Episode Details

We’re told to “omit needless words”… but what if some of those words aren’t so needless after all? In this episode, we explore the surprising power of linguistic redundancy—the repetitions, reminders, and extra signals that language purists love to hate. From long-winded transit announcements to the grammar lessons we hear twice, we dig into why wordiness can actually make language easier to learn, more resilient in noisy environments, and less mentally exhausting for listeners. Redundancy, it turns out, isn’t just clutter—it’s part of how communication stays clear, stable, and human. So how much is too much, and how much is essential?

https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/03/16/omit-needless-words-but-not-all-of-them