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New words: 'beer muscles' & 'waka jumpers,' with Fiona McPherson.
Episode 1106
1106. We talk with Fiona McPherson, a senior editor at the Oxford English Dictionary, about the playful words that get added to the OED. We look at t…
1 year ago
How pronouns reveal our psychology. How'd we get our alphabet? Tabagogox.
Episode 1105
1105. This week, we look at how the pronouns you use can reveal your psychological state — for example, how using "I" versus "we" can signal how you …
1 year ago
‘Spark words’ and the hidden history of ‘panic’ and ‘Ritalin,’ with Martha Barnette
Episode 1104
1104. This week with Martha Barnette, co-host of "A Way with Words" and author of "Friends with Words: Adventures in Languageland," we look at the co…
1 year ago
'Heat wave' vs. 'cold snap.' Why reading stories makes you smarter. Rogering.
Episode 1103
1103. Why do we talk about "heat waves" but "cold snaps"? This week, we look at the history behind these common weather phrases and other quirky idio…
1 year ago
Why plain English matters in science (and everywhere else), with Anne Greene
Episode 1102
1102. This week, Anne Greene joins us to talk about the importance of writing in plain English, especially in scientific fields. We look at why short…
1 year ago
'Y' plurals. Bill Labov's linguistic legacy. Choo-choo
Episode 1101
1101. Do you know when to change a "y" to an "ies" for a plural, and when to just add an "s"? Today, we look at the rules. Then, we look at linguist …
1 year, 1 month ago
How 'algospeak' is changing language, with Adam Aleksic
Episode 1100
1100. This week, we talk with popular online linguist Adam Aleksic, also known as Etymology Nerd. We discuss "algospeak" and how social media algorit…
1 year, 1 month ago
Pop, soda, or coke? When Q stands alone. Pizza bones.
Episode 1099
1099. Do you call it "pop," "soda," or "coke"? We look at the interesting history behind these regional names for carbonated beverages. Then, we look…
1 year, 1 month ago
Metaphors and your brain. How figurative language works, with Dr. Vicky Lai
Episode 1098
1098. We talk with cognitive scientist Dr. Vicky Lai about how frequently we use metaphors and what happens in our brains when we hear them. We also …
1 year, 1 month ago
Can you have a million bacons? Martha's Vineyard's unique sound.
Episode 1097
1097. Do you wonder whether "bacon" can be plural? We look at the difference between countable and uncountable nouns. Then, we look at how the Martha…
1 year, 1 month ago