Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios

Lexicon Valley
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Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios

A podcast about language, with host John McWhorter. lexiconvalley.substack.com

  1. Giving You the Business

    15 OCT

    Giving You the Business

    It may seem apparent how we got from busyness to business, but the origins of the word “busy” itself are shrouded in mystery. John explains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    25 min

  2. 9 SEPT

    When Is Code-Switching Inappropriate?

    As a daily listener to WNYC Public Radio in New York City, John has noticed that a certain announcer frequently mispronounces words on air. He has thoughts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    27 min

  3. 1 AUG

    The World's Largest Family

    Working backwards from existing languages, linguists have had great success reconstructing Proto-Indo-European. Does that mean we can do the same for all language families? John explains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    19 min

  4. 12 JUL

    English Is Practically Naked

    A cyclone came through and blew off most of English’s clothes, says John, in Part II of his discussion of Indo-European. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    22 min

  5. 10 JUN

    Family Ties

    There are at least five defining features among hundreds of related languages from English to Hindi to Russian. And what does any of that have to do with the Hittites? John explains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    27 min

  6. 30 APR

    Going Deep

    The simple verb to go quickly gets complex in just about any language and English is no exception. John explains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    33 min

  7. 18 MAR

    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 would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    26 min

  8. 30/12/2023

    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 would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    28 min
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A podcast about language, with host John McWhorter. lexiconvalley.substack.com

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