Intelligence Squared Susie Dent On the Wonders of the English Language (Part 1)
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Jan 10, 2025 Susie Dent, a beloved lexicographer and etymologist known from Channel 4's Countdown, shares her passion for the English language and its quirks. She discusses her debut crime novel, 'Guilt by Definition,' which cleverly intertwines her love for words and a mysterious disappearance. Dent humorously delves into unique vocabulary and the historical journey of dictionary-making, revealing how everyday people shaped the Oxford English Dictionary. The conversation beautifully highlights language’s evolution and its profound connections to storytelling and crime.
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Cataract Etymology
- Susie Dent explains the etymology of "cataract" to Alex Clark.
- It comes from words meaning waterfall or portcullis, signifying a grating obscuring vision.
Dog Days Origin
- Alex Clark asks about the origin of the phrase "dog days".
- Dent explains it relates to Sirius, the dog star, rising with the sun during summer's hottest period.
Why Fiction?
- Susie Dent shares why she wrote a novel: her father's encouragement and her editor's persuasion.
- Her editor's PowerPoint presentation, with imagined quotes praising the unwritten book, convinced her.
