do young children pick up language easier than adults? Why do young children pick up language easier than adults? One Penn linguist has some theories. Is it a cult, or a new religious movement? Is it a cult, or a new religious movement? Many religious movements started off as fringe groups, and many modern-day cults have no religious doctrine. Why are cults and new religious movements conflated, and what makes them different? Connecting with a Deaf community on the other side of the world A Penn Global Seminar on global deaf culture led by Penn linguist Jami Fisher (5th from left) included visiting sites in Rome, Italy, like Bernini’s Fontana dei Quatro Fiumi in Piazza Navona, above. Often, the group was led by a guide who was signing in Italian sign language. It gave the students a chance to experience what life is like not only for deaf people in general, but also a deaf community in another part of the world. (Photo courtesy: Jami Fisher) Connecting with a Deaf community on the other side of the world On a trip abroad to Italy that capped off the Penn Global Seminar taught by linguist Jami Fisher, students got a firsthand look at the diversity and variety of global deaf culture. One hour, one painting: A Barnes visit reveals clues about how the brain processes visual cues Penn neuroscientist Zab Johnson (standing, second from right) led an exercise during which the mindCORE students studied a single painting for an hour. The idea, she explains, is to “slow down and really take a good look.” One hour, one painting: A Barnes visit reveals clues about how the brain processes visual cues The exercise is one part of a two-week mindCORE summer workshop aimed at underrepresented undergrads across the country. This year’s program focused on language science and technology, and minds in the world. How to think about African-American English Penn In the News The Economist How to think about African-American English Taylor Jones, a grad student in the School of Arts and Sciences, led a study that found court reporters were only able to accurately transcribe 60% of sentences spoken in the African-American English dialect, regardless of the transcriptionists’ race or experience level. Load More
New database aims to make Alzheimer’s diagnosis easier and earlier nocred New database aims to make Alzheimer’s diagnosis easier and earlier A five-minute online session will allow neural health to be tracked across time, so that doctors can make an earlier diagnosis and researchers can evaluate medications and other treatments.
Bridging the communication divide for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities Alum Kate Panzer had just a little experience sewing before she began making the clear-fronted masks. “I’ve learned so much about sewing,” she says. “People across the world have pulled out their sewing machines to provide this resource.” (Image: Courtesy Kate Panzer) Bridging the communication divide for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities Clear-fronted face masks, better and more frequent interpreters, and amped up involvement from local organizations have made a big difference during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hearing isn’t always believing with ‘mondegreens’ Penn In the News Christian Science Monitor Hearing isn’t always believing with ‘mondegreens’ Mark Liberman of the School of Arts and Sciences explained how expectations shape our comprehension of language. Why do young children pick up language easier than adults? Why do young children pick up language easier than adults? Why do young children pick up language easier than adults? One Penn linguist has some theories. Is it a cult, or a new religious movement? Is it a cult, or a new religious movement? Many religious movements started off as fringe groups, and many modern-day cults have no religious doctrine. Why are cults and new religious movements conflated, and what makes them different? Connecting with a Deaf community on the other side of the world A Penn Global Seminar on global deaf culture led by Penn linguist Jami Fisher (5th from left) included visiting sites in Rome, Italy, like Bernini’s Fontana dei Quatro Fiumi in Piazza Navona, above. Often, the group was led by a guide who was signing in Italian sign language. It gave the students a chance to experience what life is like not only for deaf people in general, but also a deaf community in another part of the world. (Photo courtesy: Jami Fisher) Connecting with a Deaf community on the other side of the world On a trip abroad to Italy that capped off the Penn Global Seminar taught by linguist Jami Fisher, students got a firsthand look at the diversity and variety of global deaf culture. One hour, one painting: A Barnes visit reveals clues about how the brain processes visual cues Penn neuroscientist Zab Johnson (standing, second from right) led an exercise during which the mindCORE students studied a single painting for an hour. The idea, she explains, is to “slow down and really take a good look.” One hour, one painting: A Barnes visit reveals clues about how the brain processes visual cues The exercise is one part of a two-week mindCORE summer workshop aimed at underrepresented undergrads across the country. This year’s program focused on language science and technology, and minds in the world. How to think about African-American English Penn In the News The Economist How to think about African-American English Taylor Jones, a grad student in the School of Arts and Sciences, led a study that found court reporters were only able to accurately transcribe 60% of sentences spoken in the African-American English dialect, regardless of the transcriptionists’ race or experience level. Load More
Why do young children pick up language easier than adults? Why do young children pick up language easier than adults? Why do young children pick up language easier than adults? One Penn linguist has some theories.
Is it a cult, or a new religious movement? Is it a cult, or a new religious movement? Many religious movements started off as fringe groups, and many modern-day cults have no religious doctrine. Why are cults and new religious movements conflated, and what makes them different?
Connecting with a Deaf community on the other side of the world A Penn Global Seminar on global deaf culture led by Penn linguist Jami Fisher (5th from left) included visiting sites in Rome, Italy, like Bernini’s Fontana dei Quatro Fiumi in Piazza Navona, above. Often, the group was led by a guide who was signing in Italian sign language. It gave the students a chance to experience what life is like not only for deaf people in general, but also a deaf community in another part of the world. (Photo courtesy: Jami Fisher) Connecting with a Deaf community on the other side of the world On a trip abroad to Italy that capped off the Penn Global Seminar taught by linguist Jami Fisher, students got a firsthand look at the diversity and variety of global deaf culture.
One hour, one painting: A Barnes visit reveals clues about how the brain processes visual cues Penn neuroscientist Zab Johnson (standing, second from right) led an exercise during which the mindCORE students studied a single painting for an hour. The idea, she explains, is to “slow down and really take a good look.” One hour, one painting: A Barnes visit reveals clues about how the brain processes visual cues The exercise is one part of a two-week mindCORE summer workshop aimed at underrepresented undergrads across the country. This year’s program focused on language science and technology, and minds in the world.
How to think about African-American English Penn In the News The Economist How to think about African-American English Taylor Jones, a grad student in the School of Arts and Sciences, led a study that found court reporters were only able to accurately transcribe 60% of sentences spoken in the African-American English dialect, regardless of the transcriptionists’ race or experience level.