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Twenty Thousand Hertz

"Blah, blah, blah" and the Ungooglable Phrase

Sep 25, 2024
Linguist and philosopher Paul Saka, renowned for his work at the University of Texas on quasi-quotation, joins the conversation on unique speech patterns. They explore the scarcely understood 'Five Dah Phenomenon,' a phrase that's bypassed dictionaries and Google altogether. With humor, they discuss the playful evolution of phrases like 'da-da' and their cultural impact. The talk highlights how these expressions shape our communication and how curiosity can enhance listening skills, all while probing the intriguing connections between language and memory.
30:20

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Quick takeaways

  • The episode explores the Five Dah Phenomenon, a lesser-known linguistic tool used to summarize conversations like 'blah blah blah.'
  • Cultural comparisons reveal similar expressions in various languages, highlighting a universal tendency for concise communication across human interactions.

Deep dives

The Evolution of Podcasting

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