What does ‘jawn’ really mean?

Waffle House vistas, a beloved icon’s art workshop, and more. Happy Friday! You made it! Welcome to the end of the week. To celebrate, we're doing a deep dive into some of our favorite stories, including a [linguistic exploration of Philadelphia's "jawn,"]( an odd addition of an [astronaut to a Gothic cathedral]( and [one photographer's exploration of the South through the windows of beloved stop Waffle House](. Dig in, have a great weekend, and we'll see you on Monday. [The Enduring Mystery of ‘Jawn’]( The word “jawn”—found in Philadelphia—is unlike any other English word. In fact, according to experts, it’s [unlike any other word in any other language](. It is an all-purpose noun, a stand-in for inanimate objects, abstract concepts, events, places, individual people, and groups of people. It is a magical word, and did not come about in a vacuum—the rise of “jawn” dovetails with breakthroughs in the study of American linguistics itself. [READ MORE →]( Places of the Day [Duffus Castle]( Elgin, Scotland [This castle]( was actually in a much more defensive position than it now appears, and was once considered one of the country's finest motte and bailey castles. [READ MORE →]( [Bob Ross Art Workshop]( New Smyrna Beach, Florida “The Joy Of Painting” turned Bob Ross into one of America’s most recognizable faces (and voices). Today, the [largest collection of his art]( can be seen not in a museum, but in a Florida strip mall. [READ MORE →]( [Cathedral of Salamanca's Astronaut]( Salamanca, Spain This astronaut on the Cathedral of Salamanca, [is not in fact a hoax]( but an approved and modern addition to the Cathedral. No alien involvement to be seen here. [READ MORE →]( [Waffle House Views]( Since 2018, Micah Cash has sat in the booths of about 125 Waffle Houses, taking photos of the world outside of their windows. For Cash, [the ubiquitous Southern diner chain]( offered a perch from which to stare unflinchingly at his native South, from its old oak trees to its sprawling apartment complexes. And from the diner booths where he sat, surrounded by the smell of fried bacon and burnt coffee, he experienced what he believes the South, with some work, can become: a place where the food is good and everybody is welcome. [READ MORE →]( [Reconstructing a Pompeiian Pub Menu]( In December 2020, archaeologists at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii excavated an ancient food establishment, known as a thermopolium. [Spaces like this well-preserved thermopolium]( shine a bright light on the daily lives of classes of Roman society that are poorly represented in ancient literary sources: slaves and average, working Romans. But what did the food there taste like? An investigation. [READ MORE →]( [Gocta Waterfalls]( In defiance of the popular song, today we will be chasing waterfalls, thank you very much. [On today's episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast]( we’re visiting one of the world’s tallest waterfalls, nestled in northwestern Peru, right where the Amazon rainforest crashes into the Andes Mountains. Prepare your auditory ponchos. [LISTEN ON OUR SITE →]( [LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS →]( [LISTEN ON SPOTIFY →]( [LISTEN ON STITCHER →]( [The 19th-Century Children’s Book of Horrors]( In the original edition of [Heinrich Hoffman’s 1845 German children’s book]( Hoffman details short, grisly moral tales: a boy who wasted away after refusing his soup, another who lay writhing in pain after a mistreated dog exacted revenge, and yet another who had his thumb cut off after he sucked on it one too many times. The book went on to inspire Edward Scissorhands, and also went on to traumatize countless children (or so we imagine). [READ MORE →]( Our Courses and Trips [Learn About Indigenous Foods]( Join Mariah Gladstone, creator of Indigikitchen, [for a four-part course]( covering the diversity of foods from across Turtle Island (North America). Moving from spring to winter, we'll walk through how to prepare four different seasonal dishes, as well as develop a deeper understanding of Native land management, agricultural practices, and Indigenous nutrition. [ENROLL IN THIS COURSE →]( [Retrace the Footsteps of Pharaohs]( Join us as we [follow in the footsteps of explorers and royalty]( and experience the thrill of discovery. We'll gain an insider’s perspective on the bustling city of Cairo and the world-renowned sites at Giza, Saqqara, Luxor, Aswan, and Abu Simbel, all while enjoying traditional Egyptian hospitality and a four-night luxury cruise along the Nile. [BOOK THIS TRIP →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Link]( [Website]( Copyright © 2022 Atlas Obscura Inc., All rights reserved. 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