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The surprising history (and politics) of emoji, with Keith Houston
Episode 1096
1096. This week, we look at the world of emoji with Keith Houston, author of "Face with Tears of Joy." He discusses the long history of emoji, from a…
1 year, 1 month ago
Is ‘sick’...good? What we think of posh language and class. Misunderseed
Episode 1095
1095. Is “sick” really “good”? This week, we explore how words flip their meanings and why language changes over time. Then, we look at the 1950s ide…
1 year, 1 month ago
The language of children’s storytelling, with Doug Fraser
Episode 1094
1094. Have you ever wondered about the linguistic techniques behind popular children's podcasts? This week, we talk with Doug Fraser, also known as D…
1 year, 1 month ago
Why we drop sounds. ChatGPT is changing how people talk. Kombi
Episode 1093
1093. Why do we say “prob’ly” instead of “probably”? This week, we look at elision in everyday speech. Then, we look at a wild study showing that the…
1 year, 1 month ago
What your accent says about you (and your identity), with Rob Drummond
Episode 1092
1092. Your accent may be saying more than your words. Sociolinguist Rob Drummond explains how accents shape our identities, how they differ across so…
1 year, 2 months ago
Are em dashes really a sign of AI writing? 'Caretaker' vs. 'caregiver'
Episode 1091
1091. Is the em dash a sign of AI writing? I looked at where the idea comes from, and we have the final answer! Then, we look at the difference betw…
1 year, 2 months ago
What your hands are saying (even when you’re not thinking about it), with Lauren Gawne
Episode 1090
1090. Your hands may be saying more than your words. Lauren Gawne explains how gestures shape communication, how they differ across cultures, and why…
1 year, 2 months ago
‘Further’ vs. ‘farther.’ Why designers use fake Latin. Blondie hot
Episode 1089
1089. Do you wonder when you should use "further" or "farther"? We have the answer (where there is one). Then, you’ve seen lorem ipsum everywhere, bu…
1 year, 2 months ago
What AI means for writers and editors, with Daniel Heuman
Episode 1088
1088. He says he hates AI writing, but he's also the CEO of the company behind Draftsmith, an AI editing tool. Today, I talk with Daniel Heuman about…
1 year, 2 months ago
'The' rules you never learned. Why did Latin die?
Episode 1087
1087. You use the word "the" hundreds of times a day, but are you pronouncing it wrong? Today I have the rules I never learned about whether to say “…
1 year, 2 months ago