Lexicon Valley

Lexicon Valley
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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
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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
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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
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Nov 28, 2017 • 33min

Thanksgiving Misnomers

Turkey? Pumpkin? Squash? They're all mistakes. Twitter: @lexiconvalley Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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

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