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What is 'versing'? ‘Whatchamacallit' and other placeholder words. Chicken.
Episode 1109
1109. This week, we look at why kids and video gamers talk about "versing" someone. Then, we look at the linguistics of placeholder words like "whatc…
6 months, 3 weeks ago
AI's impact on translators, untranslatable Dutch words, and more, with Heddwen Newton
Episode 1108
1108. This week, we talk to Heddwen Newton about some of the unique and untranslatable words she's discovered while translating. She shares her thoug…
7 months ago
Double possessives. Words that do double duty. The monkeys aren't working.
Episode 1107
1107. This week, we look at double possessives, such as "a friend of Mignon's" and whether they are grammatically correct. Then, we look at words tha…
7 months ago
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…
7 months, 1 week 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 …
7 months, 1 week 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…
7 months, 2 weeks 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…
7 months, 2 weeks 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…
7 months, 3 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 …
7 months, 3 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 algorit…
8 months ago