There is a Finnish term for incessant grammar correctors.

We hear them most often called "Grammar Nazis." But what we have a colloquial term for (at least, colloquial to "Internet English"); the Finnish have a designated word. The word is “pilkunnussija,” 

Pilkunnussija's more lengthy dictionary definitions are actually pretty funny:

 Noun (Vulgar, pejorative)- A person with exceptional and unnecessary attention to detail. Noun- A person who believes it is their destiny to stamp out all spelling and punctuation mistakes at the cost of popularity, self-esteem and mental well-being. 

When you think about it, it's probably something we could use in the English language, especially for the more zealous of grammar correcting Internet users. We all have that one friend whose purpose in life is to correct grammar. Our proposed term in English might be to call them Daniels. 

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Despite modern connotations, the origins of the word “niggardly” have nothing to do with the racial slur.

The word is an adjective meaning stingy or miserly. It comes from the word niggard, which is Norse. The root is "nigla" meaning “to fuss about all matters.” It can also mean petty or unimportant. On the other hand, the racial slur came from the Spanish, Portuguese and French words for black. The similar sound has made the word "niggardly" a sensitive one.

One of the most famous examples of this confusion happened in 1999, when a white aide to the mayor of Washington DC referenced a certain budget as "niggardly." He got a complaint against him and he resigned. There was later a big movement defending the aide and the use of the word. He returned to work for the mayor, but under a different position. 

Check out more details on that controversy, and some other incidents at the source.

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For Joseph Conrad, one of the greatest English novelists, English was his THIRD language

Joseph Conrad is considered one of the great English novelists. Among others, Conrad wrote "Heart of Darkness," which is a norm in American high school English classes. Despite his success, English was Conrad's third language. He was born in 1857 in Berdichev, Ukraine.

Conrad could not speak English fluently until he was in his twenties, and even then always with a Polish accent. He spoke English, Polish, and French. This is largely due to Conrad's adventurous lifestyle and world-traveling. At one point or another, he was a gunrunner, political conspirator, soldier and steamboat captain.

His time as the captain of a Congo steamboat inspired him to write "Heart of Darkness." The experience confirmed his views on human nature. Conrad seems to have experienced a startling insight into the nature of evil just like his protagonist Charles Marlow does.

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The origin of the phrase “Pipe Dream” was referring to ideas thought up while smoking opium.

A pipe dream is something typically regarded as an unrealistic hope or fantasy. The phrase can be traced back to the dreams experienced by opium smokers, which were very prevalent in the 18th and 19th centuries by the highly literate. 

The earliest reference comes from The Chicago Daily Tribune in December 1890, where it is said “[aerial navigation] has been regarded as a pipe dream for a good many years.” 

In 1895, the first reference to opium smoking with the phrase is found in The Fort Wayne Gazette. Detailing a story of a man who predicted the suicide of another man, the reference says that if “reputable men had not verified it” it would sound more like “the 'pipe dream' of an opium devotee.” 

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A man mastered 68 languages and studied 120 more!

Ever thought about taking up another language? German polygot Emil Krebs had 68 languages in speech and writing under his belt including Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, and Korean. It might seem like a lot, but for him, it wasn’t enough. He also studied 120 other languages. On top of that, Krebs also pursued a legal career. 

What’s most impressive is that Krebs didn’t only learn languages through his native German; he learned Burmese, and Irish through English and Finnish, Tatar, and Ukrainian through Russian, for example. Essentially, it seems as though his strategy was to learn languages via similar languages. Krebs was sent to Beijing as an aspirant interpreter.

While we may all sleep through Spanish class, there is no denying that Kreb’s accomplishment is remarkable. To this day, no one has been able to surpass or even reach his record.  In fact, when he died, his brain was preserved by the C. and O. Institute of Brain Research for being an ‘elite brain’ that’s worthy of study. 

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