Intelligence Squared Susie Dent On the Wonders of the English Language (Part 2)
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Jan 12, 2025 Susie Dent, a renowned lexicographer and etymologist from Channel 4’s Countdown, dives into the charm of the English language. She shares captivating insights into its evolution, the emergence of slang, and how emojis shape modern communication. The discussion touches on the complexities of language in mystery writing and hilariously misinterpreted emojis. Dent also highlights the beauty of profanity, its historical significance, and the creative richness it brings to the language, all while connecting these themes to her debut novel.
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Emoji Mishap
- Susie Dent shares a story about a makeup artist on Countdown who unknowingly used the aubergine emoji inappropriately on a dating site.
- The makeup artist, who is Persian and loves aubergines, was confused by the responses she received.
Why Words?
- Susie Dent discusses the origin of words and how they came to be, rather than pictures or other forms of communication.
- She ponders the mystery of how humans developed words and expresses a desire to understand their history.
Early Human Language
- The earliest human words likely revolved around essential concepts like fire, danger, food, warmth, and predator-prey relationships.
- These concepts, vital for survival, were among the first to be expressed through language.
