Lexicon Valley
Lexicon Valley
A podcast about language, with hosts Mike Vuolo, Bob Garfield and John McWhorter.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 22, 2017 • 29min
Did Cavebabies Say Mama and Papa?
Languages across the world developed similar words for mom and dad. How is that possible?
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Aug 8, 2017 • 34min
New Life for Dying Languages
The Language Conservancy's Wil Meya discusses the effort to revive Native American languages.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Jul 25, 2017 • 29min
Negatory! A Brief History of No.
John McWhorter on the history and evolution of no and not.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Jul 11, 2017 • 33min
Why Do Languages Have Contractions?
John McWhorter explains why we love shrinkage.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Jun 27, 2017 • 26min
The Incredible Lightness of Being
John McWhorter considers the eccentric irregularity of the verb to be.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Jun 13, 2017 • 35min
Is There a Jewish Way of Talking?
John McWhorter interrupts the hosts of Unorthodox to discuss hallmarks and stereotypes of Jewish communication style.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
May 30, 2017 • 29min
Mining Graffiti for Slang
John McWhorter talks to Ben Zimmer about the Vietnam Graffiti Project and other slangy topics.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
May 16, 2017 • 28min
Don't Tell me Reune is Not a Word!
John McWhorter discusses the near-futile impulse to determine what is, and what is not, a word.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
May 2, 2017 • 33min
The Language of Female Friendships
John McWhorter discusses communication styles with linguist Deborah Tannen, author of You're the Only One I Can Tell: Inside the Language of Women's Friendships.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
Apr 18, 2017 • 25min
The Euphemism Treadmill
John McWhorter on the evolution from "crippled" to "handicapped" to "differently abled" -- and why no such term is likely to stick around long.
Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Website: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley
