#Language tools

[ibadurrahmang]

Tools I use for learning languages

Since the core concept of how I learn languages is by understanding "messages", there's really only one tool that I actually need: a translator. Well maybe two if you count search engine or chatgpt for looking for some explanation on grammar points. That said, I use several tools (usually in the form of chrome extensions), basically to streamline the process, to make the process easier and faster so that I have more time to actually learn the language, not wasting my time on, for example, going back and forth between my learning materials and a translation website and copying and pasting sentences every time.

1. Mouse Tooltip Translator

This is my main tool that if I can only have 1 chrome extension I'll probably choose this. What it does is actually really simple, I wonder why there's nothing like this anywhere else: it gives you a popup translation of a word that you're hovering on. That's it.

But I think what makes it even more powerful is that you can tweak some settings. Like you can, instead of a word, translate a sentence at a time. You still want to look up word by word but sometimes phrase by phrase, sentence by sentence, even a whole paragraph? Just turn on selection translation. That way, when you're hovering on a word, it will translate by word, but when you're selecting some text, it will give you the translation of whatever you're selecting. It uses external translation machine like Google Translate, Deepl etc so it basically works the same way, what you select or hover is just like what you copy and paste into the translator. Pretty neat to me.

It also has several extra features, like Youtube dual subs etc but I personally don't use everything because I prefer 'one tool one function' tools so that it's not so overwhelming and easier to keep track if one malfunctions.

Speaking of malfunctions, lately the tools often experience errors and not showing you the translation, even though the translation machine websites are all okay. So that's why I use some backup tools just in case this one is not working right.

2. Edge Translate

I used this one before I found the Mouse Tooltip one. It basically works the same way like Mouse Tooltip, but it doesn't have the translate-on-hover feature, so you have to at least select the texts you want to translate. But other things that I used this for is translating PDF. I tried to use some other popup translation extensions, but none of them can actually translate a PDF that I'm opening with chrome. I don't know the technical details but it seems that when you're opening a PDF with chrome it's like a different kind of chrome that doesn't have all your extensions. So what this Edge Translate does is it acts as a PDF reader so that you can use the translator as well (Mouse Tooltip actually also has this function so it easily replaces Edge Translate)

I haven't used this tool for quite a while and it seems they're closing soon?

3. asbplayer

I use asbplayer when I'm learning with Youtube (they can also be used on Netflix but I'm not learning with Netflix right now). Some of its features are, it allows you to use dual subtitles, to use external subtitles for Youtube and Netflix, and it makes the workflow of making Anki cards easier. However what I personally use it for is only to make Youtube subtitles selectable so I can make use of the Mouse Tooltip Translator 😂

And I think that's basically all the tools that I use. I'm not including the tools or websites that I use to get contents that I actually use in my learning, maybe I will make a post about it too in the future. In the meantime, chau~

[latinthusiast]

How do we feel about lexilogos?

I've used their Ancient Greek resources in the past and found the setup clunky but resource-rich. Requires a little bit of linguistic knowledge to use. Not sure which sanakirja is best from what's listed.

For ancient Greek students:

If you're ever dissatisfied with the Perseus word-study tool (or need to go from English-Ancient Greek for, say, a class but don't want to flip through a dictionary) there are some other really helpful tools here:

[sprachenapp-talk]

Folge mir auf YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sprachenapp-talk

[author-a-holmes]

It's a really powerful tool to put emphasis on something important and/or emotional in a scene.

It's also one of my favourite tools to use so I have to be careful I don't overuse it.

One of my favourite examples of this in my own work was a flash fiction piece I wrote about a character, Reilly Mosswolf. His sister goes missing, and then turns up dead a few weeks later.

But I wrote the scene where Reilly's told that his sister has been found, and he's just a raw open wound full of regrets, so repetition was a really effective way of showing the spiralling of his thoughts.

It's on tumblr, if anyone's curious, and can be read HERE.

you know what trope drives me absolutely feral? Repetition. Just :

"Hey, hey, it's okay"

"Shh, you're safe, you're safe, it's alright "

"Look at me. Hey, look at me"

"Stay with me. Come on, just stay with me"

"It's over. It's over now."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry"

"I'm here. I'm right here"

[mochasucculent]

Was looking at refs and since Viktor has two different leg braces I was wondering, do we think he wears them simultaneously?? The refs don't perfectly line up perspective-wise so it's hard to tell but parts of the one he wears during the Hexcore scenes look like they could maybe line up with the brace that he wears over his clothes, but also some parts really don't and look like they'd be super uncomfy. Also HOW does he take these on and off. Experts weigh in

[applepiealopecoid]

body language to use in your writing

he furrowed his eyebrows — in confusion or concentration

he raised his eyebrows — in surprise or skepticism

he narrowed his eyes — in suspicion or annoyance

he bit or pressed his lips together — in hesitation

his lips parted slightly — in shock or anticipation

he clenched his jaw — in frustration or determination

he tilted his head — in curiosity or disbelief

he wrinkled his nose — in disgust or disapproval

he rolled his eyes — in exasperation

he puffed his cheeks — in frustration or exhaustion

eye movements:

his eyes darted around — nervously

he avoided eye contact — out of guilt or shyness

he held eye contact — in defiance or intensity

he squinted slightly — in scrutiny

he looked down — in shame or submission

he glanced away quickly — in embarrassment

he stared blankly — in shock or dissociation

he blinked rapidly — in disbelief or surprise

his eyes widened — in fear or astonishment

he peeked through his fingers — when scared or hesitant

head movements:

he nodded slowly — in understanding or agreement

he shook his head — in disagreement or disbelief

he tilted his head — playfully or teasingly

he bowed his head slightly — in respect or submission

he tossed his head back — in confidence or defiance

he ducked his head — in embarrassment or shyness

he rested his chin in his hand — while thinking or bored

he jerked his head toward a sound — in alertness

he rolled his neck — to release tension

he tipped his chin up — in defiance or arrogance

hand movements:

he clenched his fists — in anger or determination

he ran his hands through his hair — in frustration or stress

he wringed his hands — in nervousness

he drummed his fingers on a surface — in impatience

he pointed — accusingly or demandingly

he pressed his palms against a surface — in desperation

he tugged at his sleeves or hem — in nervousness

he threw his hands up — in exasperation or surrender

he rubbed his temples — in frustration or exhaustion

he covered his mouth — in shock or horror

arm and shoulder movements:

he crossed his arms — in defensiveness or annoyance

he wrapped his arms around himself — for comfort

he shrugged — in uncertainty or indifference

he threw his arms out — in excitement or exasperation

he linked arms with her — for comfort or closeness

he rubbed his arms — to self-soothe or ward off cold

he flailed his arms wildly — in panic or excitement

he stretched his arms above his head — in relaxation or boredom

he held his arms behind his back — in restraint or formality

he used exaggerated arm gestures — when talking passionately

leg and foot movements:

he tapped his foot — impatiently

he crossed his legs — to appear closed off or comfortable

he bounced his knee — in nervousness or excitement

he kicked at the ground — absentmindedly

he shuffled his feet — in hesitation or guilt

he stood on his tiptoes — to see something or seem taller

he turned his toes inward — in insecurity or shyness

he stomped his foot — in frustration or excitement

he swung his legs — in a carefree manner

he stepped back instinctively — in fear or uncertainty

posture and general movement:

he stood tall with his shoulders squared — in confidence

he slouched — in defeat or boredom

he leaned in — engaged or interested

he leaned away — in discomfort or disinterest

he puffed out his chest — in arrogance or bravado

he shrunk into himself — in anxiety or fear

he rocked back and forth — in nervousness or impatience

he swiveled his body away slightly — in disengagement

he walked stiffly — in discomfort or tension

her hips swayed confidently while she walked

microexpressions:

a smile briefly flickered across his face

his eye twitched a single time — in irritation

he swallowed hard — when nervous or emotional

he slightly shuddered — in disgust or fear

he bit the inside of his cheek — in thought or frustration

he quickly inhaled — taken aback

he exhaled shakily after holding his breath too long

he clutched his shirt tightly — in anxiety

he tilted his head down slightly while still looking up (puppy dog eyes)

there was a fleeting look of longing in his eyes before he looked away

[paizau]

@dedalvs Hey just wanted to let you know that I'm very grateful for you constructing me for the lord of the rings <3 currently having a second breakfast with all the hobbits and it's a blast

[writersbloxx]

Body Language

When someone is...

Aroused

!slight nsfw under the cut!

Face/Body:

Dilated pupils with prolonged eye contact or looking towards the other’s mouth/lips

smiling/licking lips. Maybe parted lips or lip biting

Flared nostrils

Raised eyebrows

Flushed or blushing

Goosebumps

Quickened heart rate/breathing

Heavier/deeper breathing

Hardened/erect nipples

Swelling clitoris or erection

Voice:

Change in tone 

Varied pitch (maybe lower, maybe higher)

Slower speech

Louder

Mumbling

Raspy 

Gestures/Posture:

Leaning in

Open posture/relaxed shoulders

“Accidental” touches (brushing against the other’s body or light touches)

Mirroring posture

Preening (adjusting clothes or hair)

[royalarchivist]

[unboundprompts]

Describing Facial Expressions

-> feel free to edit and adjust pronouns as you see fit.

Eyes and Eyebrows:

His eyes widened

Her eyes went round

Their eyes narrowed

His eyes lit up

Her eyes darted

They squinted

He blinked

Her eyes twinkled with...

Their eyes gleamed with...

His eyes flashed with...

Her eyes burned with...

Their eyes blazed with...

- glowed in his eyes

The corners of her eyes crinkled

They rolled their eyes

He winked

Tears filled her eyes

Their eyes welled with tears

His eyes swam with tears

Tears flooded her eyes

Tears shimmered in their eyes

Tears shone in his eyes

Her eyes were glossy

They were fighting back tears

Tears ran down his cheeks

She squeezed her eyes shut

Their lashes fluttered

She batted her lashes

His brows knitted

Their forehead creased

She furrowed her brows

A line appeared between his brows

Their brows drew together

She raised a brow

His eyebrows rose

They lifted a brow

She wagged her eyebrows

He gave them a once-over

They sized

Her eyes bore into them

He took in the sight of...

They glared

She peered

He gazed

They glanced

She stared

He scrutinized

They studied

She gaped

He observed

They surveyed

She gawked

He leered

Their pupils dilated

Nose:

Her nose crinkled

His nose wrinkled

They sneered

Her nostrils glared

He stuck his nose up

They sniffed

She sniffled

He scrunched his nose

Mouth:

She smiled

He smirked

They grinned

She simpered

He beamed

Their mouth curved into a smile

The corners of his mouth turned up

The corner of her mouth quirked up

A corner of their mouth lifted

Her mouth twitched

He gave a half-smile

They gave a lopsided grin

His mouth twisted

She plastered a smile on her face

They forced a smile

He faked a smile

Her smile faded

Their smile slipped

He pursed his lips

She pouted

Their mouth snapped shut

His mouth set in a hard line

Their lips were pressed into a thin line

She pressed her lips together

They bit their lip

He drew his lower lip between his teeth

She chewed on her bottom lip

Their jaw set

His jaw clenched

Their jaw tightened

A muscle in her jaw twitched

He ground his jaw

They snarled

Her lips drew back in a snarl

His mouth fell open

Their jaw dropped

Her jaw went slack

He gritted his teeth

They gnashed their teeth

Her lower lip trembled

His lower lip quivered

[yyprompts]

PLEASE make a list of 100 rare words. PLEASE. 🥹

Usually I'd say no, but I'll do it this once...

I'll make a list of 50 and post another 50 tomorrow, then link the other one back here. 🤍

50 Rare Words in English Language.

.Luminiferous (adj.) - Creating, transmitting light.

Ailurophobia (n.) - An irrational fear of cats.

Heliolatry (n.) - Religious worship or reverence of the sun.

Selcouth (adj.) - Strange, rare, and marvelous simultaneously.

Unipara (n.) - A woman who gave birth to one child.

Snowball (v.) - To increase quickly in size, intensity, or importance.

Assail (v.) - To attack someone violently, heavily criticize someone.

Accountrement (n.) - Items of dress, equipment, or other items used, worn, or held for a particular activity.

Atelier (n.) - A workshop or studio, usually one utilized by an artist or designer.

Coruscate (v.) - Giving off or projecting light in bright flashes or rays.

Empyrean (adj.) - Relating to heaven or the sky.

Sumptuous (adj.) - Very rich, luxurious, or detailed in a way that appears expensive.

Desolation (n.) - A complete state of emptiness or destruction

Pastiche (v.) To imitate the style of another artist or piece of art.

Laconic (adj.) - A person, speech, or writing style that utilizes little words.

Snuggery (n.) - A cozy place such as a bedroom or den.

Vagrant (n.) - A bird straying or forced off it's usual migratory route.

Imperil (v.) - To put at risk or endanger.

Cabotage (n.) - The transportation of goods or passengers between two areas within the same nation.

Penitentiary (n.) - A prison intended for people convicted of serious offenses.

Imago (n.) - The unconscious idealized mental image of someone, usually a parent, which influences the person carrying it.

Hallux (n.) - Your big toe.

Ragamuffin (n.) - A person, usually a child, in ragged or unclean clothing.

Xanthopsia (n.) - A color vision deficiency causing predominantly yellow vision because of the yellowing of the optical media of the eye.

Derecho (n.) - A line of intense, widespread, rapid windstorms or thunderstorms that travels a great distance and is primarily characterized by it's damaging winds.

Nemophilist (n.) - A lover of the forest.

Woolgathering (n.) - Indulgence in aimless thoughts or dreamy imagining.

Patella (n.) - Synonym for kneecap.

Polydipsia (n.) - Excessive thirst.

Ligature (n.) - Any material tied around a blood vessel to prevent further bleeding.

Natter (v.) - To talk casually, usually about unimportant things.

Henpeck (v.) - A woman continuously criticizes and orders her husband/male partner around.

Sedulous (adj.) - A person or action that shows dedication and/or deligence.

Ultracareful (adj.) - Extremely careful.

Crapulence (n.) - A terrible sick feeling someone gets after drinking too much, or a stomachache from overeating.

Trigger-happy (adj.) - Ready to react violently, especially by shooting, to any provocation.

Rutilant (adj.) - Glowing or glittering with red or gold light.

White-hot (adj.) - Hot enough to radiate white light and heat.

Hodiernal (adj.) - Of this day, relating to the present day

Mondegreen (n.) - The mishearing or misinterpretation of a phrase that gives it new meaning.

Yclept (adj.) - By the name of, having the name of.

Farrago (n.) - A confusing mixture.

Turophile (n.) - A lover of cheese.

Glabella (n.) - The part of the forehead above and between the eyebrows.

Zetetic (adj.) - Proceeding by inquiry, investigating.

Corrugate (v.) - Contract or cause to contract into wrinkles or folds.

Striate (v.) - To mark with long, thin parallel streaks (striae).

Variegated (adj.) - Displaying different colors, especially in patches or streaks.

Splodge (n.) - A large blob or smear of something, synonym for splotch.

Nacre (n.) - Synonym for mother-of-pearl, a smooth irredescent substance forming on the inside of mollusks.

[chase-solidago]

Imo, all this boils down to is that creative work, in all its forms, is about communicating something. A mood, a feeling, a vibe, a concept, a message, a story. I have something inside me and now I have made something new to share that with you.

In order for that something to be communicated best, you need to consider who you’re talking to. Who are you trying to reach? What languages/angles/themes/structures/aesthetics will speak to them best so they can grok even a piece of what you’re trying to convey?

That’s all audience consideration is.

[i-am-trying-my-best-okay]

Dad's playing chess

[sarroora]

Dude yeah, being accused of using AI - especially as a creative - must be the worst insult you could throw at someone.

[alchemistc]

Thinking about Tommy sending Buck increasingly unhinged thirst traps of women trying to figure out if there's something within his sexuality that ties his attraction across the board, and Buck constantly sending back shit like 'oh her hair's cool' and 'i like the way she smiles' and 'i feel like she'd suffocate me with her thighs /pos' and Tommy eventually coming around to the idea that Buck finds interesting quirks more attractive than faces or bodies.

Thinking about Buck sending Tommy Instagram posts of buff dudes that Tommy is constantly going 'meh they're fine ig' until Buck finds a few reels of guys doing, like, housework or taking care of their kids or building a gondola for their wife in the backyard and Tommy lingering on them long enough for Buck to get a picture of what catches Tommy's attention - this man speaks in quality time but accepts love in acts of service and Buck can do that, Buck loves doing that, actually, on his days off he wakes Tommy up and takes him to Lowes and lets him drive the cart around while Buck fills it up and then he makes Tommy lemonade at home and sits him out on the porch while he measures and saws and hammers and when Tommy is actually awake and ready they build him the raised beds for his garden he's been talking about for like a year now.

[luvelydelilah]

Using the word "said" too much? Try some of these synonyms!

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Intimidated

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Taunted

Threatened

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Joked

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Bantered

Jested

Jived

Joshed

Joked

Kidded

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Laughed

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Chortled

Cackled

Chuckled

Giggled

Howled

Roared

Snickered

Snorted

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Nagged

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Badgered

Hounded

Needled

Pestered

Prodded

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Observed

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Detected

Discerned

Discovered

Noted

Noticed

Perceived

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Ordered

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Charged

Commanded

Decreed

Demanded

Directed

Instructed

Barked

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Persuaded

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Cajoled

Coaxed

Convinced

Exhorted

Insisted

Urged

Wheedled

Wooed

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Predicted

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Conjectured

Forecasted

Foretold

Guessed

Inferred

Presumed

Prognosticated

Prophesied

Speculated

Supposed

Surmised

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Promised

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Agreed

Assured

Ensured

Guaranteed

Pledged

Swore

Vowed

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Raged

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Boiled

Bristled

Foamed

Fumed

Ranted

Raved

Spit

Stormed

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Rejoiced

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Celebrated

Cheered

Exulted

Booted

Jubilated

Reveled

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Remembered

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Brooded

Recalled

Recollected

Reflected

Reminisced

=========

Retold

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Narrated

Quoted

Recited

Recounted

Repeated

=========

Revealed

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Announced

Confessed

Confided

Declared

Disclosed

Divulged

Expressed

Proclaimed

Professed

Uttered

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Sang

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Chanted

Chirped

Crooned

Hummed

Serenaded

Trilled

Twittered

Warbled

Yodeled

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Scolded

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Berated

Chastened

Chided

Criticized

Lectured

Rebuked

Reprimanded

Reproached

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Screamed

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Bawled

Bellowed

Blared

Blurted

Cried

Exclaimed

Hollered

Roared

Shouted

Shrieked

Shrilled

Squealed

Wailed

Yelled

Yowled

=========

Stuttered

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Faltered

Hesitated

Sputtered

Stammered

Stumbled

Trembled

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Suggested

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Advised

Hinted

Implied

Inferred

Insinuated

Insisted

Intimated

Offered

Proposed

Recommended

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Tattled

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Blabbed

Blurted

Gossiped

Leaked

Rumored

Snitched

Spilled

Squeaked

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Teased

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Bugged

Bothered

Harassed

Mocked

Needled

Pestered

Razzed

Ribbed

Roasted

Taunted

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Warned

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Admonished

Advised

Alerted

Cautioned

Exhorted

Forewarned

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Whispered

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Breathed

Buzzed

Hissed

Mumbled

Murmured

Muttered

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Reminder that using "said" is not a bad thing. Don't cut it from your vocabulary or writing!