Lexicon Valley
Lexicon Valley
A podcast about language, with hosts Mike Vuolo, Bob Garfield and John McWhorter.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 19, 2019 • 36min
When Ain't Was All Right
What we can learn about English from am, the seemingly simplest verb.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Mar 5, 2019 • 42min
The Semitic Tongues
Where did Arabic, Hebrew, Amharic and their kin originate? And what is a triconsonantal root?
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Feb 19, 2019 • 39min
Precious Little
How an old word for child morphed into a versatile, and very modern, suffix.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
Feb 6, 2019 • 41min
When Words Collide
Some more of the many ways that neologisms form.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Jan 22, 2019 • 36min
Truth Be Told
An actually very literal discussion of true words. Really!
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Jan 8, 2019 • 43min
A Penetrating History of F*%k
English speakers have been toying with the F-word for centuries.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Dec 25, 2018 • 34min
When Did English Get Happy?
A New Year's meditation on a joyful word.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Dec 11, 2018 • 36min
Why Language Can't Be Tamed
A conversation with Lane Greene, author of Talk on the Wild Side, about the "vague and anarchic" nature of language.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Nov 27, 2018 • 38min
Is Social Media Changing English?
Our speech is becoming more childlike, but not for the reasons you think.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Nov 13, 2018 • 44min
What Was the First Language?
How far back can we trace, with any accuracy, the spoken word?
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
