The surprising history (and politics) of emoji, with Keith Houston
1096. This week, we look at the world of emoji with Keith Houston, author of "Face with Tears of Joy." He discusses the long history of emoji, from ancient origins to early computer character sets, an...
3 Juli 202528min
Is ‘sick’...good? What we think of posh language and class. Misunderseed
1095. Is “sick” really “good”? This week, we explore how words flip their meanings and why language changes over time. Then, we look at the 1950s idea of "U and Non-U English" and what it tells us abo...
1 Juli 202517min
The language of children’s storytelling, with Doug Fraser
1094. Have you ever wondered about the linguistic techniques behind popular children's podcasts? This week, we talk with Doug Fraser, also known as Dougie Pickles from the "Cozy Critters" podcast, who...
26 Juni 202519min
Why we drop sounds. ChatGPT is changing how people talk. Kombi
1093. Why do we say “prob’ly” instead of “probably”? This week, we look at elision in everyday speech. Then, we look at a wild study showing that the way people talk is being influenced by AI.The elis...
24 Juni 202517min
What your accent says about you (and your identity), with Rob Drummond
1092. Your accent may be saying more than your words. Sociolinguist Rob Drummond explains how accents shape our identities, how they differ across social classes, and why changing your accent can affe...
19 Juni 202531min
Are em dashes really a sign of AI writing? 'Caretaker' vs. 'caregiver'
1091. Is the em dash a sign of AI writing? I looked at where the idea comes from, and we have the final answer! Then, we look at the difference between "caregiver" and "caretaker."The "'caregiver" an...
17 Juni 202517min
What your hands are saying (even when you’re not thinking about it), with Lauren Gawne
1090. Your hands may be saying more than your words. Lauren Gawne explains how gestures shape communication, how they differ across cultures, and why removing gestures can make your speech less fluent...
12 Juni 202529min
‘Further’ vs. ‘farther.’ Why designers use fake Latin. Blondie hot
1089. Do you wonder when you should use "further" or "farther"? We have the answer (where there is one). Then, you’ve seen lorem ipsum everywhere, but what does it mean? And where did it come from?The...
10 Juni 202516min
