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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…
8 months 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 …
8 months, 1 week 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…
8 months, 1 week 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 a…
8 months, 2 weeks 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…
8 months, 2 weeks 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…
8 months, 2 weeks 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…
8 months, 3 weeks 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…
8 months, 3 weeks 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…
9 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…
9 months ago