Why Today's 'Thank You' Is Different from an Ancient 'Thank You.' Gerunds.
902. Language reflects culture, so it's no surprise that giving thanks hundreds of years ago was different from giving thanks today. We have the fascinating history. Plus, since "Thanksgiving" is a ge...
18 Nov 202216min
WWII Words. A 'bit' of an Issue. Kleenex.
901. WWII spawned a bunch of new words, including "boffin" and "bonkers." We'll look into the history of these fun words and more in honor of Veterans Day. Plus, we'll talk about why an Australian cal...
11 Nov 202214min
The Medieval Origins of the @ Symbol. Hyphens in Dual-Heritage Terms. Pitch.
900. The story of the @ symbol is much bigger than email. In fact, it was used for hundreds of years before being saved from obscurity by the invention of electronic communication. I explore the medie...
4 Nov 202214min
The Difference Between Magic and Magick. Some Fascinating Spooky Words. Holy Fagachi!
899. Believe it or not, "magick" isn't just a funky way of spelling "magic." The two spellings have different meanings. Plus, we look at the unusual origins of other cool words that make us think of H...
28 Okt 202214min
Randall Munroe of xkcd: Language Chat and Weird Bee Laws.
898. Randall Munroe joined me this week to talk about his language-themed xkcd cartoons, his simple-language project Up Goer V, his biggest pet peeve, his favorite words, and his new book "What If? 2....
21 Okt 202235min
The Subconscious Rules of Conversation. The Double-Word Problem. Cookie Fish.
897. Have you ever written yourself into a "that that" or a "had had" situation and wondered how you got there? It doesn't mean you're a bad writer! I explain why this happens sometimes and how to bes...
14 Okt 202216min
Wick-ED Fun Pronunciations. Deviled Eggs.
896. If you've ever wondered why we pronounce the "-ed" at the end of "wicked" (and "jagged," "beloved" and more), but don't at the end of words like "aggrieved," this show is for you! You'll also dis...
7 Okt 202215min
When Is a Man a Widow? Where Do We Get the Word 'Blurb'? Sci-Fi Versus Fantasy. Bert and Ernie.
895. A listener asked why he's hearing people refer to men as "widows," and we found a surprising history. Also, I recently mentioned a blurb I wrote, and a reader wanted to know where we get that fun...
30 Sep 202211min
