

Lexicon Valley
Lexicon Valley
A podcast about language, with hosts Mike Vuolo, Bob Garfield and John McWhorter.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 9, 2018 • 33min
There Are Two N-Words
Like gangster and gangsta, nigger and nigga have become two distinct words.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley

Dec 26, 2017 • 31min
The Thing Is Is
The problem is, is that we sometimes say is twice. Why?
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley

Dec 12, 2017 • 31min
An Accidental Sanctity
Biblical scholar Mark Ward discusses his forthcoming book, Authorized: The Use and Misuse of the King James Bible.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley

Nov 28, 2017 • 33min
Thanksgiving Misnomers
Turkey? Pumpkin? Squash? They're all mistakes.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley

Nov 14, 2017 • 29min
Sometimes Just Because
Language is often at the mercy of pure chance.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley

Oct 31, 2017 • 30min
Against Strunk & White
It's time to permanently shelve the Elements of Style.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley

Oct 17, 2017 • 35min
Whence Baby Mama?
John McWhorter answers questions from Lexicon Valley listeners.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley

Oct 3, 2017 • 33min
Este No Es Parqueo: A Brief Ode to Spanish
After parking in front of a garage, John received a note written in Spanish.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley

Sep 19, 2017 • 35min
From Pidgins to Creoles
John McWhorter discusses the process by which some new languages are born.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley

Sep 5, 2017 • 29min
Do Languages Simplify Over Time?
Old English was arguably more complicated than Modern English. Is that true of all languages?
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley