English is essentially a language in which up has forty-seven dictionary definitions, but antidisestablishmentarianism is considered a “hard word.”

–John M. Ford

Essentialist Explanations comprises a list of 901 “essentialist explanations” of the form “Language X is essentially language Y under conditions Z”. Compiled/curated by John Cowan.

(from wandering about in the cluster of links around Conrad’s announced intention to cease posting at Varieties of Unreligious Experience)