Tag: Language
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Why dolphins are even cleverer than we thought
Are we as unique as we like to think? According to a major new study, dolphins and whales have a comparable intelligence to us. This flies against centuries-old beliefs about human nature.
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#Winning: hashtags celebrate 10th birthday
Ten years have passed since the # symbol was lifted out of obscurity and turned into a revolutionary tool of communication. How have hashtags changed the world? And should we be grateful?
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Emojis are ‘the language of the 21st century’
Yesterday was World Emoji Day. The little yellow faces and symbols are just the latest method of communication invented by humans. But can emojis really be described as a new language?
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200 years later, Austen is still a sensation
Today marks 200 years since the death of Jane Austen. All over the world, “Janeites” will come together to worship the great novelist. Just what is behind her enduring appeal?
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Grouchy Greeks and the birth of TripAdvisor
Opinionated graffiti left on Egyptian tombs by Ancient Greek and Roman tourists has been likened to modern-day TripAdvisor reviews. Have we always been a species of grumblers and moaners?
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Hilary Mantel: ‘The dead have a vital force’
To many she is Britain’s greatest living writer and our most interesting public intellectual. Today, the Wolf Hall novelist delivers her fourth...
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Texts, tweets and twerps: the rise of rudeness
Road rage. Fat shamers. Victim blaming. We are all getting ruder, according to a brilliant new book by British writer Danny Wallace. Is this true — and is it necessarily a bad thing if so?
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‘Feminist sci-fi’ novel wins major award
In The Power, women are suddenly endowed with a terrifying skill. The novel is a “devastating” tale of sex, fear and control. Can sci-fi tell us as much about society as...
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The ‘wordless wonder’ of The Red Turtle
Today, UK cinemas will begin showing The Red Turtle — a moving animated film about a man on a desert island. It has no dialogue. Should more...
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‘Small acts of kindness’ follow city’s attack
Manchester’s attack was an act of evil hate. But the reaction was a tide of goodness, of free rooms, hugs, taxis and cups of tea. Isn’t this the real story that we should all focus on?
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The Facebook files: death, abortion and hate
The Guardian has published a huge investigation into how Facebook polices its content. The leaked files reveal the complex, often bizarre rules about what users are...
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Gaffe-prone Philip retires from royal duties
Yesterday Buckingham Palace announced Prince Philip’s retirement. In his long career the Queen’s husband committed many embarrassing indiscretions. Should we celebrate or condemn them?
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Social media giants ‘put profit before safety’
A report by MPs has condemned the likes of Facebook and Google for doing too little to crack down on harmful content. Is this fair, and what should the companies be doing to help?
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Politics: a story of mugwumps and buffoons
Yesterday Boris Johnson dubbed a rival a “mutton-headed old mugwump”. Donald Trump has issued at least 329 insults since launching his presidential campaign. Time to stop the name-calling?
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Brilliant ‘S-Town’ breaks podcasting records
Since its release two weeks ago, the genre-defying S-Town has been widely acclaimed as the best podcast ever made. It has drawn millions of...