Find all stories on Words in this tag archive.
For centuries, scholars believed that there was no inherent visual correlation between certain signifiers (letters and words) and the signified (what they conveyed). For example, this belief—helmed by Swiss linguist and philosopher …
Art lexicon is often daunting and dense. The words usually have roots in French or German, but even the simple(r) English ones are worthy of brushing up on. Learning the right terms …
NPR’s interview with lexicographer Kory Stamper (who is also an associate editor at Merriam-Webster) is a must-listen for word nerds. Stamper delves into the idea that language is “a living thing,” which …
Word buffs have something exciting to add to their calendar. In the winter of 2019, Planet Word will open in Washington, DC as an interactive museum dedicated to language. Founded by literacy …
Always an entertaining read, Merriam-Webster just announced the words and phrases it’s adding to the dictionary this month. Among them are “throwing shade,” “side eye” and even “ghost”—not the spook, but the …
The witty designers behind Copenhagen-based Playtype love using the typefaces they’ve created in fun, different ways, from monochromatic glyphs stamped on mugs to covering skateboards. Equally big and bold are their posters …
A photo book of very short visual stories told by graffiti, signs and other text found outside
Works that incorporate text in powerful ways
Danish type foundry Playtype takes their unique, custom-made typefaces beyond just computer screens and stationery. They’re silently permeating the physical world with bold statements through personalized lightboxes, laptop sleeves and even skateboards, …
The Oxford English Dictionary adds dozens of words to its glossary each year and, right now, it contains about a quarter-of-a-million words. By comparison, Toki Pona—a new language born from the pursuit …