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As the famous Wu-Tang Clan once said: “Words rule everything around me.” Wait, I’ve got that wrong, what was it now… Oh, right, it was “cash". How could I forget!

But the same could definitely be applied to words. They’re the best tools we have to convey complex thoughts. And with language being as important as it is, it’s no surprise that sometimes it is wildly misunderstood or intentionally misused.

When it gets so bad that it’s funny, that’s when the Reddit community /r/badlinguistics comes in to collect.

More info: Reddit

#1

Ye Old Slang

Ye Old Slang

u/ExpertAccident Report

#2

“Please Stop Using It”

“Please Stop Using It”

u/Bq22_ Report

#3

Apparently, English Is The Only Language In The World That Evolves Or Uses Loan Words

Apparently, English Is The Only Language In The World That Evolves Or Uses Loan Words

u/ripcityb**ch Report

Wittgenstein, an Austrian philosopher, considered by some as the greatest philosopher of the 20th century, once argued that reality is shaped by the words we use. He argued this with a simple drawing of a triangle. The triangle could be considered as a hole, a solid shape, a mountain, wedge, and so many more things.

When we think of all these various things the triangle represents, these concepts summarized by words, it gives meaning to what we see. 

The same rule applies to everything around us. Our Bored Panda interview guest for today, Lauren Gawne, a Senior Lecturer in Linguistics at La Trobe University, and co-host of Lingthusiasm (an engaging podcast about linguistics!), said that what excites her about linguistics most is that "it allows you to make sense of language, which is all around you.”

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#4

English = Bad French

English = Bad French

u/LimoneSorbet Report

#5

One Of The Stranger Covid Etymologies I've Seen (Xpost Insanepeoplefacebook)

One Of The Stranger Covid Etymologies I've Seen (Xpost Insanepeoplefacebook)

u/glagola Report

#6

Actual Page On Conservapedia

Actual Page On Conservapedia

u/voxophone Report

Linguistics is the science of analyzing the meaning, discourse, and many more aspects of language, from everyday to hyperspecific.

For example, some of the questions that linguistics may help you answer are why you talk differently (code switch) with different groups of people - your friends, your parents, your colleagues, the police, etc. 

Another thing is something you’ve definitely experienced firsthand - you and another person speak the exact same language, but you sound very different to each other (spoiler: it’s because you each speak in a slightly different accent).

Linguists notice these things in their daily conversations and interactions with the world. Lauren mentions that even people who haven’t studied linguistics pick up on these interesting features of language all the time, but actually studying it gives people the framework and terminology to make sense of what these interesting features are.

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#7

Only Certain Pronouns Are "Backed By Science" I Guess

Only Certain Pronouns Are "Backed By Science" I Guess

u/nllb Report

#8

School vs. The North East!

School vs. The North East!

u/Oddborg Report

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#9

Baby Talk Will Stunt Your Child’s Acquisition

Baby Talk Will Stunt Your Child’s Acquisition

u/EvacuationProcedures Report

But today, we aren’t speaking about the good examples, quite the opposite. One horrible notion that people still hold is that accents are bad and you know what I mean when I say this.

“The way we speak is perfect and pure, but these other people are mangling our beautiful language.”

Although an extreme example, this is a very real example of linguistic racism, which is based on accent, dialect, or patterns of speech.

A person who can understand these variations of speech is a better communicator (and also a better person who doesn’t gatekeep language).

#10

English Hardest Language

English Hardest Language

u/jegforstaardetikke Report

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#11

It Is Impossible To Learn Swedish Because Of One Sound Which No Non-Native Swedish Person Can Actually Say

It Is Impossible To Learn Swedish Because Of One Sound Which No Non-Native Swedish Person Can Actually Say

u/Pregnantcannibal Report

#12

I’m Bri-Ish

I’m Bri-Ish

u/FamedAstronomer Report

Dialing it back a little, some other examples of “bad” linguistics are misnomers - names that are used incorrectly. 

For example, blackboards aren’t usually black anymore, they’re green, red, or even white! Chalk sticks are also likely not chalk, but gypsum, what a scam, huh?

Also, peanuts are not really nuts, but rather legumes. Same goes for coconuts, which aren’t nuts. They’re drupes or stone fruit.

Also, a funny bone isn’t a bone at all, it’s your ulnar nerve. It’s uncertain why it’s called that way, but it may be because of the upper arm bone, called a humerus, which is pretty close to humorous, and soon we’ve got the good ole’ funny bone.

#13

The “How Do We Make This Fantasy Race Sound Evil/Threatening?” Starterpack

The “How Do We Make This Fantasy Race Sound Evil/Threatening?” Starterpack

u/Jitse_Kuilman Report

#14

Ahh Yes, My Favourite Language Family, The POC Languages

Ahh Yes, My Favourite Language Family, The POC Languages

u/samoyedboi Report

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#15

Today's SMBC Comic Fits Right At Home In This Subreddit!

Today's SMBC Comic Fits Right At Home In This Subreddit!

u/TeaWithCarina Report

#16

Apparently ‘My’ Can Only Literally Mean Possession

Apparently ‘My’ Can Only Literally Mean Possession

u/EvacuationProcedures Report

For more than 10 years now, the bad linguistics community on Reddit has been collecting these examples, analyzing them, and calling out awful examples of bad “science” wherever they can. Make sure to visit the community for more funnies. And if you’re feeling scientific, the father of bad linguistics is waiting for you - the 4 years senior /r/linguistics Reddit community. 

Finally, if you’re in a “I wanna roll up my sleeves and get my hands dirty in this whole ‘linguistics’ thing” kind of mood, then Lauren Gawne came through for us. 

You may find something good by looking up “lingcomm” - the goal of which is communicating linguistics to broader audiences or by watching Crash Course Linguistics, co-authored by Lauren.

She’s also written for many YouTube channels, pop linguistics blogs and books and social media, so don’t forget to tune in to Lingthusiasm!

#17

Three Different Comments, From Three Different People, All Commenting On The Same TikTok

Three Different Comments, From Three Different People, All Commenting On The Same TikTok

u/niccdifiore Report

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#18

A Speed Of 1 Language Per Week

A Speed Of 1 Language Per Week

u/[deleted] Report

#19

Chinese Characters Are Proof That We Need Jesus

Chinese Characters Are Proof That We Need Jesus

u/AFlyingWhale_ Report

#20

Spanish Was Spoken In Portugal Until They Stole Portuguese From Brazilian Natives

Spanish Was Spoken In Portugal Until They Stole Portuguese From Brazilian Natives

u/megm26 Report

#21

Found This Gem

Found This Gem

u/S_Garritano Report

#22

Khmer Is Indo-European

Khmer Is Indo-European

u/[deleted] Report

#23

Interesting Take On English Word Etymologies

Interesting Take On English Word Etymologies

u/telescope11 Report

#24

A Response To A Merriam-Webster's Twitter Thread About Words Changing Their Meaning

A Response To A Merriam-Webster's Twitter Thread About Words Changing Their Meaning

u/3AM_mirashhh Report

#25

“English Is Actually A Chinese Dialect” And Much More

“English Is Actually A Chinese Dialect” And Much More

u/[deleted] Report

#26

I Haven't Seen A Meme On This Sub In While So I Made One

I Haven't Seen A Meme On This Sub In While So I Made One

u/QuantumLand Report

#27

"Is Korean Indo-European?"

"Is Korean Indo-European?"

u/[deleted] Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#28

English Is A Tonal Language Because It Has Intonation

English Is A Tonal Language Because It Has Intonation

u/averkf Report

#29

From A Video About A Monolingual Irish Speaker

From A Video About A Monolingual Irish Speaker

u/N52B30K Report

#30

Someone Must Have Murdered Cases In English

Someone Must Have Murdered Cases In English

u/Pingijno Report

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#31

Short But Sweet

Short But Sweet

u/wordsmatteror_w_e Report

#32

I Hate Colonialism As Much As The Next Guy, But This Ain’t It

I Hate Colonialism As Much As The Next Guy, But This Ain’t It

u/jlhuang Report

#33

A Friend Sent This To Me :/

A Friend Sent This To Me :/

u/ggggggrv15 Report

#34

I Guess Germanic And Slavic Languages Don't Exist

I Guess Germanic And Slavic Languages Don't Exist

u/Sencha_Drinker794 Report

#35

English Is So Stoopid

English Is So Stoopid

u/LookingForTheGerman Report

#36

Boo-Ze

Boo-Ze

u/nekolalia Report

#37

A Poster For My School's Armenian Club Claiming That The Armenian Alphabet Is One Of The "Most Advanced In The World."

A Poster For My School's Armenian Club Claiming That The Armenian Alphabet Is One Of The "Most Advanced In The World."

u/NinjaTurkey_ Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#38

We've Solved It! Albanian Is The Original Language!

We've Solved It! Albanian Is The Original Language!

u/dario606 Report

#39

Scandinavian + French + Latin = English

Scandinavian + French + Latin = English

u/plumander Report

#40

Basque Is A Combination Of Spanish And French

Basque Is A Combination Of Spanish And French

u/[deleted] Report