Podcast Episodes
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Episode 267
The simple verb 'to go' quickly gets complex in just about any language and English is no exception.
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1 year, 11 months ago
Come Under Scrutiny
Episode 266
What does the '-bat' in 'acrobat' have to do with the word 'come'?
Visit Lexicon Valley. A Booksmart Studios production. Epi…
2 years ago
Have Your Own Damn Self a Merry Little Christmas
Episode 265
Reflexive pronouns are redundant in a way, sure, but they’re also quite common in many languages.
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2 years, 3 months ago
When Did People Start Talking?
Episode 264
There’s good reason to believe that sophisticated speech began long before homo sapiens hit the scene.
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2 years, 5 months ago
Who's Afraid of Ayesha Rascoe?
Episode 263
Does Ayesha Rascoe have a good radio voice? Not according to many NPR listeners, who find her "loud," "high-pitched" and generally "grating."
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2 years, 6 months ago
What Is Miami English?
Episode 262
A recent study suggests that a new dialect is emerging in the southern part of Florida.
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2 years, 7 months ago
Report of the Trial of Levi Weeks
Episode 261
The trial transcript of a 225-year-old murder is filled with fascinating evidence of the way we used to talk.
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2 years, 8 months ago
I Got My Nails Did!
Episode 260
Many English verbs have three forms — sing, sang and sung, for example. The problem is that speakers seem to want only two.
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2 years, 9 months ago
To v. Too
Episode 259
'Too' — whether about excess, addition or contradiction — evolved from 'to.'
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2 years, 10 months ago
Picture of Health
Episode 258
Some languages adopt their “health” word from the concept of wholeness — a metaphor that makes perfect sense. Other languages, however, adopt their “…
2 years, 11 months ago