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The hidden superpower of verbs, with Sar...

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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

'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

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

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