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

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.

Matt Spike, a linguist and philosopher, delves into the complexities of large language models and their limits in grasping 'impossible languages.' Julie Sedivy, author of 'Linguaphile: A Life of Language Love,' shares her personal experiences connecting language to love and growth. They discuss the nuanced relationship between culture and language, the evolution of communication, and how AI influences human interaction. The conversation weaves philosophical insights with lively anecdotes, revealing the deep bonds we share through language.

For our 500th episode, we got together with our great listeners for their words, stories, and inspiration. It's a look back at the show, a look at language from our friends' point of view, and a celebration of our great community. Dr Kelly Wright joins us. Big thanks to our friends who joined us, and to everyone who's listened over the years. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/Xc0S_O4KrhY Timestamps Cold open: 0:00 Intros: 1:17 News: 9:19 PharaohKatt tells us about Speech Pathology Week 2024: 27:00 Related or Not (with polls!): 40:23 Words of the Week: 56:52 Self-indulgent twaddle about the show and thank yous: 1:23:16 The Reads: 1:30:50 Outtake: 1:35:24

Can you hear them? Only if you're meant to. Political dogwhistles exploit lack of knowledge in one group to send a coded message to another group. But that's just the beginning. How are dogwhistles different from slurs? How do they licence behaviour? Do progressives dogwhistle? Dr Elin McCready is the author of Signaling Without Saying: The Semantics and Pragmatics of Dogwhistles. We're also joined by Lizzy Hanks and Dr Jesse Egbert, who are working on the LANA-CASE corpus, a huge corpus of conversational English. It aims to bring representation to a diverse group of English speakers, and they're looking for contributors. Dr Rikker Dockum is our special guest host. Timestamps Intros: 0:00 News: 3:01 Interview with Lizzy Hanks and Jesse Egbert: 16:47 Related or Not: 35:45 Interview with Elin McCready: 45:57 Words of the Week: 1:17:47 The Reads: 1:39:43

Ruanni Tupas, an editor focused on language inequalities, teams up with guest host Nicole Holliday to dive into the complexities surrounding varieties of English. They discuss how language ideologies can hinder learners, emphasizing systemic inequalities tied to English proficiency. Anecdotes from their experiences shed light on identity and accent biases, while they advocate for valuing diverse linguistic backgrounds. The conversation weaves in humor about contemporary language use, making it an engaging exploration of the politics of communication.

What do signed languages have in common? How do oral languages influence signed languages? How do they influence each other? Here to answer these questions and many more, it's Dr Adam Schembri of the University of Birmingham. You can watch our chat with Adam Schembri on video, with Christy Filipich doing Auslan interpretation. That video is here: https://youtu.be/GcV0218VJ2k Also joining us as a special guest: Dr Mark Ellison. Timestamps Intros: 0:38 News: 3:33 Related or Not: 54:15 Interview with Adam Schembri: 1:05:31 Words of the Week: 2:08:27 Comments: 2:27:56 The Reads: 2:31:21 Listener comment: 2:39:33

Katie Martin, a generative syntactician connected to MIT, and Abduweli Ayup, a Uyghur language activist, share intriguing insights on Noam Chomsky's lasting influence on linguistics. They discuss the dual aspects of Chomsky's career, balancing groundbreaking theories with his political activism. Ayup highlights the struggles of preserving the Uyghur language under oppressive policies, emphasizing the emotional toll on children in boarding schools. Meanwhile, Martin dives into generative syntax, revealing its complexities and the ongoing debates surrounding Chomsky’s ideas.

A hundred episodes already? To celebrate, we’re doing our favourite kind of episode: a Mailbag. Why is it a BLOW JOB when there’s no blowing? Why JOB? And why is OFF often used in sexual expressions? Why do we say NO SIRREE? Is there an equivalent expression for women? Why does English have rare TH sounds like /θ/ and /ð/? Why doesn’t everyone? HIS’N — is it related to IF’N? Timestamps Intros: 1:00 Questions (sexual): 8:46 Questions (non-sexual): 26:24 Related or Not: 42:12 More questions: 36:36 The Reads: 1:15:48 Outtakes: 1:20:11