Welcome To the World of Words

Alphabets, Letters, and Words

Alphabets consist of letters (characters). Letters make up words; words make up the sentences and paragraphs that in turn are the building blocks of the language arts. Although less complex than some of the other elements of language, alphabets are the cornerstones of language and are fundamental to success for the arts that depend on them, such as music, literature, and the language arts themselves.

The Muse Of Language Arts believes that foreign alphabets should not present insuperable impediments for readers or writers not formally trained in them. Here, The Muse provides a collection of alphabets taken from different languages that an English-speaking reader or writer is likely to encounter in an exploration of the arts. This information is intended to help them understand, translate, and otherwise deal with characters that appear in the English or foreign language materials they read or write.

When pertinent, The Muse also provides information about the history, evolution, and other aspects of alphabets, letters, and words.

• Visit The Muse Of Language Arts feature called Alphabets, Letters, and Words: click here.

people first-name equivalents

The Muse is pleased to present a table of people first-name equivalents. With the help of this table, if you know a person's first name in one language, you can find the equivalent name in a number of other languages.

• Explore and exploit the table of People First Name Equivalents: click here.

words, words, words—word of the day every day

Words can be interesting, amusing, edifying, informative, challenging, tantalizing, unsettling, annoying, or titillating. To demonstrate this fact, every day The Muse Of Language Arts:

• Defines, explains, and dissects a different word or expression. Visit The Muse's page called Word Of The Day: click here.
• Pulls apart a different word, looking for its roots. Visit The Muse's page called Word Origins for the etymological origins of words. click here.
• Presents a newly invented or well established portmanteau word for your consideration. Visit The Muse's page called Portmanteau Words: click here.
• Presents a different Latin word or expression: click here.
• Presents a mangled word that may give you pause to think—or laugh. Visit The Muse's page called Wrong Word of The Day: click here.

More features about words are coming. Return here from time to time to see what's new.

latinisms

Latin terms and expressions permeate the English language; they form the basis for all the Romance languages.

Need to know the meaning of a Latin word, phrase, or abbreviation? Run across one in a book? Work crossword puzzles? First Year Latin student? Been puzzling over a Latin term for years but haven't had the time to look it up? Well, now's your chance.

• Look up the meaning of a Latin word or phrase in The Muse Of Language Arts searchable, automated table called Latinisms. This table is located at The Muse's page called About Latinisms, where you'll find information about the Latinisms table and all of The Muse's other Latin resources: click here.
• In a rush to look up a Latin word? Proceed directly to the table; do not pass Go; do not collect $200: click here.

the World of Crossword puzzles

What can hold more words per square inch than anything else? A crossword puzzle. What kind of box can you fill up with words? A crossword puzzle box.

The Muse Of Language Arts invites you to explore the world of crossword puzzles. Look into their history, when were they invented, and by whom. Learn about prominent crossword personalities and events. Get tips on how to solve puzzles or how to construct them. Polish your game.

• There's lots more to explore about crosswords at The Muse's feature titled Welcome To The World Of Crosswords: click here.

Electricka's reference shelf

Want to look up the meanings of words online? Electricka's Reference Shelf contains or provides access to numerous dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference works that contain all sorts of information about words, among them an etymology dictionary, conventional dictionaries, encyclopedias, and thesauri. These references are the result of a collaboration between Electricka and The Muse Of Language Arts, so you know they have to be good.

• Visit Electricka's Reference Shelf: click here.

ETAF recommends

...Coming.