Best Linguistics podcasts — In-depth discussions on the study of language (Updated September 2017; image)
Related podcasts: Language Learn Learning Featured FM Humanities Education Linguistics Education Education Culture Language Learning Society Thelinguist Etymology English Science Lingq Esl Words Social Sciences Higher Education Arts public [subscription 848]
Related podcasts: Language Learn Learning Featured FM Humanities Education Linguistics Education Education Culture Language Learning Society Thelinguist Etymology English Science Lingq Esl Words Social Sciences Higher Education Arts public [subscription 848]
Linguistic adventures with Helen Zaltzman, TheAllusionist.org. A proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Learn more at radiotopia.fm.
Lexicon Valley is a podcast about language, from pet peeves, syntax, and etymology to neurolinguistics and the death of languages. Hosted by linguist John McWhorter.
A Way with Words is a fun and funny radio show and podcast about language. Co-hosts Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett talk with callers from around the world about linguistics, slang, new words, jokes, riddles, word games, grammar, old sayings, word origins, regional dialects, family expressions, and speaking and writing well. Email your language questions for the show to words@waywordradio.org. Or call with your questions toll-free *any* time in the U.S. and Canada at (877) 929-9673. From a ...
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I Will Teach You A Language | Weekly Motivation and Language Learning Tips to Help You Become Fluent in Any Language
Learning a new language? Get your language learning questions answered by polyglot Olly Richards, who speaks 8 languages and runs the popular blog - I Will Teach You A Language. Whatever's holding you back on the path to fluency, tune in twice a week to get your regular dose of language learning motivation, with Olly and other polyglot guests, such as Luca Lampariello, Richard Simcott, Alex Rawlings, Benny Lewis, Anthony Metivier and Jonathan Levi. Learn Spanish, Learn French, Learn German, ...
Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them
The Spoken History of a Global Language
That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Radio that explores our changing language.University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan studies linguistics and the history of the English language.Each week she'll discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Radio Weekend Edition host Rina Miller.
The World in Words is a podcast about languages and the people who speak them. What happens to the brain on bilingualism? Does it matter that so many languages are dying out? Should we fear the rise of global English? Is the United States losing its linguistic cohesion? Why are Chinese tech words so inventive? Why does Icelandic have so many cool swearwords? Patrick Cox and Nina Porzucki bring you stories from the world’s linguistic frontlines. Also at pri.org/language
A weekly show about linguistics, the science of language, on RTRFM 92.1 community radio, Perth.
Hi, we're Kerstin from Fluent Language (http://www.fluentlanguage.co.uk) and Lindsay from Lindsay does Languages (http://www.lindsaydoeslanguages.com). We both learn languages every day in our lives, and we have learnt over 15 different languages between us.We are obsessed with language learning - join us in this 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 discu ...
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Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
Lingthusiasm is a podcast that’s enthusiastic about linguistics, hosted by Lauren Gawne (www.superlinguo.com) and Gretchen McCulloch (www.allthingslinguistic.com). Updates monthly on the third Thursday. Shownotes for more information about each episode at www.lingthusiasm.com and bonus episodes at patreon.com/lingthusiasm
Words for Granted is a podcast that looks at how words change over time. Host Ray Belli uses language--more specifically, individual words--as a way of making connections among history, culture, religion, and society.
This podcast is designed to inspire language teaching and learning. Tune in for book reviews, interviews with inspiring teachers, best practice ideas, linguistic facts, musings on current events and crazy language learning stories. For more information, visit www.languagefuel.com
Have you ever taken a language class? Have you taken a language class that teaches you how to say "I want to work at the United Nations" before "can you pass me the salt?" We're working to fix that. Critical Language Mentor has scoured the internet to find the best resources out there to help you learn languages better. We specialize in critical, less-commonly taught languages, like Arabic, Chinese, Korean, and Persian and want to help you learn better.Visit us on the web at criticallanguage ...
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Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
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Why does it always sound slightly off when someone tries to imitate your accent? Why do tiny children learning your second language already sound better than you, even though you’ve been learning it longer than they’ve been alive? What does it mean for there to be sounds you can’t hear?In Episode 12 of Lingthusiasm, your hosts Lauren Gawne and ...…
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I Will Teach You A Language | Weekly Motivation and Language Learning Tips to Help You Become Fluent in Any Language
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Neil asks: "Should I use triangulation to learn French?" Episode Summary: On today's podcast: Episode 014: Can you use one language to learn another? Episode 106: How useful is laddering? "Triangulation" - also know as laddering or bridging The big questions: My Spanish is B2 level. Is now the right time to learn French? Yes, I'd say so Will I ...…
Malorie Blackman, author of Noughts and Crosses, talks in depth to Michael Rosen about language: the writing that has shaped her and how she's used language in her own influential work. Her lifelong love of reading was fostered by the libraries she went to as a child. If she had to choose between being a reader and being a writer, she says, she ...…
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Slate Presents Lexicon Valley
John McWhorter discusses the process by which some new languages are born. Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus. Twitter: @lexiconvalley Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley Email: lexiconvalley@slate.comLearn more about your ad choice ...…
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I Will Teach You A Language | Weekly Motivation and Language Learning Tips to Help You Become Fluent in Any Language
Max asks: "What are the benefits of monolingual flashcards?" Episode Summary: Today's podcast: Monolingual flashcards at the beginner / intermediate level Challenge the assumption that you should create monolingual flashcards - how else can you be using the time? Do not use monolingual flashcards to learn the meaning of vocabulary: Definitions ...…
Germans do not agree what the word 'Volk' means. Does it denote ethnic Germans or people who live in Germany? The Nazis racialized 'Volk' and its derivatives. Now Germany's New Right are reviving some of these terms.By The World in Words.
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That's What They Say
There’s a rule that makes a clear distinction between “I shall” and “I will.” However, we as speakers don’t seem to respect that line. Do you know where that line is? Actually, here’s a better question: Did you know this rule existed? We found out from a fourth grader.By rebecca@kruth.org (Rebecca Kruth).
This week on "A Way with Words”: The language we use to cover up our age, and covering up a secret message. Do you ever find yourself less-than-specific about your age? Listeners share some of their favorite phrases for fudging that number, like: "Oh, I'm 29, plus shipping and handling." Plus, since ancient times, people have hidden messages in ...…
“Accent is identity. It’s a way of encoding and signaling – almost completely at an unconscious level for most people – who they feel like they are, who they want to be seen as, what group they feel like they belong to.” The podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz investigates how accents have evolved in the UK and USA. Hear Twenty Thousand Hertz at http ...…
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I Will Teach You A Language | Weekly Motivation and Language Learning Tips to Help You Become Fluent in Any Language
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In this episode I chat with Gabriel Wyner about his language learning background and new Kickstarter project. Episode Summary: Gabe's linguistic background His experience on the Middlebury immersion programmes How the book Fluent Forever came about What’s the link between his previous language learning, and his method with flashcards What langu ...…
This week for our podcast, we’ve got something a little different. My youngest daughter, Tessa, has recently been working on a speech to give at her primary school. Of her own accord, she chose the topic of “why everyone should learn a new or second language”. I thought you might enjoy hearing a 10-year-old’s perspective on a few language learn ...…
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Word of Mouth
Michael Rosen and Laura Wright ask Great British Menu judge Andi Oliver and author of The Flavour Thesaurus Niki Segnit how they describe the flavours of food. Niki describes coriander and lime as "the wooh woohs in 'Sympathy for the Devil' - completely and utterly indispensable". But grapefruit, on the other hand, is "standoffish".. She brings ...…
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I Will Teach You A Language | Weekly Motivation and Language Learning Tips to Help You Become Fluent in Any Language
Olga asks: "How should I use all my free time this summer?" Episode Summary: Managing 3-4 foreign languages Why focusing on one is a good idea How to "live" the languages you already speak well Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: http://iwillteachyoua ...…
Does grammar matter? On one side: the language sticklers, who hold that good grammar is a necessity for communication, and even a matter of upholding standards and courtesy. But there's another side: that grammar rules are often just made up, designed to reinforce social barriers, and that an insistence on good grammar is a form of elitism and ...…
Choosing language that helps resolve interpersonal conflict. Sometimes a question is really just a veiled form of criticism. Understanding the difference between "ask culture" and "guess culture" can help you know how to respond. And what words should you use with a co-worker who's continually apologizing for being late--but never changes her b ...…
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Words for Granted
At last, the finale in the Words for Granted miniseries on the days of the week! We conclude with a investigation of "Saturday" and "Sunday." "Saturday" comes from a root that literally means "day of Saturn." Unlike the rest of the English names for the days of the week, it is a direct etymological descendent of the original Latin name for Satu ...…
The time has come again for University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan to offer her opinion on another round of language disputes. Every September the editors of the American Heritage Dictionary send a ballot to panel members, asking about usage issues. Curzan and around 200 others are tasked with voting "yea" or "nay" on the way we'v ...…
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The History of English Podcast
The early 13th century saw the arrival of a new wave of Frenchmen on the English shores. Some came as conquerors, and some came as nobles and courtiers looking for land and titles. During this period, Norman French started to lose much of its prestige in England, and it was gradually replaced with the French of Paris and central France. In this ...…
It’s the beginning of the school year for folks in the northern hemisphere. Amidst all the angst and excitement, we bring to you 8 key classroom management tips for teachers to remember as you get started with new groups of students. These tips are written by teachers, for teachers, so if you’re just starting out, learn from those who have gone ...…
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I Will Teach You A Language | Weekly Motivation and Language Learning Tips to Help You Become Fluent in Any Language
Aral asks: "What's the best way to organise my vocabulary notebook?" Episode Summary: Housekeeping: Upcoming guests New French Book Conversations British Sign Language course Today's podcast: How valuable is the time you're spending organising a vocabulary notebook? What's the value of a vocabulary notebook in and of itself? Does it help? The b ...…
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Slate Presents Lexicon Valley
Old English was arguably more complicated than Modern English. Is that true of all languages? Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus. Twitter: @lexiconvalley Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com Learn more ...…
Do you get mansplained? Many women will know the pain of the 'splain, but few have documented an extended mansplain so comically or in such detail as our guest for this episode, writer Lara B. Sharp. Her narrative with Johnny by the Pool is one for the ages. She's helping Daniel, Ben, and Kylie bring it to life on this episode of Talk the Talk.…
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Conlangery Podcast
This episode, we discuss Coptic, the last descendant of thousands of years of Ancient Egyptian, now spoken mainly as a liturgical language in Coptic Christian churches in Egypt. Top of Show Greeting: Nalathis Special Mention: Go watch Conlanging: The Art of Crafting Tongues! Links and Resources: Plumley, Martin (1948) An Introductory Coptic Gra ...…
A wingnut is a handy, stabilizing piece of hardware. So why is it a pejorative term for those of a certain political persuasion? Also, is there something wrong with the phrase "committed suicide"? Some say that the word "commit" is a painful reminder that, legally, suicide was once considered a criminal act. They've proposed a different term. F ...…
This podcast episode is a bit like a Wundertüte - a lucky dip bag of interviews with wonderful people who made the 2017 Langfest event what it was. Thank you so much to all of these lovely people - Langfest was motivating, informative, energising, and of course very, very multilingual. Here's a taste of what you'll find inside the episode: Coul ...…
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That's What They Say
Recently, two listeners, including one named Ruth, asked us what's going on with "ruthless." For starters, a ruthless action is one that's clearly without ruth, but can an action also be full of ruth? The answer is yes, something can be ruthful, but here's a better question -- have you ever actually used that word? There's no need to be ruthful ...…
Crossword-solving is often a solitary activity – over breakfast; on the train; on the loo… But a few times a year, crossword puzzle enthusiasts gather in their hundreds to compete to be the fastest, most accurate crossword-solver. This episode comes to you from a church basement on the Upper East Side of New York City, wherein takes place Ameri ...…
Our youngest listeners have questions about everything from love to one of their favorite foods. Kids ask why we might end a text with the letters xoxo, what the word "canoodle" means, and how pizza got its name. And it turns out that when it comes to words, sometimes kids know even more than their parents! FULL DETAILS Andrea in Haslett, Michi ...…
Do you ever get stuck planning your lessons? In this episode, we present a lesson planning process which can apply to all different kinds of lessons; whether skills based (reading, writing, listening or speaking) or vocabulary or grammar based. The lesson planning process involves 6 steps. While it can be a lot of work to start off with, over t ...…
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I Will Teach You A Language | Weekly Motivation and Language Learning Tips to Help You Become Fluent in Any Language
This weekend, I was in Montreal for LangFest 2017. Since then, many friends have been asking me how it was. So, in this episode, I answer that question publicly. Episode Summary: Many people from the Community traveled from far and wide to attend the conference It's great to take a few days to step away and think about language and language lea ...…
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Talk the Talk
We're listening to West African Pidgin English. Millions of people speak it, but now it's getting a big boost from the BBC World Service. What's this language like? And will it change, now that it's hit the world stage? Daniel, Ben, and Kylie talk it over on this episode of Talk the Talk.
The words we choose can change attitudes--and change lives. A swing-dance instructor has switched to gender-neutral language when teaching couples. He insists that using words like "leader" and "follower" actually works better than using gendered terms. But not everyone agrees. Plus, a pithy observation about how stray comments can seem meaning ...…
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A Way with Words
This week on "A Way with Words": Grant and Martha discuss the L-word--or two L-words, actually: liberal and libertarian. They reflect different political philosophies, so why do they look so similar? Also, is the term expat racist? A journalist argues that the word expat carries a value judgment, suggesting that Westerners who move to another c ...…
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That's What They Say
A young listener named Cam recently asked us why "Mrs." has an "r" in it, even though it's pronounced "missus." Great question Cam. Since "Mr." is pronounced "mister," it's pretty easy to understand where that "r" comes from, but the "r" in "Mrs." is a different story. It starts with "mistress." We know what you're thinking. All we're going to ...…
Using your teacher talk wisely is an important skill for language teachers to develop. Teachers use language for giving instructions as well as for providing a model of the target language. When giving instructions, it’s very important to make good choices around which language you will use, how many words you will use, and what gestures you wi ...…
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The World in Words
In the run up to the presidential election Cristina López kept coming across language on the internet that she didn’t quite understand; words and phrases like “meme magic,” and “red-pilled” and “nimble navigator.” These expressions kept popping up in Reddit and 4chan on Trump supporter message boards. “It felt like I was looking in to a group a ...…
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Slate Presents Lexicon Valley
Languages across the world developed similar words for mom and dad. How is that possible? Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus. Twitter: @lexiconvalley Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley Email: lexiconvalley@slate.comLearn more about ...…
Speaking your new language for the first time can be so nerve-wracking! Will they switch to English? Are you good enough? Will you even get the words out? In today's episode, join me to start beating those gremlin questions. Links: List of all Glossika courses SaySomethingIn... — available in Spanish, Welsh, Manx. Dutch, Cornish, Latin Moodnote ...…
Happy Speech Pathology Week! When we think of speech pathology, we might think of speaking exercises or correcting impediments. But it's just as much about access, training, and representation for people with vocal difficulties. So what's happening in the field? Daniel and Ben speak with our new resident speechie Jamaica Grantis on this episode ...…
Evidence suggests that some people are throwing up their hands, and others are grabbing their dictionaries when confronted by the multiple forms of a word that describes someone who has graduated from a school. We should point out that this "evidence" is purely anecdotal. But that doesn't mean it's not worth exploring. So what do you call a for ...…
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Words for Granted
Part four of the Days of the Week miniseries! This time, we investigate "Thursday" and "Friday," or "Thor's Day" and "Frigg's Day." Like the other days of the week we've discussed thus far, the names "Thursday" and "Friday" are loan translations of the Latin names for the days of the week.
“It’s sort of frozen body language; that’s what handwriting analysis is about.” Since it caught on a couple of hundred years ago, graphology – analysing handwriting to deduce characteristics of the writer – has struggled to be taken seriously as a practice. But undoubtedly, there are things about ourselves that we can’t help but reveal in our h ...…
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Language Fuel Podcast
Are you thinking of becoming a language teacher? Or are you a language teacher thinking of changing jobs? Today, we talk about transferable skills that language teachers have, which can be used in any profession. It’s worth giving language teaching a try, to develop these skills, and if you chose to leave the profession at any time, you can be ...…
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Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
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– Would you like some coffee? – Coffee would keep me awake. Does that mean yes coffee, or no coffee? It depends! Is it the morning or the evening? Is the person trying to pull an all-nighter or take an afternoon nap? A computer looking strictly at the meanings of the words would be confused, but we humans do this kind of thing all the time with ...…
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The History of English Podcast
Magna Carta is often presented as the culmination of a dispute between King John and his barons, but it didn’t settle the debate. In fact, the charter actually sparked a new debate over the power of the king. That debate was one of many being held during the early 1200s when the art of debate permeated education, the legal profession, and even ...…
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I Will Teach You A Language | Weekly Motivation and Language Learning Tips to Help You Become Fluent in Any Language
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Michael asks: "How can I listen to older podcast episodes?" Episode Summary: I've recently changed the settings in my podcast feed to display the maximum number of old episodes You can find all previous episodes on the website - simply navigate to the "podcast" tab Today's Quote: Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity. - Thor Heyerd ...…
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I Will Teach You A Language | Weekly Motivation and Language Learning Tips to Help You Become Fluent in Any Language
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Jane asks: "What's it like having so many languages in your head?" Episode Summary: Mostly, I focus on learning only one language at a time To that extent, I don't have much confusion in the learning process In daily life, I find that languages come and go, depending on who I'm spending time with, what I'm doing, what words I need My default is ...…
Echoes of the Greatest Generation, and a tasty bite of history. The language and melodies of military marching songs can connect grown children with their parents who served. Is there a collection of those military cadences somewhere? Also, a story about a woman sifting through her parents' love letters from World War II, and a puzzling phrase ...…
If you're a loyal watcher of the Today Show on NBC, you're probably familiar with weatherman Al Roker's catchphrase: "Here's what's happening in your neck of the woods." That saying doesn't make much sense when you think about it, but it's probably one that you use or hear other people use. Like a lot of sayings in our language, this one is pre ...…
Who was Frank Zappa? Virtuoso guitarist? Modernist composer? Smutty lyricist? Anti-censorship activist? All of the above....and in much more the former East Germany. There his banned records fetched small fortunes among rebellious young men who dreamed of freedom. We spend 30 minutes in the company of one such man who now runs a Zappa-themed fe ...…
