Language is rarely neutral.
The phrases we choose reveal how we manage relationships, authority, certainty, and cooperation. Even a simple expression like “play it by ear” carries a metaphor about adaptability and intuition.
In this edition, we look at why indirectness makes communication smoother, how professional environments are built through linguistic choices, and what evidential grammar reveals about perspective and truth.
Everyday Expressions
Language: English - “to play it by ear”
Meaning: To improvise or decide what to do as events unfold, rather than planning in advance.
Why it’s fascinating:
This expression comes from music. Musicians who “play by ear” perform without sheet music, relying on listening and intuition instead of written instruction.
Over time, the phrase expanded beyond music to describe flexible decision-making in everyday life.
Example:
“We don’t need a fixed plan. Let’s just play it by ear.”
Why people love it:
Because it captures a universal human skill: adapting in real time. Language often borrows metaphors from specialised domains like music to describe broader cognitive abilities like improvisation and judgement.
Logic Behind Linguistics
Why Languages Use Indirectness to Sound More Polite
In many languages, direct statements can sound rude or overly blunt. Instead, speakers soften meaning using indirect structures.
Examples:
English:
“Could you open the window?” instead of “Open the window.”Japanese:
Indirect forms like
Mado o akete moraemasu ka
(“Would it be possible for me to receive you opening the window?”)Spanish:
“¿Podrías ayudarme?” instead of “Ayúdame.”
Why this happens:
Indirectness reduces social friction. It allows speakers to make requests without imposing too strongly. Linguists call this politeness strategy, and it exists in nearly every language.
Books We Recommend
Applied Linguistics in Professional Contexts by Daniel Dinkelman
This book explores how language functions in real-world professional environments, including workplaces, institutions, and organisations.
Why it’s worth reading:
Shows how language shapes professional identity
Explains how tone, politeness, and clarity influence workplace communication
Connects linguistic theory with real organisational situations
Helps readers understand communication beyond grammar and vocabulary
This book reveals that professional success often depends on subtle linguistic choices. Language influences authority, trust, and cooperation.
Music Without Borders
Song Spotlight: “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers
This famous song showcases informal spoken English through repeated use of “gonna,” a reduced form of “going to.”
Why it’s great for learners:
Demonstrates natural spoken contractions used in real conversation
Repetition reinforces future tense structures
Clear pronunciation helps train listening comprehension
Shows emotional emphasis through simple grammatical forms
Music like this teaches how English is actually spoken, not just how it appears in textbooks.
Endangered Languages/Voices at Risk
Domari: One of the Middle East’s Most Overlooked Languages
Domari is an endangered Indo-Aryan language spoken by small Dom communities across the Middle East. It has deep historical roots but is declining due to social marginalisation, language shift to Arabic, and lack of institutional support.
Fun Facts Worth Sharing
Some languages change verb forms depending on how certain the speaker is about information.
For example, in Turkish:
Geldi = He came (I saw it happen)
Gelmiş = He came (I heard about it from someone else)
This is called evidentiality, and it encodes the source of knowledge directly into grammar.
Why it’s interesting:
English requires extra words to express this distinction, but some languages build it directly into verb structure. This shows that languages don’t just communicate events, they communicate certainty and perspective.
Join the Conversation
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The Domari language: a wanderer’s voice across the Middle East 👇🧵: 1. Domari is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Dom people, sometimes called “Middle Eastern Gypsies,” Tsigene, Luti, or Mehtar, across the Middle East and North Africa.
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