How did Londoners speak in the 1300s? A video by Simon Roper gives you a glimpse at how the London accent evolved over time. Roper has many videos with millions of views tackling old accents and everyday language on his YouTube channel, his most popular one being an imaginary conversation between an Anglo-Saxon and a Norseman. To make his videos, Roper analyses poetry from the time and reconstructs how the language might’ve sounded based on which words were used to rhyme with each other. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
