Ayesha Rascoe, the voice of Ayesha Rascoe on NPR, faces criticism for her loud and high-pitched voice. The podcast explores the racial implications of this criticism and discusses the representation of black voices in media. It also examines the double standard in judging voices based on gender and race and explores the evolution of voices in media. The speaker challenges common perceptions about Ayesha Rascoe's voice, emphasizing its beauty.

A new dialect called Miami English is emerging in Florida due to the large Spanish-speaking population. The influence of English on Spanglish in Miami is explored, with examples of Spanglish words. The hosts analyze the lyrics of the song 'Wish You Were Here' and its linguistic context. The impact of different languages like Yiddish, Mandarin, and Russian on English is discussed. The historical influence of Old Norse on English is examined, including the use of Norseisms in everyday speech.

The trial transcript of a 225-year-old murder is filled with fascinating evidence of the way we used to talk. John explains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

Many English verbs have three forms — sing, sang and sung, for example. The problem is that speakers seem to want only two. John explains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

Too — whether about excess, addition or contradiction — evolved from to. John explains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

Some languages adopt their “health” word from the concept of wholeness — a metaphor that makes perfect sense. Other languages, however, adopt their “health” word from trees. John explains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

Like the French word droit, English’s right has taken on a number of useful metaphorical meanings. John explains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

In this favorite from the archives, John discusses some unwritten rules of English that can be remarkably difficult for a learner of English to master. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

The word “record” can be broken down into two parts, the re and the cord. But what do those parts even mean? John explains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

John is traveling this week and so we’re running a previous episode about the speech patterns of Bette Davis, George Gershwin, Louis Armstrong and countless other Americans of the 1930s. Why do they all sound like that? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com