Words for Granted - An etymology and linguistics podcast

Ray Belli
  • 4.4 (21)
  • LANGUAGE LEARNING
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Words for Granted is a podcast that looks at how words change over time. Host Ray Belli uses linguistic evolution as a way of understanding larger historical and cultural changes.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    The Science and History of English Accents: Interview with Valerie Fridland

    In this episode, Ray talks with linguist Valerie Friedland about accents—what they are, where they come from, and why everyone has one. They explore how accents begin in early childhood, how regional speech patterns change over time, and why certain pronunciations carry such strong social meaning. From accent bias to the myth of "accentless" speech, the conversation reveals how deeply language shapes identity and perception. Use this link to buy Valerie's new book, Why We Talk Funny: https://www.valeriefridland.com/

    46 min

  2. 17 MAR

    The History of the Alphabet: Interview with Danny Bate

    In this episode, author Danny Bate walks through the alphabet's evolution from its origins in Egyptian hieroglyphs to the letters of the English alphabet familiar to us today. He explains why English spelling became so irregular, while also arguing that non-phonetic spelling can preserve meaning and help unify diverse English dialects. The conversation also highlights memorable letter histories, including an answer to the question: Why does Q need U?  To learn more about Danny and order his new book, use this link: https://dannybate.com/

    45 min

  3. 02/01/2024

    Lessons on Language with the Grammar Girl (Mignon Fogerty)

    In this episode, Ray chats with Mignon Fogerty, aka the Grammar Girl. "Good grammar" may seem like the epitome of prescriptivism, but when it comes to her "Quick and Dirty Tips", Mignon leans on a more ideologically neutral approach. Might you even call "good grammar" ...  a style choice?

    32 min

  4. 08/07/2023

    The Marvels of Translation: Interview with Keith Khan-Harris

    What can we learn about the nature of translation by reading a warning message in hundreds of different languages? In this episode, Keith Kahn-Harris discusses his latest book, The Babel Message, in which the mundane, multilingual warning message found inside Kinder Surprise Eggs ignites profound observations about the nature of language and the written word.  To buy The Babel Message, click here.

    38 min

  5. 20/05/2023

    The Power (and Omnipresence) of Rhetoric: Interview with Guy Doza

    Rhetoric has a bad reputation. We tend to think of it as a linguistic tool used by polticians and marketing execs to maipulate the masses. While this stereotype is true, rhetoric is more than just snake oil––we use it in apologies, negotions, and love letters, all without even realizing it. In this episode, speech writer and author Guy Doza takes through a wide range of rhetorical techniques and the psychology behind their effectiveness.  This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. For 10% off your first month, click here. Buy Guy Doza's new book, How to Apologize for Killing a Cat.

    57 min

  6. 27/04/2023

    A Defense of "Bad" English: Interview with Valerie Fridland

    Instead of criticizing deviations from Standard English as "wrong," what if we celebrated them as expressive lingusitic innovations? In this conversation with Valerie, we take a look at some of the quirky features of English that our language teachers taught us to avoid, and in true Words for Granted fashion, we attempt to understand how and why they emerged.  To buy Valerie's new book, "Like Literally, Dude," click here.

    50 min

  7. 19/03/2023

    Learning New Languages: Interview with Rob Paterson

    What goes into building a language learning curriculum? How do designers choose features within a language learing app? Are some approaches to language learning better than others, or is it up to the indiviudal? In this episode, I explore these questions and more with Rob Paterson, Content Production Manager at Memrise.  To get 50% off an annual plan with Memrise, go to: https://memri.se/WFG50

    33 min

  8. 22/01/2023

    Combatting Bias in Linguistic AI: Interview with Courtney Napoles

    As Lead of Language Research at Grammarly, Courtney Napoles is building systems to better help people from around the world communicate. In this episode, we discuss things such as the fundamentals of linguistic machine learning and how AI learns linguistic biases––not to mention how those biases are undone.    To get 50% off an annual plan with Memrise, go to: https://memri.se/WFG50

    30 min
See All (129)

4.4
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Words for Granted is a podcast that looks at how words change over time. Host Ray Belli uses linguistic evolution as a way of understanding larger historical and cultural changes.

Information

You Might Also Like