In the nearly 250-year history of the United States, English had never been designated as the nation's official language.

Many Lakota people agree: It's imperative to revitalize the Lakota language. But how exactly to do that is a matter of broader debate. Should Lakota be codified and standardized to make learning it easier? Or should the language stay as it always has been, defined by many different ways of writing and speaking? We explore this complex, multi-generational fight that's been unfolding in the Lakota Nation, from Standing Rock to Pine Ridge.

The former president called his political opponents "vermin" and said immigration is "poisoning the blood" of the U.S., echoing language used by Adolf Hitler, raising questions about authoritarianism.

Two recent surveys reveal white-collar workers' least favorite corporate clichés, from 'circling back' to 'moving the needle.' Here's why workplace jargon bothers us — and what we can do about it.

Ukrainian musicians are turning away from Russia, and sometimes the Russian language, as they try to reassert their country's identity. Some who used to sing in Russian now only perform in Ukrainian.

Scientists have found a cluster of rhythmic brain cells in newborn mice that may explain why spoken languages around the world share a common tempo.

The German language is full of male and female nouns. Officials and businesses are tweaking words, including adding asterisks, to make them inclusive.

Gripes and genius moments from readers about learning English as a second language

Too much happened in 2020 for Oxford Languages to choose a single word of the year. So they opted for dozens.

People born or descended from Spanish-speaking nations are still debating if any of the ethnic labels used to identify them in the United States feel right.

"The Beverly Hillbillies" introduced audiences to the Clampett family in the 1960s and helped popularize the stereotype of the "Dumb Southerner." The...

In the era of “fake news” and “alternative facts,” the focus on language in politics is high. What a bill is or campaign is called can be just as...

"The Beverly Hillbillies" introduced audiences to the Clampett family in the 1960s and helped popularize the stereotype of the "Dumb Southerner." The...

Southern accents are inexplicably linked to a sense of culture, identity and community. They can also summon stereotypes about intelligence and...

This summer, reality TV star Khloe Kardashian came under fire for using the 'R-word' during an Instagram live stream. Although she quickly apologized...