What is 'versing'? ‘Whatchamacallit' and other placeholder words. Chicken.
1109. This week, we look at why kids and video gamers talk about "versing" someone. Then, we look at the linguistics of placeholder words like "whatchamacallit" and "thingamajig," including some fun i...
19 Aug 202513min
AI's impact on translators, untranslatable Dutch words, and more, with Heddwen Newton
1108. This week, we talk to Heddwen Newton about some of the unique and untranslatable words she's discovered while translating. She shares her thoughts on why the translation profession is being hit ...
14 Aug 202519min
Double possessives. Words that do double duty. The monkeys aren't working.
1107. This week, we look at double possessives, such as "a friend of Mignon's" and whether they are grammatically correct. Then, we look at words that do double duty, from the nautical origins of "scu...
12 Aug 202514min
New words: 'beer muscles' & 'waka jumpers,' with Fiona McPherson.
1106. We talk with Fiona McPherson, a senior editor at the Oxford English Dictionary, about the playful words that get added to the OED. We look at the dictionary's ongoing work to expand its coverage...
7 Aug 202516min
How pronouns reveal our psychology. How'd we get our alphabet? Tabagogox.
1105. This week, we look at how the pronouns you use can reveal your psychological state — for example, how using "I" versus "we" can signal how you are coping with a breakup or a tragic event. Then, ...
5 Aug 202514min
‘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
