Because Language - a podcast about linguistics, the science of language.

It's Eurovision season! We love to talk about what we can learn about language from this international song contest, but even we didn't realise that there was so much to learn. Language choice, language policy, language and gender and metaphor — and all of this has been packed into a unit at Umeå University: Linguistics and the Eurovision Song Contest. Paulette van der Voet and Solveig Bollig are heading up the course, and they're here to tell us all about it… and nerd out with Hedvig besides. Timestamps Cold open: 0:00 Intros: 0:39 News: 7:39 Related or Not: 26:41 Interview with Paulette and Solveig: 38:53 Words of the Week: 1:30:08 Comment from John: 1:49:18 The Reads: 1:53:53 Outtakes: 2:02:25

Emily M. Bender, a linguist and professor, and Alex Hanna, a sociologist leading research at DARE, dive into the con of AI hype. They humorously recount their podcasting journey, lament the intrusive AI features imposed by tech companies, and stress the importance of questioning AI’s role in daily life. The discussion highlights the sociological risks of AI companions, misinformation’s impact, and the need for human oversight in AI applications. They advocate for collective action to ensure technology benefits society and addresses bias in research.

Video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/wxGeXMzlwng If you repeat something twice, how many times did you do it? Can more than one dinner be "the perfect dinner"? And what does "every other" mean? We are once again fixing English, in a live episode in which we pile all our friends into a room and vote on vexing semantic questions. These results are binding on English-speakers throughout time and space, because that's how language works. By committee! Timestamps Cold open: 0:00 Intros: 0:55 News: 4:12 Related or Not: 31:06 Fixing English: 47:59 Words of the Week: 1:13:44 The Reads: 1:34:00 Outtakes: 1:42:40

Spelling reform in English: a constant failure? Or a secret success? Waves upon waves of optimists have tried to make English spelling reflect its sound and escape its etymological origins, but have never seen their vision fully realised. Author Gabe Henry has chronicled the attempts, and he joins us on this episode.  Gabe is the author of Enough Is Enuf: Our Failed Attempts to Make English Easier to Spell, available from Dey Street Books. Timestamps Cold open: 0:00 Intros: 1:44 News: 9:50 Related or Not: 32:21 Interview with Gabe Henry: 49:23 Words of the Week: 1:33:41 Comment: 1:50:50 The Reads: 1:53:57 Outtakes: 2:03:28

First words and last words get a lot of attention. But how did words get to have such a place of prominence? What would we see if we focused on interaction instead? A new book looks at words, gestures, and silence at the beginning and end of life. Daniel has a chat with the author of Bye Bye I Love You, Dr Michael Erard. Timestamps Cold open: 0:00 Intros: 1:05 News: 6:59 Related or Not: 35;54 Interview with Michael Erard: 47:56 Words of the Week: 1:33:32 Comment: 1:45:46  The Reads: 1:49:43 Outtake: 1:56:01

Breaking news: The president of the United States intends to sign an executive order designating English the official language of the USA. Is this a big deal? Why was this necessary, and what happens now? Dr Carmen Fought joins us on this episode. Timestamps Theme and intros: 0:00 Discussing the executive order with Carmen: 0:56 Thanks and reads: 47:38

What really goes on behind the scenes at the biggest Word of the Year vote in linguistdom? Are we really going to stick with sanewashing for our word? And which words did we miss? We lock in and crash out with New Words Data Czar Dr Kelly Wright. Timestamps Open: 0:00 Intros: 0:57 Words: 6:54 Related or Not: 59:22 Comments: 1:19:19 The Reads: 1:24:00 Outtake: 1:32:39

Mignon Fogarty, the Grammar Girl and Podcasting Hall of Fame inductee, joins a lively discussion about the words of the year. They explore generational language differences and cultural influences on contemporary terms. From the significance of ‘brat’ to the role of memes, the conversation highlights how language reflects societal trends. Personal anecdotes and playful games reveal the fascinating connections between words and their evolving meanings, all while celebrating patron support and community engagement.

Minority languages are under threat everywhere, but Tibet represents a particularly difficult challenge. The Tibetan language family is under pressure from (no surprise) Mandarin, even as community support for Tibetan remains high. But where does that leave the many other minority languages of the area, like Manegacha? Language policy, community pressure, and individual language choice are coming together in a turbulent mix. Is there any place for hope in this setting? Dr Gerald Roche tells us about this unique situation, drawing from his new book The Politics of Language Oppression in Tibet.  Daniel chats with Dr Sasha Wilmoth about a very surprising sentence, and how our brains process language in some surprising ways. Timestamps Cold open: 0:00 Intros: 0:55 News: 5:30 Chat with Sasha Wilmoth: 21:30 Related or Not: 39:40 Interview with Gerald Roche: 54:40 Words of the Week: 2:02:56 The Reads: 2:29:16 Outtakes: 2:32:56

Douglas Harper, proprietor of the Online Etymology Dictionary, brings his expertise to the table. They dive into the playful origins of words, revealing humorous stories that showcase language's evolution. Harper clarifies the nuances between 'dependence' and 'dependency' while also tackling the challenges of tongue twisters and brain function. Engaging in a fun game of 'Related or Not,' they explore linguistic connections and the complexities of etymology, offering a delightful journey through the quirks of language.