Category Archives: Linguistics

Created Languages: Why alphabets?

Posted on Sunday, 15th April, 2018 by Ken Kwame

One of my lectures has said on more than one occasion that breaking down our language into individual sounds is not the easiest thing for us humans. It is more intuitive for us to have syllables or meaningful units be … Continue reading →

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One word or two?

Posted on Sunday, 10th September, 2017 by Ken Kwame

In Patwa, there’s a future tense marker. Similar to English, both the word “go” and the continuous aspect marker (-ing in English, a in Patwa) make this. And so, you get: Mi ago dwiit. “I am going to do it.” … Continue reading →

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Language is not made of letters

Posted on Sunday, 30th April, 2017 by Ken Kwame

In learning linguistics, I find that many of my classmates have a hard time breaking out of the habit of thinking in terms of letters. Literate English speakers seem to have a hard time unlearning the idea that the words they … Continue reading →

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Linguistics is an eye-opener!

Posted on Sunday, 23rd April, 2017 by Ken Kwame

Or, rather… an ear-opener…? First of all, let me apologise for my absence. Life has been very hectic, what with school and all that. But I’m going to try to be more disciplined from now on. Anyway, since I first … Continue reading →

Posted in English, Languages, Linguistics, Patwa | Leave a comment

Essay on the other codas

Posted on Sunday, 29th January, 2017 by Ken Kwame

Because I have been trying to keep myself disciplined, posting here every week, no matter how busy I am, I decided to let you guys know that I won’t be posting a “full” blog post today, because I have a … Continue reading →

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How linguistics has affected my (creative) writing

Posted on Sunday, 8th January, 2017 by Ken Kwame

There is a saying: “Writers write what they know.” It’s cliché and (of course) contested. As a science fiction/fantasy writer, there’s a clear limit to my own life experiences and what I put on paper: I’ve never wielded a magical sword, … Continue reading →

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Bridges and Numbers

Posted on Sunday, 4th December, 2016 by Ken Kwame

I knew I’d have fun with this course. The essay isn’t even due till January, and I’m already thinking about it, even though I’ve got the exam Friday. I was thinking about doing loan word phonology, specifically words borrowed into … Continue reading →

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A hearing sign language?!

Posted on Sunday, 30th October, 2016 by Ken Kwame

Most sign languages around the world are Deaf sign languages; that is sign languages used for communication with and among Deaf people, and created by Deaf people. But, a few years ago, a Deaf man told me about a sign … Continue reading →

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Life of an MA in Linguistics Student

Posted on Sunday, 2nd October, 2016 by Ken Kwame

My faithful friends, apologies for not posting for two weeks in a row! I’ve started an MA in Linguistics, and, I must tell you, things have been hectic! Having essentially 3 jobs while going to school… not easy. Not to … Continue reading →

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How Jamaican Creole became a language

Posted on Sunday, 7th August, 2016 by Ken Kwame

It’s been a month since my last blog post, and I apologise for that. Life has been hectic, to say the least. Anyway, I thought I’d restart my regular weekly posts by giving a possible answer to a question I raised … Continue reading →

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