Slate Debates
Slate Podcasts
A feed from the Slate podcast network featuring episodes with enlightening conversations, opposing views, and plenty of healthy disputes. You'll get a curated selection of episodes from programs like What Next, The Waves, and the Political Gabfest, with deep discussions that go beyond point-counterpoint and shed light on the issues that matter most.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 9, 2020 • 48min
Tweety Bird and Toddlerspeak
Language acquisition is like magic—how do children do it?!Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Lexicon Valley each week, and no ads. Sign up now to listen and support our show.Twitter: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyEmail: lexiconvalley@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 26, 2020 • 45min
Coronavirus: Isolation and Aspiration
Can strongly aspirated consonants increase transmission of COVID-19?Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Lexicon Valley each week, and no ads. Sign up now to listen and support our show.Twitter: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyEmail: lexiconvalley@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 12, 2020 • 1h 1min
Our Indigenous Languages
A luxuriance of long words, baroque case endings and irregular everything—the Native American tongues!Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Lexicon Valley each week, and no ads. Sign up now to listen and support our show.Twitter: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyEmail: lexiconvalley@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 28, 2020 • 46min
I Just Can't!
Host John McWhorter shares some of his longstanding language peeves—yes, linguists have them too!Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Lexicon Valley each week, and no ads. Sign up now to listen and support our show.Twitter: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyEmail: lexiconvalley@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 14, 2020 • 43min
The Many Meanings of Too
Host John McWhorter finds linguistic inspiration in an 80-year-old musical performance of Rubber Dolly.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Lexicon Valley each week, and no ads. Sign up now to listen and support our show.Twitter: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyEmail: lexiconvalley@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 31, 2020 • 44min
Sicko, Whacko, Weirdo
The -o suffix traces back to old comic strip characters with names like Knocko and Groucho. Neato!Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Lexicon Valley each week, and no ads. Sign up now to listen and support our show.Twitter: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyEmail: lexiconvalley@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 17, 2020 • 51min
Chinese Has No Grammar, Right? Wrong!
Mandarin might not have gender or case endings but there's more to grammar than conjugations.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Lexicon Valley each week, and no ads. Sign up now to listen and support our show.Twitter: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyEmail: lexiconvalley@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 4, 2020 • 50min
From Uptalk to Vocal Fry, Women Are Prolific Language Innovators
Want to hear what English will sound like in the future? Talk to a woman.Slate Plus members get a bonus segment on Lexicon Valley each week, and no ads. Sign up now to listen and support our show.Twitter: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyEmail: lexiconvalley@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 18, 2020 • 44min
In What Order Did Languages Arrive in Europe?
DNA analysis is revealing which speakers traveled where and when.Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus.Twitter: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyEmail: lexiconvalley@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 4, 2020 • 42min
Digging Up the Past
Let's talk about how we talk about that which already occurred.Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus.Twitter: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyEmail: lexiconvalley@slate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
