Best Linguistics Podcasts (March, 2015)

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Best Linguistics podcasts (updated March 3, 2015). In-depth discussions on the study of language.

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Monthly

Published 1 day ago

Conlangery Podcast

Conlangery is the podcast for language creators and enthusiasts of constructed languages.

Weekly

Published 1 day ago

A Way with Words is a fun and funny public radio show about words, language, and how we use them. Hundreds of thousands of language-lovers around the world tune in each week to hear author Martha Barnette and dictionary editor Grant Barrett take calls about slang, grammar, English usage, old sayings, word origins, regional dialects, family expressions, and speaking and writing well. The program is a fresh look at the pleasures and delights of language and linguistics, words and speech, writing and reading. Language-learners, ESL, ELT, and TESOL folks will find it a treat. Call with your questions at *any time* in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico at 1-877-929-9673, in London at +44 20 7193 2113, in Mexico City at +52 55 8421 9771, via email at words@waywordradio.org, on the web at http://waywordradio.org/, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/wayword, and via Skype to the user name "wayword."

Weekly

Published 1 day ago

That's What They Say

Assorted stories from Michigan Radio

Weekly

Published 4 days ago

Speculative Grammarian Podcast

Speculative Grammarian—the premier scholarly journal featuring research in the neglected field of satirical linguistics—is now available as an arbitrarily irregular audio podcast. Our podcast includes readings of articles from our journal, the occasional musical number or dramatical piece, and our talk show, Language Made Difficult. Language Made Difficult is hosted by the SpecGram LingNerds, and features our signature linguistics quiz—Lies, Damned Lies, and Linguistics—along with some discussion of recent-ish linguistic news and whatever else amuses us. Outtakes are provided.

Fortnightly

Published 5 days ago

The Allusionist

Linguistic adventures with Helen Zaltzman for Radiotopia from PRX. http://theallusionist.org

Fortnightly

Published about 8 hours ago

Talk the Talk

A weekly delve into linguistics and language, with Daniel Midgley and Ben Ainslie on RTRfm 92.1, Perth.

Monthly

Published 8 days ago

Slate Presents Lexicon Valley

Lexicon Valley is a podcast about language, from pet peeves, syntax, and etymology to neurolinguistics and the death of languages. Your hosts are Bob Garfield and producer Mike Vuolo.

Fortnightly

Published 13 days ago

The History of English Podcast

The Spoken History of a Global Language

Every few days

Published 15 days ago

Talk Parrot

A provider of FREE language learning audio. Learn one of 14 languages with us wherever you are, at home or on the go. Learn Italian, French, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Turkish, English, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Dutch and Greek. Get our app for android! Enjoy all the audio lessons released so far in all the languages with the Talk Parrot app http://goo.gl/Vvaewc Get all the Italian lessons with the Real life Italian app http://goo.gl/0TmfkF or choose all the Hebrew lesson with the Hebrew Steps app http://goo.gl/KQmdcq Our homepage http://www.talkparrot.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkParrot Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/103533387214876649712/posts Twitter https://twitter.com/TalkParrotPod Skype user name "TalkParrotLive"

Episodes

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194: Auslan Advocacy (featuring Drisana Levitzke-Gray)

1:04:08 about 16 hours ago

Conlangery #107: Moten

1:00:48 1 day ago

Christophe Grandsire-Koevoets comes on to talk about his conlang Moten. Top of Show Greeting: Nærut Nɑnɑ́rɑ Links and Resources: The Moten page of Christophe’s blog Christophe’s presentation at LCC4

Blind Tiger - 2 March 2015

51:09 1 day ago

This week on "A Way with Words": The best way to read poetry. When you pick up a book of poems, how many do you read in one sitting? Some people devour several in a row, while others savor them much more slowly. Plus, it's a problem faced by politicians and public speakers: When you have to stand in front of people, what do you do with your hands? German Chancellor Angela Merkel came up with a solution. She positions her fingers in a special way that's become so closely associated with her, it now has its own name. And what does it mean if someone says you're "a real pipperoo"? Plus, orange grove vs. orange orchard, Pilish, ducksnorts and duckfarts, and the worst online passwords imaginable.FULL DETAILSOn March 14, or 3/14, fans of both dessert and decimals come together to celebrate Pi Day. This year, though, it's not enough to call it at 3/14, because it's 3/14/15, and at 9:26 and 53 seconds, the first ten digits of pi will all be aligned. Speaking of aligning the digits, there's also...

Get off of your cloud? Get off my lawn!

03:38 2 days ago

That’s What They Say listener Helga has noticed a disturbing trend. She’s concerned about how often she’s been hearing “off of.” For example, turning ...

The Necessity of Sound Theoretical Frameworks in Linguistic Education

04:13 4 days ago

The Necessity of Sound Theoretical Frameworks in Linguistic Education; by Noah McMosky; From Volume CLXVI, (166) Number 2, of Speculative Grammarian, January 2013 — Theoretical Linguistics has the loftiest of goals, namely the creation of a theoretical framework that can explain the features of all languages. Lamentably, however, the pursuit of this goal is often frustrated by the activities of field linguists, who seem to take perverse delight in presenting data that apparently contradicts whatever theory seems most promising at the time. Sometimes, the data can be reanalysed in a more reasonable fashion, but to this day I remember my bitter disappointment as a young postdoctoral fellow when no amount of analysis would make Welsh and Hebrew yield to the perfectly straightforward prediction of Metasyntactical Heuristics that all VSO languages should be ergative. (Read by Pete Bleackley.)

5. Latin Lives!

12:13 6 days ago

Every week since September 1989, a radio station in Finland has broadcast a weekly news bulletin…in Latin. WHY? Let’s find out! Visit theallusionist.org/Latin to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.org.

193: The Bilingual Advantage

57:42 8 days ago

Sex Workers

32:55 9 days ago

Bob Garfield and Mike Vuolo discuss the authoress, the usherette, and the editrix with Anne Curzan, the lady professor.

Idiom's Delight - 23 February 2015

51:10 9 days ago

This week on "A Way with Words": What's in a name? A recent study found that some names crop up more frequently than others in certain professions. The name William is especially common among attorneys--and graphic designers include a higher-than-average number of Jessicas. Plus, picturesque idioms from around the world: What Russians mean when they say someone has "a burning hat," and what Swedes mean when they say someone "slid in on a shrimp sandwich." Speaking of food, where would you find a self-licking ice cream cone? A good place to look: Washington, D.C. Plus, bunking, Carter's got pills, the Philly slang word jawn, Irish tough love, do-ocracy, the pulmonic ingressive, and the etymology of tip.FULL DETAILSIn English, we might say that someone born to a life of luxury was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. In Swedish, though, the image is different. Someone similarly spoiled is said to slide in on a shrimp sandwich. For more picturesque idioms from foreign languages, check out...

If the gauntlet fits, don’t bother with the gantlet

03:49 9 days ago

We’d like to stress that That’s What They Say is a safe place for word enthusiasts to confide language pet peeves without fear of ridicule or judgment....

How They Do It In Linguistics

01:17 11 days ago

How They Do It In Linguistics; by James Crippen; From Volume CLV, Number 3, of Speculative Grammarian, December 2008 — Sociolinguists do it with variety. ... (Read by Trey Jones.)

Episode 58: Bibliophiles and Bookworms

56:34 14 days ago

The late 10th century and early 11th century was the Golden Age of Old English literature. But much of the literature produced during that period was lost to history. Thankfully, a handful of book collectors realized the value of those old books and preserved an important part of the history of English. In this episode, we explore some of the important English texts from this period, including the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and the Exeter Book. We also examine the role of the bookworms and book collectors who preserved the literature of this period.

192: Linguistic Movies

57:47 15 days ago

Whistle Britches - 16 February 2015

51:11 16 days ago

This week on "A Way with Words: Writers and where they do their best creative work. A new book on Geoffrey Chaucer describes the dark, noisy, smelly room where he wrote his early work. Which raises the question: What kind of space DO you need to produce your best writing? Also, Texas football lingo, and the perfect smart-aleck remark for those times when you can't remember the answer to a question. Plus, how slang terms popular in African-American culture, like bling bling, bae, and on fleek find their way into the mainstream English. Also, salt and pepper cellars, itch a scratch vs. scratch an itch, sick abed on two chairs, a new word for nieces and nephews, the Jimmies and the Joes, aimless walks on Nantucket, and Dadisms.FULL DETAILSThe father of one of Martha's friends had all sorts lots of funny sayings, like the one he'd use during a lull in a conversation: Do you live around here or do you ride a bicycle? He'd also respond to, "Are you ready to leave?" with I stay ready, so I don...

Albanian With Jonis - Ep. 203

05:24 16 days ago

Albanian with Jonis ------ TalkParrot.com is a provider of language learning audio. Learn a language with us wherever you are, at home or on the go. ------ Find more free lessons http://goo.gl/3m9rz7 Get our mobile app for android! http://goo.gl/ruOW5C Contact http://goo.gl/EYSbaZ Help http://goo.gl/OdgYGL ------ Talk Parrot is funded by its listeners. Please visit this page and show your support by clicking the ‘Donate’ button http://goo.gl/PQS8EV ------ Are you a language teacher? Join in http://goo.gl/Bhn29k ------ Our homepage http://www.talkparrot.com Email talkparrot@outlook.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkParrot Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/103533387214876649712/posts Twitter https://twitter.com/TalkParrotPod Skype user name "TalkParrotLive"

Real life Italian - Ep. 517, Ligabue

16:25 16 days ago

Oggi con Ligabue! Ascoltate! ------ TalkParrot.com is a provider of language learning audio. Learn one of 14 languages with us wherever you are, at home or on the go. Learn Italian, French, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Turkish, English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Swahili and Greek. ------ What’s new? http://goo.gl/iPLQHe Free lessons http://goo.gl/3m9rz7 Podcast Assistant http://goo.gl/cUhZnG Android app http://goo.gl/ruOW5C Contact http://goo.gl/EYSbaZ Help http://goo.gl/OdgYGL ------ Talk Parrot is funded by its listeners. Please visit this page and show your support by clicking the ‘Donate’ button http://goo.gl/PQS8EV ------ Are you a language teacher? Join in http://goo.gl/Bhn29k ------ Our homepage http://www.talkparrot.com Email talkparrot@outlook.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkParrot Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/103533387214876649712/posts Twitter https://twitter.com/TalkParrotPod Skype user name "TalkParrotLive"

Nothing says "I love you" like "ditto"

03:41 16 days ago

Valentine’s Day was yesterday, and maybe you’re still aglow from the candle-lit dinner you shared with your beloved at a fancy French restaurant. Maybe...

The Prudent Fieldworker’s Guide to Preparation and Packing—Part II

09:49 18 days ago

The Prudent Fieldworker’s Guide to Preparation and Packing—Part II; by Athanasious Schadenpoodle; From Volume CLIX, Number 1, of Speculative Grammarian, May 2010 — [Editor’s Note. This is Part II of Professor Schadenpoodle’s authoritative guide to preparing for the vicissitudes of fieldwork.] (Read by Keith Slater.)

4. Detonating the C-Bomb

16:58 20 days ago

WARNING: this episode contains lots of swearing and words which some of you may find offensive. If, however, you love offensive words, you will enjoy this episode, which is all about how the C-word doesn’t deserve to be the pariah of cusses. Visit http://theallusionist.org/viral to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

191: Ape Accents

58:53 22 days ago

LinguaFile VIII

24:08 23 days ago

Bob Garfield and Mike Vuolo discuss a mystery word or phrase with lexicographer Ben Zimmer.

Noon Balloon to Rangoon - 9 February 2015

51:09 23 days ago

This week on "A Way with Words," tricks and tips for writers: Is there a word you keep having to look up in the dictionary, no matter how many times you've looked it up before? Maybe it's time for a mnemonic device. And: a listener shares a letter from Kurt Vonnegut himself, with some reassuring advice about what to do when the words just won't come. Plus, what does it mean when someone asks if you came in on the noon balloon? Also: bog standard, brumate, Ricky Rescue, Ned in the primer, a horse apiece, Blackacre vs. Whiteacre, childish vs. childlike, do the needful, and Do what?.FULL DETAILSIf you think back on all the words you've looked up in the past year, only to turn around and forget their definitions immediately, Martha’s New Year's resolution sounds like a no-brainer: be a little more mindful, and take care to actually remember the meanings of words like enervate (it's "to drain someone or something of vitality"). In place of pardon or excuse me, it's common to hear a Texan or...

Squooshing: When squishing just won’t cut it

03:23 23 days ago

You’re sitting on the couch, about to settle in for some serious Netflix binge watching, when you see it. A huge, hairy spider is skittering across the...

The Prudent Fieldworker’s Guide to Preparation and Packing—Part I

09:44 25 days ago

The Prudent Fieldworker’s Guide to Preparation and Packing—Part I; by Athanasious Schadenpoodle; From Volume CLVIII, Number 4, of Speculative Grammarian, April 2010 — [Editor’s Note: While Prof. Schadenpoodle has, to our knowledge, only gone on two excursions, he is quite famous in our field for his awareness of, and proactive preparation for, hazards. On six separate occasions, campus security has had to rescue students who inadvertently triggered the defensive perimeter around his office, and two hapless sophomores spent over three days lost in the steam tunnels under the campus trying to find it in the first place.] (Read by Keith Slater.)

Real Life Italian - Ep. 516, Zucchero

09:19 28 days ago

Today it's all about Zucchero! ------ Version 1 TalkParrot.com is a provider of language learning audio. Learn one of 14 languages with us wherever you are, at home or on the go. Learn Italian, French, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Turkish, English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Swahili and Greek. ------ Find free lessons in one of 14 languages http://goo.gl/3m9rz7 Enjoy vocabulary lists, language notes, word games and tests with our Podcast Assistant http://goo.gl/cUhZnG See our mobile app for android! http://goo.gl/ruOW5C Contact http://goo.gl/EYSbaZ Help http://goo.gl/OdgYGL ------ Talk Parrot is funded by its listeners. Please visit this page and show your support by clicking the ‘Donate’ button http://goo.gl/PQS8EV ------ Are you a language teacher? Join in http://goo.gl/Bhn29k ------ Our homepage http://www.talkparrot.com Email talkparrot@outlook.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkParrot Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/103533387214876649712/posts Twitter...

190: Rap Linguistics (featuring Darin Flynn)

1:01:00 29 days ago

Conlangery #106: Auxiliary Verb Constructions

48:00 30 days ago

Suzette Haden Elgin passed away on January 27th. She will be missed. You can now support Conlangery on Patreon! William can now talk about conlanging he did for a videogame! In this episode, George and William go over the wonderful diversity of auxiliary verb constructions! So much to think about! Links and Resources: Auxiliary Verb […]

Above Your Raisin - 2 February 2015

51:09 30 days ago

This week on "A Way with Words," slang online and jargon in the workplace: There's a new kind of hamburger menu that involves pixels, not pickles. It's that little stack of horizontal lines in the corner of a webpage that you click to see more options. You might use a hamburger menu while webrooming--that is, when you go home to buy a product online after inspecting it in a store. Also, a clever new option for an emoticon that means "Oh, well!" It's called a smugshrug. And: what hospital workers mean when they say a potential patient is showing a positive "suitcase sign." Plus, French dictation contests and Chinese dictionary races, pigs for "cops," historical trivia limericks, the military roots of flak, and the subtle difference between talking and speaking.FULL DETAILSSelfie has turned out to be a word that keeps on giving. We have dronies, or selfies taken with drones; healfies, wherein fitness enthusiasts photograph themselves; and now the selfie stick, the most revolutionary selfie...

Hats off to hats

03:21 30 days ago

The word “hat” wears many hats in the English language. Figuratively speaking, of course. So how did one of our favorite winter accessories become part...

Monkey's Wedding (Rebroadcast) - 26 January 2015

51:11 about 1 month ago

It's the art of constructive feedback: If you're a teacher with a mountain of papers to grade, you may find yourself puzzling over which kinds of notes in the margins work best. Martha and Grant discuss strategies for effective paper-grading. And when your inbox is full of spam and LinkedIn requests, even a bad emailed joke starts to look good. Martha shares one, along with some riddles from Portuguese and Spanish. And that slithering reptile in the garage -- is it a garden snake, a gardener snake, or a garter snake? Plus, creek vs. crick, the origins of shank, rhubarb, and ping me, and the devil is beating his wife.FULL DETAILSIf you have seven oranges in one hand and six in the other, what have you got? "Really big hands"--and a really bad joke.When it's raining and sunny at the same time, Brazilians say there's a marriage between a fox and a nightingale, and South Africans say it's a monkey's wedding. Those images are far happier than an American phrase for the same meteorological phenomenon...

Episode 57: The Wessex Literary Revival

50:22 about 1 month ago

After the defeat of the Vikings in York, England was permanently unified under Wessex leadership. A period of peace and prosperity followed. Under the supervision of a cleric named Dunstan, the churches and monasteries were re-built and a great literary revival soon followed. In this episode, we explore the events which led to that literary renaissance which produced most of the surviving Old English literature. We also look at some of the Latin words which were borrowed after the Benedictine Reform. And we conclude with the development of the standard West Saxon literary dialect which emerged during this period.

3. Going Viral

15:07 about 1 month ago

Remember when ‘viral’ used to only mean something bad, IE something that would make you ill or destroy your computer? How things have changed. Tom Phillips from Buzzfeed UK explains the language they choose to make content go viral. Visit http://theallusionist.org/viral to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member of http://Radiotopia.fm for http://PRX.org.

Hey SoundCloud Listeners!

00:39 about 1 month ago

TalkParrot.com is a provider of FREE language learning audio. Learn one of 14 languages with us wherever you are, at home or on the go. Learn Italian, French, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Turkish, English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Swahili and Greek. ------ Find free lessons in one of 14 languages http://goo.gl/3m9rz7 Enjoy vocabulary lists, language notes, word games and tests with our Podcast Assistant http://goo.gl/cUhZnG See our mobile app for android! http://goo.gl/ruOW5C Contact http://goo.gl/EYSbaZ Help http://goo.gl/OdgYGL ------ Talk Parrot is funded by its listeners. Please visit this page and show your support by clicking the ‘Donate’ button http://goo.gl/PQS8EV ------ Are you a language teacher? Join in http://goo.gl/Bhn29k ------ Our homepage http://www.talkparrot.com Email talkparrot@outlook.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TalkParrot Google Plus https://plus.google.com/u/0/103533387214876649712/posts Twitter https://twitter.com/TalkParrotPod
By Talk Parrot

189: Words of the Year 2014

1:04:04 about 1 month ago

The Many Lives of Anna Karenina

37:00 about 1 month ago

Bob Garfield and Mike Vuolo talk to journalist and author Masha Gessen about translating Tolstoy.

Getting snarky

03:28 about 1 month ago

Remember that time you were kind enough to upload some of your fan fiction to your blog for others to enjoy? Merging Game of Thrones with Twilight was...» E-Mail This

Real Life Italian - Ep. 515, Modà

11:55 about 1 month ago

Episode 515 - Modà Vero o falso - True or false all’ inizio, il cantante Kekko Silvestre decide di formare un gruppo con i musicisti Tino Alberti ed Enrico Palmosi e Paolo Bovi, Sotto il nome di "Pop Doc". Anche se milanese di nascita, Francesco Silvestre è di origini meridionali: suo padre è napoletano, mentre la madre è calabrese. Proprio per le origini di suo padre, è un tifoso del Napoli Il primo singolo era Dimmi che non hai paura Nel 2007 i Modà entrano in studio per le registrazioni del nuovo disco, ma durante la lavorazione due componenti storici della band, il chitarrista "Tino" e il batterista Manuel Signoretto, abbandonano il gruppo Il 20 dicembre 2010 viene confermata la presenza del gruppo al 61° Festival di Sanremo nella categoria Artisti con il brano Arriverà, cantato in collaborazione con Emma. La canzone si classifica al primo posto Il 2 maggio 2011, insieme a Laura Pausini prendono parte come ospiti al programma televisivo musicale Due[ Nel gennaio 2014 Paolo Bovi, fonico...
By Talk Parrot

On the Meta-Abstractness of the Abstract Abstract

01:16 about 1 month ago

On the Meta-Abstractness of the Abstract Abstract; by Métha Maxwell; From Collateral Descendant of Lingua Pranca, October, 2009 — ABSTRACT: Little note has been taken of the linguistically universal logical and empirical implications and consequences that bear crucially on linguistic methodology and meta-processes that arise from E. Maxwell’s 1979 paper, On the Abstractness of Abstractness. (Read by Trey Jones.)

The Abstract Abstract

01:10 about 1 month ago

The Abstract Abstract; by Edith Maxwell; From Son of Lingua Pranca, November, 1979 — On the Abstractness of Abstractness / This paper will present new evidence which bears crucially on an empirical question not only directly relevant to the future of generative phonology but also clearly pertinent to the field of linguistics as a whole, as I have shown elsewhere. (Read by Trey Jones.)

Hebrew Steps - Lesson 214, The Question Words

11:33 about 1 month ago

Lesson 214, Question words English Pronunciation עברית Hebrew What ma, mahu, mahem מה, מהו, מהם Why lama, madua למה, מדוע Where eifo, eichan איפה, היכן When matai מתי How many, How much kama כמה How often kol kama zman כל כמה זמן Who mi, mihu, mihem מי, מיהי, מיהם Which eize, eizo איזה, איזו ------ TalkParrot.com is a provider of language learning audio. Learn one of 14 languages with us wherever you are, at home or on the go. Learn Italian, French, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Turkish, English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Swahili and Greek. ------ Find free lessons in one of 14 languages http://goo.gl/3m9rz7 Enjoy vocabulary lists, language notes, word games and tests with our Podcast Assistant http://goo.gl/cUhZnG See our mobile app for android! http://goo.gl/ruOW5C Contact http://goo.gl/EYSbaZ Help http://goo.gl/OdgYGL ------ Talk Parrot is funded by its listeners. Please visit this page and show your support by clicking the ‘Donate’ button http://goo.gl/PQS8EV...
By Talk Parrot

Hebrew Steps - Lesson 205, The Hebrew Alphabet (Part 2)

10:48 about 1 month ago

The letters (Cont'd) כל האנשים, כרית, מכונית, רך, רכה, מוכרח כ / ך לא, לב, מלא, מלוח, מלוכלך, לח, גל, גלגל ל מתוק, מים, משאית, ממול, ממומן, שמיים, גם מ / ם נביא, נר, נגר, מנורה, כונן, ניגן, מנגינה נ / ן סל, סגור, סגול, סיוון, סיוט, סך הכול ס עור, על, עמוד, מעולה, קטע, מעלית ע פרה, פתוח, פתק, פלסטיק, מפלצת, שרוף, שרפרף פ / ף צדיק, צר, פרצוף, מוצץ, צריך צ / ץ קר, קרוב, מקרר, דק, שרק ק רץ, רעב, מרוהט, שריר, גר ר שלם, שיש, משושה, שכונה, שדרה ש / ש תרנגולת, תרגיל, מתוח, תדמית ת ------ TalkParrot.com is a provider of language learning audio. Learn one of 14 languages with us wherever you are, at home or on the go. Learn Italian, French, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Turkish, English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Swahili and Greek. ------ Find free lessons in one of 14 languages http://goo.gl/3m9rz7 Enjoy vocabulary lists, language notes, word games and tests with our Podcast Assistant http://goo.gl/cUhZnG See our mobile app for android! http://goo.gl/ruOW5C Contact http://goo.gl...
By Talk Parrot

Hebrew Steps - Lesson 204, The Hebrew Alphabet (part 1)

13:04 about 1 month ago

Hebrew Steps - Lesson 204 by Talk Parrot
By Talk Parrot

Writerly Insults (Rebroadcast) - 19 January 2015

51:21 about 1 month ago

A query letter from SlushPile Hell, the blog of a curmudgeonly literary agent, reads, "Have you ever wished you had represented the author of the Holy Bible and placed it with a publisher?" Erm, sure. The exclamation Fiddlesticks!, meaning "a trifle" or "something insignificant or absurd," goes back to the time of Shakespeare. It endures in part because it's fun to say.Dorothy Parker, known for her acerbic wit, was once described as a stiletto made of sugar.What do you say when you're in a restroom and someone knocks on the door? Many people answer Ocupado!, which has made its way from bilingual signage--including old airline seat cards from the 1960's--to common speech.Our Quiz Guy John Chaneski struts his stuff with a Miss Word beauty pageant for words beginning with mis-.All's, as in the common clause all's you have to do, isn't grammatically incorrect. It's a valid contraction of the archaic construction all as.Another cocksure query letter received by the book agent at SlushPile Hell...

Things that make you go "argh!"

03:19 about 1 month ago

They’re not words so much as noises: things we grunt, groan or exclaim when something renders us incapable of expressing coherent thoughts. Like “argh”...» E-Mail This

Hebrew Steps - Lesson 212, Family Members

10:21 about 1 month ago

Family members זה אבא שלי. הוא מרצה לפילוסופיה. אמא שלי עובדת במשרד עורכי דין. סבא וסבתא שלי עלו לארץ בשנת 1925. הם הולידו שלושה ילדים. לאח של אבא שלי, כלומר לדוד שלי יש חיבה לנסיעות ארוכות לחו"ל. דודה שלי נוסעת איתו תמיד. באחת הנסיעות לחו"ל, נולד להם נכד והם שמעו על כך בטלפון. דוד ודודה שלי הפכו לבעל ואישה בשנת 1965. לאשתי קוראים סיון. סיון זה במקרה גם השם של אחותי. לבעלה של אחותי קוראים ירון. ירון הוא הגיס שלי או גיסי. לירון יש שלושה אחים גדולים ממנו. אחד רווק, אחד גרוש ואחד אלמן. סיון אומרת שהם משפחה מושלמת. ההורים שלנו חולמים על נכד. גם הדודים שלי חולמים על נכד. זה חלום שמגיע עם הגיל. ------- TalkParrot.com is a provider of language learning audio. Learn one of 14 languages with us wherever you are, at home or on the go. Learn Italian, French, German, Hebrew, Yiddish, Turkish, English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Swahili and Greek. ------ Find free lessons in one of 14 languages http://goo.gl/3m9rz7 Enjoy vocabulary lists, language notes, word games and tests with...
By Talk Parrot

Linguistic Deskwork

02:26 about 2 months ago

Linguistic Deskwork; by H.D. Onesimus; From Volume CL, Number 1, of Speculative Grammarian, January 2005 — Since the so-called ‘discovery’ of endangered languages, much breathless attention in linguistics has been devoted to the topic of methods for linguistic fieldwork. So much breathless attention, in fact, that our field is in danger of losing its foundational and most critical resource: the linguistic deskworker. (Read by Keith Slater.)

Episode 56: The Weak vs The Strong

44:49 about 2 months ago

Do you say ‘dived’ or ‘dove’? How about ‘shrank’ or ‘shrunk’? And when do you say ‘hanged’ instead of ‘hung’? We’ll explore the answers to these questions in this episode. The answers lie in the history of the English language – and specifically the distinction between so-called ‘weak’ verbs and ‘strong’ verbs.
By Kevin Stroud

My friendly friend greets me…friendlily?

03:24 about 2 months ago

When an adjective already has an “ly” ending, how do we make it into an adverb without turning it into a tongue twister? University of Michigan English...» E-Mail This

2. Bosom Holder

13:31 about 2 months ago

There are many synonyms for ‘underwear’. There are many synonyms for the body parts you keep in your underwear. But there’s only one word for ‘bra’. Visit http://theallusionist.org to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.
By Helen Zaltzman

1. Ban The Pun.

16:21 about 2 months ago

In late 2014, China announced it was to ban puns. Helen Zaltzman wishes she could ban puns in her own family. Warning: this episode features some hideous incidences of wordplay. Visit http://theallusionist.org to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow, and convene at http://facebook.com/allusionistshow. The Allusionist is a proud member of Radiotopia.fm for PRX.
By Helen Zaltzman