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‘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 concept of a "spark word" — the word that ignites a …
Published on 1 month, 1 week 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 idioms like "raining cats and dogs" and "under the wea…
Published on 1 month, 1 week 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 words are easier for our eyes to read and how a w…
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks 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 Bill Labov's famous department store study, which …
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks 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 algorithms are changing language. We discuss euphemisms l…
Published on 1 month, 3 weeks 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 at words where you can use a Q without a U, which…
Published on 1 month, 3 weeks 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 look at her research on irony and its effect on em…
Published on 1 month, 4 weeks 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's Vineyard accent developed and what it tells us …
Published on 2 months ago
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 ancient origins to early computer character sets, a…
Published on 2 months 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 idea of "U and Non-U English" and what it tells us ab…
Published on 2 months, 1 week ago