Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne
A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics by Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne. "A fascinating listen that will change the way you see everyday communications." –New York Times. "Joyously nerdy" –Buzzfeed.
Weird and deep half-hour conversations about language on the third Thursday of the month.
Listened to all the episodes here and wish there were more? Want to talk with other people who are enthusiastic about linguistics? Get bonus episodes and access to our Discord community at www.patreon.com/lingthusiasm
Shownotes and transcripts: www.lingthusiasm.com
Weird and deep half-hour conversations about language on the third Thursday of the month.
Listened to all the episodes here and wish there were more? Want to talk with other people who are enthusiastic about linguistics? Get bonus episodes and access to our Discord community at www.patreon.com/lingthusiasm
Shownotes and transcripts: www.lingthusiasm.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 20, 2024 • 35min
96: Welcome back aboard the metaphor train!
Hop on the metaphor train as hosts embark on a linguistic adventure! Discover how metaphors shape our understanding of everything from love to learning. They explore cultural nuances, revealing how languages express abstract concepts through vivid imagery. Relationships and parenting are discussed through fascinating travel metaphors, while the importance of audio quality shines thanks to listener support. Expect humor and thought-provoking insights as they dive into the intricate world of language, including the playful nature of idioms and mixed metaphors!
Aug 15, 2024 • 44min
95: Lo! An undetached collection of meaning-parts!
Discover the mysteries of understanding unfamiliar words through the Gavagai thought experiment. The hosts discuss how children assume whole objects while learning language. They unpack the challenges of categorizing animals by their actions rather than appearances. Explore the strengths and weaknesses of language learning tools and the impact of cultural nuances in vocabulary. Engage with the joy of overcoming language barriers and the fascinating complexities of communication across different cultures.
Jul 19, 2024 • 39min
94: The perfectly imperfect aspect episode
Delving into the concept of aspect in linguistics, the hosts explore the shape of actions over time, linguistic repetition in various languages, and the historical aspects of teacup-lake-throwing controversy. They discuss habitual aspects, grammatical nuances in different languages, and the frequentative aspect in language. The episode is filled with linguistic analogies involving embroidery and tapestries.
Jun 21, 2024 • 45min
93: How nonbinary and binary people talk - Interview with Jacq Jones
Jacq Jones, a lecturer at Massey University, discusses how nonbinary and binary individuals express gender through voice, clothing choices, and makeup. They share insights on linguistic geography, Canadian and New Zealand Englishes, and the complexities of the 'R' sound in English pronunciation.
May 17, 2024 • 50min
92: Brunch, gonna, and fozzle - The smooshing episode
Delve into the world of smooshed words like 'brunch' and 'gonna', exploring the history and evolution of creative linguistic blends. From portmanteau words like 'motel' to the efficiency of pronunciations in ASL and French, discover the fascinating process of word 'smooshing' and the evolution of language over time. Uncover the secrets of secret codes and ciphers in the bonus episode, showcasing the playful and creative side of linguistics
13 snips
Apr 18, 2024 • 30min
91: Scoping out the scope of scope
Explore linguistic ambiguity through the concept of scope in this engaging podcast. Delve into humor, quote demarcation, bench plaque misinterpretation, and language intricacies. Discover exclusive bonus content and support options available for listeners.
29 snips
Mar 21, 2024 • 48min
90: What visualizing our vowels tells us about who we are
Discover the intricacies of vowel sounds and accents through a unique meat bagpipe analogy. Explore personalized vowel plots and see the differences between Canadian and Australian accents. Unravel the social significance of vowels in relation to identity, gender, and regional variation.
26 snips
Feb 16, 2024 • 55min
89: Connecting with oral culture
The podcast explores the impact of writing on social fabric and cultural traditions. It discusses the preservation of oral culture and the transmission of knowledge through storytelling. The challenges of creating nuclear warning messages for the future are also explored. The episode delves into the tradition of bedtime stories and the epic poem Beowulf. Listeners can also find additional linguistic content and support the show through various platforms.
43 snips
Jan 18, 2024 • 42min
88: No such thing as the oldest language
The podcast explores the concept of language age and how it is often based on political or cultural decisions. It discusses the influence of writing systems on language preservation and the challenges of understanding the history of older languages. The podcast also delves into Latin cursed tablets, the limitations in understanding the history of human language, and the comparison between conservative and innovative languages. It concludes with an exploration of the written format for signed languages and the importance of valuing all languages.
Dec 21, 2023 • 35min
87: If I were an irrealis episode
Language allows us to talk about unreal things, like imaginary objects and hypothetical situations. The podcast explores the different ways languages express speculative events, including fictional concepts, hypothetical statements, and various types of irrealis categories. It also discusses the evolution of the English subjunctive, the complexity of irrealis forms in different languages, and the tools people use to make sense of reality and uncertainty.
