58 episodes
Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios Lexicon Valley
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- Society & Culture
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4.7 • 27 Ratings
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A podcast about language, with host John McWhorter.
lexiconvalley.substack.com
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Come Under Scrutiny
What does the bat in “acrobat” have to do with the word come? John explains.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe -
Have Your Own Damn Self a Merry Little Christmas
Reflexive pronouns are redundant in a way, sure, but they’re also quite common in many languages. John explains.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe -
When Did People Start Talking?
There’s good reason to believe that sophisticated speech began long before homo sapiens hit the scene. John explains.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe -
Who's Afraid of Ayesha Rascoe?
Does Ayesha Rascoe have a good radio voice? Not according to many NPR listeners, who find her loud, high-pitched and generally grating. John explains.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe -
What Is Miami English?
A recent study suggests that a new dialect is emerging in the southern part of Florida. John explains.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe -
Report of the Trial of Levi Weeks
The trial transcript of a 225-year-old murder is filled with fascinating evidence of the way we used to talk. John explains.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe
Customer Reviews
Thank you Florence
Florence from Dry Cleaning woke me up to this pod and so thanks to her I’m here and what a pleasure it is.
The Indiana Jones of Etymology
I love history and I love writing, and this podcast is right up my street indeed, as we explore the evolution of words and the history of language with a genial and engaging host, who combines consummate erudition with bags of entertainment. John McWhorter does for etymology what Indiana Jones did for archaeology!