Valerie Fridland (Like, Literally, Dude) is a professor, sociolinguist, and author. Valerie joins the Armchair Expert to discuss why people dislike the word "moist" so much, how accents are a part of social identity, and where modern English developed from. Valerie and Dax talk about what language prescriptivism is, the issues people have with the u ... Show More
Aug 18
Luke Combs
Luke Combs (Back in the Saddle, Fathers & Sons, What You See Is What You Get) is an award-winning songwriter, singer, and musician. Luke joins the Armchair Expert to discuss Garth Brooks gifting him a surprise truck, why buying a plane is akin to flushing money down the toilet, a ... Show More
1h 49m
Apr 2023
Valerie Fridland: English evolves, like it or not
Annoyed by all those likes and so’s and you knows, not mention ahs and ums? In her delightfully titled book Like, Literally, Dude, Valerie Fridland argues that we should stop grumping about language tics and recognize that they are inevitable – and actually useful.
42m 16s
Jul 2024
The power of words: Conscious language, with Karen Yin
1004. This week, Karen Yin, author of "The Conscious Style Guide," discusses the concept of conscious language and its importance in promoting equity and respect. We explore the differences between conscious language and political correctness, the evolution of the singular "they, ... Show More
42m 8s
Aug 2022
John McWhorter Describes Human Language's 20,000-Year Journey from Proto-Sumerian to Ebonics
Language not only defines humans as a species, placing us head and shoulders above even the most proficient animal communicators, but it also beguiles us with its endless mysteries. How did different languages come to be? Why isn't there just a single language? How does a languag ... Show More
54m 6s
Jun 30
How not to sound like an interrogator in small talk - Listening Exercise : News Article 👂 - How to Say “Player” Without Sounding Like an American Footballer
🎧 WitchTok Listening Comprehension Questions What reasons does Ayla Skinner give for why witchcraft feels empowering to her? (Hint: She mentions control, individuality, and how she lives her life.) According to the article, how has TikTok changed access to witchcraft and the way ... Show More
11m 29s
Nov 2024
Bonus episode: on connection
What role does language play in uniting us across borders and cultures? In this mini episode of Our World, Connected, Christine Wilson, Director of Research and Insight at the British Council, explores connection through language, examining how it serves as a vital tool for build ... Show More
14m 47s
Sep 2021
Emily M. Bender — Language Models and Linguistics
In this episode, Emily and Lukas dive into the problems with bigger and bigger language models, the difference between form and meaning, the limits of benchmarks, and why it's important to name the languages we study.Show notes (links to papers and transcript): http://wandb.me/gd ... Show More
1h 12m
Mar 2025
Pourquoi la prosodie est-elle essentielle pour comprendre une phrase ?
La prosodie désigne l’ensemble des caractéristiques sonores qui accompagnent la parole et influencent la manière dont un message est perçu. Elle englobe l’intonation, le rythme, l’accentuation, la mélodie et la durée des sons dans un énoncé.
Les éléments de la prosodieLa prosodie ... Show More
2m 6s