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

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

Rob Tegethoff, a linguist focusing on German language and society, joins Ciarán from Corner Späti, a podcast dedicated to language and culture discussions. They delve into the challenges of gender-inclusive language in Germany, examining activism's role in language manipulation. The conversation touches on societal shifts regarding gender representation and the complexities of belonging for immigrants. They also highlight the impact of censorship on open dialogue and explore the balance between freedom of expression and societal norms.

Anatoly Liberman, a leading etymologist and author of *Origin Uncertain*, takes listeners on a journey through the tangled roots of English words. He discusses the fascinating complexities of etymology and the challenges of tracing word origins. The conversation includes playful guessing games that illustrate the quirks of language and how it evolves. Liberman also highlights how biases can influence grading in education, connects linguistic sound symbolism to cultural perception, and explores new terms relevant to technology and AI.

Eli Burnstein, author of "The Dictionary of Fine Distinctions," dives into the nuances of the English language. He discusses the intriguing differences between kinks and fetishes, reflecting on the personal and societal implications. The conversation also highlights how stress patterns in words impact memory recall, along with the importance of American Sign Language in enhancing accessibility. Eli shares insights on regional language variations in culinary terms, revealing how our understanding of words is shaped by culture and context.

New York City is home to a lot of languages! Sometimes a sizeable language community can live on just a couple of floors of an apartment building. Dr Ross Perlin is working to find and promote minority languages in NYC. He's the co-founder of the Endangered Language Alliance, and author of Language City: The Fight to Preserve Endangered Mother Tongues in New York. Ross joins us for this episode. Intro: 0:36 News: 8:13 Related or Not: 32:52 Interview with Ross Perlin: 43:12 Words of the Week: 1:24:13 The Reads: 1:39:54 Show notes: http://becauselanguage.com/96-language-city/ Support the show: http://patreon.com/join/becauselangpod/

Language authorities. Right-wing politicians. White supremacists and feminists. What do they have in common? They're all working together to fight gender-inclusive language. But why bring language into this fight? What extra does this give them? Dr Caitlin Green and Maureen Kosse join us to explain on this big episode.

Dr Kelly Wright is helping us understand the link between public health and language maintenance. And she’s helping us with our voluminous Mailbag! Why can you have a TRIFECTA, but not any other number -FECTA? Why does a SEXTILLION (with a prefix meaning six) have seven chunks of zeros? What do CHOPSTICKS have to do with chopping? And what’s the -ER in words like RUBBER, AFTER, and TEMPER?