History and Philosophy of the Language Sciences

In this interview, we talk to Penny Lee about her research into Whorf and linguistic relativity. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Photo by Mike Clarke. Note: On reviewing the recording, Penny Lee noticed a slip of the … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Anna Wierzbicka about her life and research into semantics. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 59 Apresjan, Juri. 2000. Systematic Lexicography, trans. by Kevin Windle. Oxford: Oxford University Press … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Ryan Nefdt about the light latest work in “artificial intelligence” can cast on questions of linguistic relativity. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Image: Cover of Linguistic Relativity by Pelletier and Nefdt … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Brigitte Nerlich about her career in the history of linguistics and the public understanding of science Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Image from Brigitte Nerlich References for Episode 57 Bréal, M. … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Nick Enfield about his research into the connections between linguistic signs and concepts. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Image from Nick Enfield’s website References for Episode 56 Dunbar, R. I. M. … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Janette Friedrich about her research and career. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 55 Bühler, Karl ([1934] 2009). Théorie du langage. La fonction représentationnelle du langage, préface de Jacques … Read more ›

In this interview, Neil Cohn tells us about his theory that visual art and spoken language draw on the same underlying cognitive abilities. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 54 Cohn, Neil, and Joost Schilperoord. … Read more ›

In this interview, Paul Kiparsky introduces us to the ancient Indian grammarian Pāṇini and the philosophical significance of his grammatical description of Sanskrit. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Feature image: Pāṇini stamp, India (2004). Wikimedia Commons References … Read more ›

In this interview, Gereon Müller discusses his new book Lanes to Language, which unites the worlds of history of linguistics and cycling. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Intro and outro: Bach, Cello Suite no. 1 in G … Read more ›

In this interview, Martin Haspelmath talks about how he got started in linguistics, the rise of large-scale areal typology in the 1990s, language description vs language comparison, and the current state of the field. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts … Read more ›

In this interview, Gerda Haßler discusses her career in Romanistik and the history of linguistics in the DDR and re-united Germany. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 50 Haßler, Gerda. 1984. Sprachtheorien der Aufklärung zur … Read more ›

In this interview, Fritz Newmeyer discusses linguistics, history of linguistics, and politics. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 49 Newmeyer, Frederick J. 1986 [1980]. Linguistic Theory in America, 2nd edition. Orlando: Academic Press. Newmeyer, Frederick … Read more ›

In this interview, Randy Harris interviews James McElvenny about his recent book A History of Modern Linguistics. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 48 McElvenny, James. 2024. A History of Modern Linguistics: From the beginnings … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Geoff Pullum about his career, his contributions to linguistics, and how he sees the future of the field. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 47 Huddleston, Rodney, and Geoffrey … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Philip Kraut about the brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, their scholarly contributions and political engagement. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 46 See Wikisource for scans of the Grimms’ … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Beijia Chen about the citation networks binding the Neogrammarians as a school. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 45 Amsterdamska, Olga. 1985. “Institutions and Schools of Thought: The Neogrammarians.” … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Ian Stewart about modern ideas surrounding the Celts and how these relate to historical-comparative linguistics. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 44 Crump, Margaret, James Cowles Prichard of the … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Judy Kaplan about universals in American linguistics of the mid-20th century. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 43 Emmon Bach & Robert T. Harms, Universals in Linguistic Theory (New York: Holt, … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Randy Harris about the controversies surrounding the generative semantics movement in American linguistics of the 1960s and 70s. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 42 Chomsky, N. (2015/1965). Aspects of … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Chris Knight about Chomsky, pure science and the US military-industrial complex. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 41 Radical Anthropology Group. YouTube channel | Vimeo channel Allot, Nicholas, Chris … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Nick Riemer about how linguistic theory and political ideology can interact. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts References for Episode 40 Ahmed, Sara. 2012. On being included: Racism and diversity in institutional life. Durham, … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Ingrid Piller about her forthcoming co-authored book Life in a New Language. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 39 Kachru, Braj B. 1985. ‘Standards, codification and sociolinguistic realism: The … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Dan Everett about the life and work of the American pragmatist philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce and Everett’s application of Peirce’s ideas to create a Peircean linguistics. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Michael Lynch about the history of conversation analysis and its connections to ethnomethodology. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 37 Button, Graham, Michael Lynch and Wes Sharrock (2022) Ethnomethodology, Conversation … Read more ›

In this interview, we talk to Ghil‘ad Zuckermann about language reclamation and revival in Australia and around the world. Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube References for Episode 36 The Barngarla trinity: people, language, land. The Barngarla trilogy: … Read more ›