Lexicon Valley
Lexicon Valley
A podcast about language, with hosts Mike Vuolo, Bob Garfield and John McWhorter.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 30, 2018 • 36min
So... Let's Talk About So
How long have we been starting our sentences with "so"?
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Oct 16, 2018 • 29min
Like-Minded
John McWhorter discusses the evolution of the word like.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Oct 2, 2018 • 36min
Why Do Southerners Talk Like That?
John McWhorter dissects the many distinct features that make up Southern speech.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Sep 18, 2018 • 31min
The Habitual Past
Did you "used to" do something but don't any longer? Where does that expression come from?!
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Sep 4, 2018 • 37min
A Riot of Color
Our word for "red" predates our word for "blue"—and that's true for almost every language!
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Aug 6, 2018 • 41min
Wabbit Twacks
John McWhorter applies linguistic analysis to Looney Tunes.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Jul 24, 2018 • 39min
Tee Time
John McWhorter on what the French Canadian version of The Flintstones can teach us about the letter T.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Jul 10, 2018 • 33min
Happy Birthday, OED!
John McWhorter raises an etymological glass to the nonagenarian Oxford English Dictionary.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Jun 26, 2018 • 35min
If Frozen, Why Not Squozen?
John McWhorter on language lessons from this year's Tony nominees for Best Musical.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Jun 12, 2018 • 31min
The Pronouning of Profanities
John McWhorter on the way in which words like f*ck and sh*t are increasingly standing in for it and that.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
