‘Spark words’ and the hidden history of ‘panic’ and ‘Ritalin,’ with Martha Barnette

‘Spark words’ and the hidden history of ‘panic’ and ‘Ritalin,’ with Martha Barnette

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 love of language. We also look at fascinating etymologies from ancient Greek, including the surprising connections between "Nike" and "fennel," and the origins of "panic" and "Ritalin."

Martha Barnette's website

Martha's book, “Friends with Words: Adventures in Languageland”

Martha's podcast, "A Way with Words"

🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat.

🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses.

🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter.

🔗 Take our advertising survey.

🔗 Get the edited transcript.

🔗 Get Grammar Girl books.

🔗 Join Grammarpalooza. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at Apple Podcasts or Subtext. Learn more about the difference.

| HOST: Mignon Fogarty

| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).

| Grammar Girl is part of the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network.

  • Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend
  • Director of Podcast: Holly Hutchings
  • Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson
  • Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes

| Theme music by Catherine Rannus.

| Grammar Girl Social Media: YouTube. TikTok. Facebook.Threads. Instagram. LinkedIn. Mastodon. Bluesky.


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jaksot(967)

201 Is “Ain't” a Word?

201 Is “Ain't” a Word?

Is “Ain't” a Word? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

25 Joulu 20095min

199 "Alternate" Versus "Alternative"

199 "Alternate" Versus "Alternative"

"Alternate" Versus "Alternative" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

5 Joulu 20095min

197 "Where" Versus "In Which"

197 "Where" Versus "In Which"

"Where" Versus "In Which" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

19 Marras 20094min

196 Adverbs Ending in -ly

196 Adverbs Ending in -ly

Adverbs Ending in -ly Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

13 Marras 20096min

193 "Diffuse" Versus "Defuse"

193 "Diffuse" Versus "Defuse"

"Diffuse" Versus "Defuse" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

16 Loka 20093min

191 How to Write a Complaint Letter

191 How to Write a Complaint Letter

How to Write a Complaint Letter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2 Loka 20095min

190 Ellipses Spurned

190 Ellipses Spurned

Ellipses Spurned Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

25 Syys 20094min

188 "Comprise" Versus "Compose"

188 "Comprise" Versus "Compose"

"Comprise" Versus "Compose" Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

18 Syys 20095min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
psykopodiaa-podcast
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-valo-minussa-2
psykologia
rss-vegaaneista-tykkaan
rss-narsisti
rss-arkea-ja-aurinkoa
aamukahvilla
uskonnon-pitka-oppimaara
adhd-podi
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
rss-psykalab
rahapuhetta
aloita-meditaatio
dear-ladies
rss-eron-alkemiaa
rss-saavutus
rss-koira-haudattuna