‘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 l...
31 Juli 202532min
'Heat wave' vs. 'cold snap.' Why reading stories makes you smarter. Rogering.
1103. Why do we talk about "heat waves" but "cold snaps"? This week, we look at the history behind these common weather phrases and other quirky idioms like "raining cats and dogs" and "under the weat...
29 Juli 202514min
Why plain English matters in science (and everywhere else), with Anne Greene
1102. This week, Anne Greene joins us to talk about the importance of writing in plain English, especially in scientific fields. We look at why short words are easier for our eyes to read and how a we...
24 Juli 202531min
'Y' plurals. Bill Labov's linguistic legacy. Choo-choo
1101. Do you know when to change a "y" to an "ies" for a plural, and when to just add an "s"? Today, we look at the rules. Then, we look at linguist Bill Labov's famous department store study, which s...
22 Juli 202514min
How 'algospeak' is changing language, with Adam Aleksic
1100. This week, we talk with popular online linguist Adam Aleksic, also known as Etymology Nerd. We discuss "algospeak" and how social media algorithms are changing language. We discuss euphemisms li...
17 Juli 202525min
Pop, soda, or coke? When Q stands alone. Pizza bones.
1099. Do you call it "pop," "soda," or "coke"? We look at the interesting history behind these regional names for carbonated beverages. Then, we look at words where you can use a Q without a U, which ...
15 Juli 202515min
Metaphors and your brain. How figurative language works, with Dr. Vicky Lai
1098. We talk with cognitive scientist Dr. Vicky Lai about how frequently we use metaphors and what happens in our brains when we hear them. We also look at her research on irony and its effect on emo...
10 Juli 202519min
Can you have a million bacons? Martha's Vineyard's unique sound.
1097. Do you wonder whether "bacon" can be plural? We look at the difference between countable and uncountable nouns. Then, we look at how the Martha's Vineyard accent developed and what it tells us a...
8 Juli 202517min
