Lexicon Valley
Lexicon Valley
A podcast about language, with hosts Mike Vuolo, Bob Garfield and John McWhorter.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 30, 2015 • 30min
Snoozefest
The energetic history of the word sleep.
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Nov 16, 2015 • 27min
LinguaFile XVIII | Hootenanny
On a word that was popularized during the 1940s folk movement, with lexicographer Ben Zimmer.
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Nov 2, 2015 • 34min
A Cat, a Coward and Female Genitalia
The etymological quirkiness of the word pussy.
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Oct 19, 2015 • 28min
LinguaFile XVII | Humdinger
On a real beauty of a word, with lexicographer Ben Zimmer.
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Oct 5, 2015 • 33min
Seven Centuries of F--ks
On a recent revelation regarding the history of one our most enduring expletives.
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Sep 21, 2015 • 33min
LinguaFile XVI | Boondoggle
On the origins of a very wasteful word, with lexicographer Ben Zimmer.
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Sep 8, 2015 • 25min
How New York Became the Big Apple
New York City is big, sure, but why an apple?
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Aug 24, 2015 • 34min
LinguaFile XV | Gringo
On the origin of a Spanish-language pejorative, with lexicographer Ben Zimmer.
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Aug 10, 2015 • 30min
What Do You Mean What Is It Like?
On “a literary history of the strange expression ‘what is it like?’” — with lexicographer Anne Seaton.
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Jul 27, 2015 • 38min
LinguaFile XIV | Heebie Jeebies
On the jittery history of a nervous term, with lexicographer Ben Zimmer.
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