Have you ever wondered what’s up with double negation, the history of gender neutral pronouns, or why swearing is taboo? Then get ready for this week’s guest, linguist Anne Curzan! Anne and Jonathan talk about how the English language has evolved since the 1300s and how our words are SO powerful because of their central role in our identities and communities ... Show More
Nov 19
How To Protect Your Peace - The Art of Self-Care with Heather McMahan
Travel nightmares, cocktail jazz, & laughing gas…oh my!
This week, JVN is joined by comedian and certified delight, Heather McMahan (host, Absolutely Not) They’re talking: baths vs. showers, jazz scatting, preferred quesadilla orders, comedy in 2025, mid-flight medical emerg ... Show More
50m 33s
Nov 17
Cynthia Erivo’s Reflexes, Hilary Duff’s Return, the Last Penny
This week, we’re talking: JVN’s return to yoga, which comedian makes JVN pull an oblique & an intercostal muscle, the process of becoming a U.S. Citizen, the perils of ankles being in weird positions, “Going Up on A Tuesday,” chickens in the Philippines, shark attacks, Cynthia Er ... Show More
38m 26s
Jul 2021
BB 7: She speaks 15 languages! How did she do it | Shannon Kennedy
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shannon Kennedy, from</span> <a href="http://eurolinguiste.com"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">eurolinguiste.com</span></a><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, is an American entrepreneur, content creator, language learner and musician based in ... Show More
1h 11m
Mar 2021
54: How linguists figure out the grammar of a language
If you go to the linguistics section of a big library, you may find some shelves containing thick, dusty grammars of various languages. But grammars, like dictionaries, don’t just appear out of nowhere -- they’re made by people, and those people bring their own interests and prio ... Show More
41m 16s
May 2024
Air worms and fire breathing dragons: Old English animal stories with Hana Videen
<p>982. This week, we delve into the fascinating world of Old English with medievalist Hana Videen, author of "The Deorhord." We'll uncover the secrets of Old English animal names, from "walking weaver" for spider to the ominous "unland" for a whale's deceptive island. </p><p>Fi ... Show More
30m 56s
Nov 2022
Why Today's 'Thank You' Is Different from an Ancient 'Thank You.' Gerunds.
<p>902. Language reflects culture, so it's no surprise that giving thanks hundreds of years ago was different from giving thanks today. We have the fascinating history. Plus, since "Thanksgiving" is a gerund, we looked at all the interesting things you can do with gerunds in gene ... Show More
16m 58s
Mar 2022
Our Desire to Fit In and the Problems That Creates & How Language Lets Us Down
If you spend much time in meetings, you have probably noticed that often, it is just a few people who tend to dominate and take up most of the time. In fact, the larger the number of people in a meeting, the fewer of them actually speak up and participate. This episode begins wit ... Show More
50m 38s
Mar 2022
N. J. Enfield, "Language Vs. Reality: Why Language Is Good for Lawyers and Bad for Scientists" (MIT Press, 2022)
Nick Enfield’s book, Language vs. Reality: Why Language is Good for Lawyers and Bad for Scientists (MIT Press, 2022), argues that language is primarily for social coordination, not precisely transferring thoughts from one person to another. Drawing on empirical research, Enfield ... Show More
1h 6m
Mar 2024
How can we teach vocabulary and grammar more communicatively?
It's episode 2 of our new series, and this week we are discussing how to teach vocabulary and grammar more communicatively. We talk to Jo Cummins, freelance ELT teacher, trainer and materials writer. Jo shares some ideas for communicative activities in the classroom that can help ... Show More
35m 13s