Lexicon Valley

Society EN ↓ 311 episodes

A podcast about language, with hosts Mike Vuolo, Bob Garfield and John McWhorter.

Author

Lexicon Valley

Episodes

Why Do Some Americans Say Warshed? 14.05.2019 48:02

Why do people often pronounce an R sound where it doesn't belong? X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Flores Man vs. Sulawesi 30.04.2019 40:16

A linguistic mystery on an island archipeligo of Indonesia. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Lingua Francas 16.04.2019 36:43

You could speak fluently with half the world's population if you knew these 20 or so languages. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can Climate Influence Language? 02.04.2019 44:25

As many as half the world's languages are tonal, but a tiny fraction are spoken in arid climates. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Ain’t Was All Right 19.03.2019 39:07

On the the first person singular of to be. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Semitic Tongues 05.03.2019 44:42

On the triconsonantal roots of Semitic languages. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Precious Little 19.02.2019 42:21

Johnny loves his blankie — why do we tack a long e sound onto words to form diminutives? X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Words Collide 06.02.2019 44:06

On the creation of new English vocabulary. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lexicon Valley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. A Booksmart Studios production. 154: "When Words Collide." With John McWhorter. Produced and edited by Mike Vuolo. All rights reserved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Truth Be Told 22.01.2019 39:32

An actually very literal discussion of true words. Really! X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Penetrating History of F*%k 08.01.2019 45:59

On our longtime obsession with the F-word. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Did English Get Happy? 26.12.2018 37:39

Where does happiness come from? X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Language Can’t Be Tamed 11.12.2018 39:07

A conversation with Lane Greene, author of Talk on the Wild Side. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Social Media Changing English? 27.11.2018 41:09

Many think that online culture is eroding our language skills. Is it true? X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Was the First Language? 13.11.2018 46:52

Can we know anything about languages spoken at the dawn of human speech? X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So … Let’s Talk About So 30.10.2018 39:00

Leading with so is often shorthand for I'm about to do some explaining. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Like-Minded 16.10.2018 23:43

There's lots to like about like. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Do Southerners Talk Like That? 02.10.2018 39:16

A Southern accent is easier to explain than to emulate. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Habitual Past 18.09.2018 34:26

You regularly did something but don't any longer. In other words, you used to do it — what an odd expression. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Riot of Color 04.09.2018 40:43

Languages tend to get their color words in a certain order. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Rise of They 21.08.2018 42:18

The singular they is here to stay and that's a good thing. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wabbit Twacks 06.08.2018 43:43

Learning about language from Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tee Time 24.07.2018 42:08

It's yabba dabba doo time to talk about the letter T. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Birthday, OED! 10.07.2018 26:24

The first full edition of the OED was published in 1928. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If Frozen, Why Not Squozen? 26.06.2018 38:19

Lessons from this year’s Tony nominees for Best Musical. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Pronouning of Profanities 12.06.2018 34:12

How curse words became ordinary parts of speech. X: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices