Podcast Episodes

Giving You the Business

Episode 273

It may seem apparent how we got from busyness to business, but the origins of the word “busy” itself are shrouded in mystery. John explains.

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Published on 11 months, 3 weeks ago

When Is Code-Switching Inappropriate?

Episode 272

As a daily listener to WNYC Public Radio in New York City, John has noticed that a certain announcer frequently mispronounces words on air. He has thoughts.

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Published on 1 year ago

The World's Largest Family

Episode 271

Working backwards from existing languages, linguists have had great success reconstructing Proto-Indo-European. Does that mean we can do the same for all language families? John explains.

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Published on 1 year, 2 months ago

English Is Practically Naked

Episode 270

A cyclone came through and blew off most of English’s clothes, says John, in Part II of his discussion of Indo-European.

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Published on 1 year, 2 months ago

Family Ties

Episode 269

There are at least five defining features among hundreds of related languages from English to Hindi to Russian. And what does any of that have to do with the Hittites? John explains.

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Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

Going Deep

Episode 268

The simple verb to go quickly gets complex in just about any language and English is no exception. John explains.

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Published on 1 year, 5 months ago

Come Under Scrutiny

Episode 267

What does the bat in “acrobat” have to do with the word come? John explains.

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Published on 1 year, 6 months ago

Have Your Own Damn Self a Merry Little Christmas

Episode 266

Reflexive pronouns are redundant in a way, sure, but they’re also quite common in many languages. John explains.

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Published on 1 year, 9 months ago

When Did People Start Talking?

Episode 265

There’s good reason to believe that sophisticated speech began long before homo sapiens hit the scene. John explains.

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Published on 1 year, 11 months ago

Who's Afraid of Ayesha Rascoe?

Episode 264

Does Ayesha Rascoe have a good radio voice? Not according to many NPR listeners, who find her loud, high-pitched and generally grating. John explains.

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Published on 2 years ago