Linguistic anthropologist Christine Schreyer notes that people today have begun learning to speak invented languages because, unlike endangered natural languages, people can learn them quickly. These invented languages, including Elvish, Na’vi, and Klingon, are spoken by fans of the movies and shows they were invented for. The resulting fandoms create opportunities to teach the languages to others by making online dictionaries, posting tutorials, and holding events to help communities become fluent. Schreyer believes that these models can aid in the popularisation of endangered “natural” languages. Read full article here
Science
An Eerie Poisonous Fog
If you’re visiting a farm, keep an eye out for an ominous-looking bronze fog. Nitrogen tetroxide, a red-orange gas, is made by certain bacteria during fermentation when oxygen is lacking in the crop. The lack of oxygen causes the bacteria to use the nitrate within the crops, which then produces nitrogen tetroxide. Inhalation of the gas is known to cause permanent lung damage or kill people and livestock. To prevent this, farmers have started performing nitrate tests after four weeks of fermentation. Read full article here
Merv
November 30, 2022
