common ground

The Definite Article and Common Ground

In English has the the word "the". It goes at the front of a noun phrase when the hearer is expected to figure out immediately what the noun phrase is about. The articles in English are a/an, the indefinite article, and the, the definite article. It is

Mika

Mika Negative Numbers

Write Mika negative numbers with a hyphen in front.

Mika

Mika Digits and Simple Numbers

Mix digits, spaces and a decimal point to make simple numerals in Mika.

Mika

Mika Numbers

Mika numerals represent numbers as explained in a few posts.

Mika

Mika Alphabet Recitation

Audio of Mika alphabet recitations with practice advice

common ground

Backchannels

In many cultures a person speaks while the other is still talking, making conversation signals without taking a turn.

Mika

Mika Syllables and Words

Mika sounds and letters are used to make syllables and those are used to make words in a transparent way.

Mika

Mika Letters and Sounds

The way letters are drawn and the way they are spoken are bound in a one-to-one marriage in the Mika language.

Mika

Mika Sounds

Mika has 15 sounds, most speakers of the world can say them immediately.

languages

Babies and Language

Language learning, especially in phonetics, is intense in human babies.

Musings

Example Dialogues

Examples of fruitful dialogue are found all over; they can be examined.

Musing

One Thing does Not Belong

Among the good things coming out of Sesame Street, are some harmful themes including one that is a detriment to fruitful dialogue.

Musings

Musing on Brené, Adam, Fibs, Flames and Babble

Here we look into professional debate, fibs in tradition, the hottest languages and the minor stumble in Mika growth.

Mika

Mika is for hearing

The phonological design of the new language is easy to speak and easy to hear.

Mika

Mika Letters

The fifteen letters of the crafted language Mika are introduced.

Mika

Mika for Fruitful Dialogue

A quick introduction to the new language Mika.

Musing

Language is Telepathy

Projecting thoughts from one person to another

Musing

Quo Vadis Mouth Fruit blog?

Musing on musing, guests and the elephant.

games

Codenames: Choosing the Best Word

The table-top game Codenames pits two teams of spies against each other in a manner that exercises each person's ability to carefully choose words and to recognize associations with chosen words.

courage

Dialogue: How much? With whom?

With whom should we try to engage in fruitful dialogue? And how much do we expose ourselves?

physical layer

World Braille Day

Happy birthday, Louise Braille! Thank you for inventing braille.

physical layer

Morse Code Day!

Morse code is a physical level of communication. As such, it can contribute to fruitful dialogue and even help us learn about communication in general.

games

Game Review: Just One

The party game Just One is fun and helps develop skills in word choice.

reflection

The Joy of Humility

There's a certain kind of person you relax around. You might not immediately know why. They're not performing. They're not waiting for their turn to talk. When you say something, they actually consider it. If you disagree with them, you don't brace

holidays

Christmas and Gifts

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!