The birth of American English. How to recognize a phrasal verb. Cucka-nucka.
999. This week, we look at what shaped early American English, from Native American words to Noah Webster's spelling reforms. Then, we explore phrasal verbs, looking at their grammatical peculiarities...
2 Jul 202419min
Buying your hometown newspaper, with Samantha & Greg Enslen
998. This week, I talked with Samantha and Greg Enslen, who recently purchased their hometown newspaper, the "Tippecanoe Gazette" in Tipp City, Ohio. Sam and Greg shared how they are making it work, f...
27 Jun 202446min
'Which' versus 'that.' Words for walking. Bottleadammit.
997. This week, I help you learn (and remember!) the difference between "which" and "that" with practical tips and examples about cupcakes. Then, we take a linguistic stroll through walking-related te...
25 Jun 202416min
The Hidden Stories of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart
996. This week, you'll learn about the rich linguistic history of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart, an advisor to the Oxford Dictionary of African American English. We talked about wh...
20 Jun 202439min
The art of punctuation and the charm of 'kerfuffle.' Nicing.
995. This week, we look at when to use parentheses, dashes, and commas and how the choice can change the tone of your writing. Then, we dive into the history of words for describing a big fuss — "kerf...
18 Jun 202418min
Exploring the Language of 'Dune': An Interview with Kevin J. Anderson and Scott Brick
994. This week, I sat down with the prolific "Dune" author Kevin J. Anderson and the famed "Dune" narrator Scott Brick to explore the language challenges in the "Dune" series. Learn how Kevin and Scot...
13 Jun 202444min
The power of sign language in 'Dune.' The words we use for dad. Chee
993. This week, we cover the strategic use of sign language by the Bene Gesserit in the 'Dune' movies, including its importance in covert communication. Then, we look at the many words for 'father' an...
11 Jun 202416min
The crossword craze — now and then — with Ben Zimmer
992. What began as a simple word game in 1913 sparked a nationwide craze just a decade later, causing a moral panic and changing American publishing forever. This week, Ben Zimmer, a prolific crosswor...
6 Jun 202427min
