How linguists solve crimes, with Natalie Schilling
1027. This week, I talk with forensic linguist Natalie Schilling about how people's language gives them away — in manifestos, ransom notes, text messages, and more.Natalie Schilling is a professor eme...
31 Okt 202434min
From Guy Fawkes to Guido Fawkes. Tales from the crypt (and catacombs, mausoleums, and ossuaries). Taquitos
1026. This week, we look at the origins of words for men, including the ancient roots of "man," the surprising evolution of the word "guy" from being an insult to just another word, and how "guido" to...
29 Okt 202416min
The language of meetings, with Jim Slaughter
1025. Have you ever wondered where meeting terms like “quorum” or “proxy” come from? In this episode, Jim Slaughter looks at the linguistic origins and historical contexts of these and other common pa...
24 Okt 202426min
Why don't we say 'I'm smarter than YOU'RE'? The language of fear. Catherineisms.
1024. It often sounds weird if you try to end a sentence with a contraction like "you're" and "I'm." We look at why! Then, get ready for Halloween with the language of fear.The "contractions" segment ...
22 Okt 202417min
Feeling stuck? Anne Lamott's here to kickstart your writing!
1023. I felt like I could write anything after this discussion with Anne Lamott about painful first drafts, beating perfectionism, and the one thing she'd change in "Bird by Bird." Best of all, you c...
17 Okt 202437min
Quack! What's a lame duck? A German punctuation kerfuffle.
1022. This week, we look at election terms like “president-elect” and “lame duck” and how they're used during a U.S. presidential transition. Then, I dig into my favorite kind of hot grammar news: peo...
15 Okt 202417min
Can AI really write? A no-nonsense discussion, with Christopher Penn
1021. This week, Christopher Penn talks about the role of AI tools like ChatGPT in writing and editing. We look at common misconceptions about how AI works and best practices for writing prompts. We ...
10 Okt 202439min
How to talk like a chef. The Michigander controversy. Jakey.
1020. This week, we shed light on quirky restaurant slang like “kill it” and “Chef Mike.” Then, we tackle the long-standing debate over what to call residents of Michigan — "Michiganders" or "Michigan...
8 Okt 202418min
