logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
34m 42s

Words Words Words 13: Viking Visibility ...

Spencer Klavan
About this episode

This week we're going still further back in time, and further north, to read some Middle English from the tale of Gawain and the Green Knight. It's a galloping adventure that's been translated by some of the greats--including J.R.R. Tolkien--and reading the original is a good chance to practice dipping your toe into the more obscure forms of English that make the past feel like another country. Plus: how we appropriated Viking culture.

Pre-order my new book, Light of the Mind, Light of the World: https://a.co/d/2QccOfM

Check out our sponsor, the Ancient Language Institute (now offering Old English instruction!): https://ancientlanguage.com/youngheretics/

Subscribe to my new joint Substack with Andrew Klavan (no relation): https://thenewjerusalem.substack.com

Tips on pronouncing Middle English:

https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/cb45/middle-english-basic-pronunciation-and-grammar

https://folgerpedia.folger.edu/mediawiki/media/images_pedia_folgerpedia_mw/1/1f/How_to_pronounce_Middle_English.pdf

Recordings of expert readings:

https://www.arthuriana.com/sggk-rendall

Up next
Aug 15
Augustus to Virgil: Are you Mad at Me? 🥺
It's time we finally talked about the elephant in the room: does Virgil actually like Augustus? Or is he just pretending? This doesn't seem to have been much of a question in the ancient world--the commentator Servius wrote quite bluntly that "Virgil's intention was to imitate Ho ... Show More
1h 8m
Aug 1
Is There Life Out There?
Everyone, everywhere, thinks about the afterlife. If you think you don't, you're wrong: you do. Because what you believe about life after death is an expression of how you think the universe is ordered, and whether you believe there's such a thing as ultimate justice. That in tur ... Show More
1h 6m
Jul 18
Do You Even Prophesy, Bro?
One of the West's great recurring characters, the Sibyl of Cumae, takes center stage today. Deranged, holy, prophetic, and apparently totally jacked, she guided Rome throughout its history and now teaches Aeneas what he must do to become the man who can found Rome. She may have b ... Show More
1h 7m
Recommended Episodes
Aug 6
292 | Advanced - Short Story: The Last Viking’s Oath [English Listening Practice]
Title: The Last Viking’s Oath Level: Advanced (C1)#Story :Eirik Thorsson, an aging Viking warrior, makes a final voyage to rescue his lost brother, Bjorn, who was captured years earlier during a raid. Eirik tracks his brother to Lord Cedric of Dunwic, who reveals that Bjorn has b ... Show More
16m 54s
Dec 2015
Busted Melon - 7 December 2015
When writing textbooks about slavery, which words best reflect its cold, hard reality? Some historians are dropping the word slave in favor of terms like enslaved person and captive, arguing that these terms are more accurate. And raising a bilingual child is tough enough, but wh ... Show More
53m 45s
Aug 2024
Your English Five a Day #43.2
E356: 🎙️ Welcome to The English Like a Native Podcast, your go-to resource for enhancing your English listening skills and expanding your active vocabulary. I'm Anna, and you're listening to Week 43, Day 2 of Your English Five a Day. 😬 Today’s focus is on expanding your vocabul ... Show More
13m 3s
Dec 2024
Snaggletooth (Rebroadcast) - 30 December 2024
Many of us struggled with the Old English poem “Beowulf” in high school. But what if you could actually hear “Beowulf” in the English of today? There’s a new translation by Maria Dahvana Headley that uses contemporary language and even internet slang to create a fresh take on thi ... Show More
53m 45s
Nov 2024
Your English Five a Day #56.1
🎙️ E432 of The English Like A Native Podcast. This series focuses on increasing your active vocabulary while also improving your listening skills. Five-a-Day Database Access all the vocabulary covered in the Five-a-Day series. This database is constantly updated. You can even ma ... Show More
14m 29s
Jun 12
Bitesize Episode 102 - 10 Million Brits Believe in This Monster—Here’s Why
Join Charlie as he explores one of Britain’s most enduring legends: the Loch Ness Monster. From ancient sightings in 565 A.D. to modern-day hoaxes and government-funded sonar scans, discover why nearly 10 million Brits still believe in Nessie. Along the way, you’ll learn natural ... Show More
29m 46s
Jul 2024
Your English Five a Day #39.3
E334: 🎙️ Welcome to The English Like a Native Podcast with me, your host, Anna! Join us for Week 39, Day 3 of Your English Five a Day, a series dedicated to boosting your active vocabulary and enhancing your overall English skills. ⚠️ In today's episode, we start with the verb " ... Show More
13m 43s
Jun 30
342. History of London (English Vocabulary Lesson)
London is one of the most famous cities in the world. It is the capital of the United Kingdom. It is a financial centre. An entertainment centre. A culture centre. An academic and educational centre. But how much do you know about the city’s history? Today, we are going to go on ... Show More
20m 9s
Sep 2024
Your English Five a Day #47.4
🎙️ E381 of The English Like A Native Podcast. This series focuses on increasing your active vocabulary while also improving your listening skills. ⏯️ Listen and read along on The English Like a Native Podcast YouTube channel. ⭐ BONUS MATERIAL ⭐ Access bonus episodes, live classe ... Show More
15m 2s
Apr 2025
334. High-Context vs. Low-Context Cultures: Why Context Matters in English Learning (English Vocabulary Lesson)
Download ELSA for free + get 7 days premium membership for free: https://bit.ly/ELSAxTHINKINGINENGLISH Get exclusive ELSA discounts: https://elsaspeak.com/inf/promo-code-thinking-in-english/?promocode=THINK85 Recently, I have been thinking a lot about challenges that language lea ... Show More
26m 32s