logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2021
11m 35s

How Do You Pronounce 'Tomato'? Why Is 'C...

Quickanddirtytips.com
About this episode
tail spinning
Up next
Apr 28
Why English creates so many words spelled the same. Why we say 'ye olde' instead of 'the old.'
1180. Why does "Ye Olde Shoppe" look old-fashioned? This week, we look at the vanished letters of English — thorn, eth, and yogh — and at why English has so many words that are spelled the same but have different meanings, such as "compact" (an agreement) and "compact" (to press ... Show More
15m 55s
Apr 23
'Why We Talk Funny.' The reasons behind our accents, with Valerie Fridland
1179. This week, we talk to Valerie Fridland, a linguist and professor who grew up in Memphis surrounded by Southern accents and now researches the history and social power of speech. We look at her new book, "Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents," which explores ... Show More
33 m
Apr 21
Should you start a sentence with 'hopefully'? Why we might not recognize alien language.
1178. Do you cringe when someone says "Hopefully, he'll pass the test"? This week, we look at why "hopefully" as a sentence adverb has been controversial for decades, even though the Associated Press accepted it in 2012, and it's been common since the 1930s. Then, we look at xeno ... Show More
18m 6s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2024
289. How is TikTok Changing the English Language?: TikToklish and Algospeak Explained (English Vocabulary Lesson)
Download ELSA for free and get 7 days pro membership for free: https://bit.ly/ELSAxTHINKINGINENGLISH ⁠ ⁠Get up to 85% off of ELSA lifetime membership by going to elsaspeak.com/promocode and use my code THINK85⁠ TikTok is changing the way we speak and use English. It is contr ... Show More
28m 55s
Nov 2023
269. What is the BEST Way to Remember English Vocabulary? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
NEW AI Writing Tool - https://www.thinkinginenglish.io/ Become a Patron to Try Out the Tool - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish What is the best way to learn and remember English vocabulary? Let’s take a look at three of the most popular, researched, and establi ... Show More
26m 36s
Jul 2022
#109 Ellen Jovin on “The Grammar Table”
Creator and proprietor of The Grammar Table, Ellen Jovin, joins Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy to talk about traveling the country to discuss grammar, learning the languages of New York, and finding joy in learning grammar.Featured ResourcesRebel with a ClausePatreon Extended Ep ... Show More
47m 53s
Jan 2024
279. Indian Mutiny, the Cat-O’-Nine-Tails, and Mercury Poisoning: The Surprising Origins of English Idioms! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
Download ELSA for free and get 7 days pro membership for free: https://bit.ly/ELSAxTHINKINGINENGLISH  Get up to 85% off of ELSA lifetime membership by going to elsaspeak.com/promocode and use my code THINK85 What do the 1857 Indian Mutiny, a brutal punishment feared by sai ... Show More
21m 38s
Mar 2022
Italian Grammar #10 - Adjectives on "-o" and on "-e", and the endings!
Ciao!In the episode we'll look at the two types of adjectives, those ending on "-o" or "-e" as their "base", and how they change. For more episodes and extra exercises on this topic, subscribe to the extended podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ItalianGrammar or Redci ... Show More
7m 14s
Dec 2023
Your English Five a Day #8.3
tail spinning
9m 59s
Jan 2024
S2 E4: 3 Reasons to AVOID "Speak like a Native" Lessons
Do you often see “speak like a native speaker” lessons and videos in your social media feeds and suggested posts? Do you want to know why you should avoid these lessons, and how they can actually be hurting your English progress and proficiency? On today’s episode, I talk about 3 ... Show More
28m 29s
Dec 2016
02: Pronouns. Little words, big jobs
If there are pronouns, why aren’t there connouns? What’s the point of these little words? In this episode of the podcast that’s enthusiastic about linguistics, your hosts Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne take a look at the many functions of pronouns. We discuss the vastly diff ... Show More
33m 41s