The History of English Podcast

Episode 182: World of Confusion

Mar 18, 2025
In a captivating exploration of 17th-century English expansion, fascinating stories highlight the linguistic evolution caused by trade and exploration. Discover how buckskins influenced American slang and the role of local tribes in Virginia's survival. Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' takes center stage, revealing connections to real-life shipwrecks. The podcast also dives into how cultural exchanges, especially with India, introduced intriguing loanwords, showcasing the rich tapestry of the English language's growth during this transformative period.
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INSIGHT

English Became International Through Contact

  • English began to spread globally in the early 1600s as speakers sought trade and settlement.
  • Kevin shows confusion with foreign encounters shaped English during this period.
ANECDOTE

Quebec Named From Algonquin Word

  • Samuel de Champlain named Quebec after an Algonquin word for where a river narrows.
  • The settlement became Quebec City and later gave its name to the province.
INSIGHT

Buckskin Trade Shaped 'Buck' Currency Slang

  • Fur and deerskin trades used buckskins as a unit of exchange in colonial America.
  • Scholars link that practice to the modern slang term buck for a dollar.
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