That's What They Say

Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
  • 0.0 (0)
  • LANGUAGE LEARNING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
That's What They Say

That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. Each week University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan will discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public Weekend Edition host Rebecca Kruth.

  1. 20 HR AGO

    TWTS: "These ones" made the lightning round

    Of all the topics we could cover this week on That's What They Say, we chose these ones over those ones.

    5 min

  2. 4 NOV

    TWTS: We've seen a change with "sea change"

    A sea change can now be caused by many things other than the sea, and some of its dramatic effects have been lost in the process.

    5 min

  3. 28 OCT

    TWTS: The touchy third rail

    We're going to try not to touch the third rail, but we are going to talk about it.

    5 min

  4. 14 OCT

    TWTS: In America, it's always hot dog season

    Major League Baseball playoffs and football tailgate season both mean the smell of hot dogs is in the air.

    5 min

  5. 4 OCT

    TWTS: Petards are for hoisting, not stabbing

    We don't encounter petards very often anymore. That’s unless we’re being, metaphorically speaking, “hoisted with our own petard.”

    5 min

  6. 23 SEPT

    TWTS: Should we stop utilizing "utilize" and just use "use"?

    There are plenty of people out there who see "utilize" as a pretentious substitute for "use." However, some people are completely comfortable utilizing the verb "utilize."

    5 min

  7. 16 SEPT

    TWTS: Yeah, we need to talk about "yay"

    There’s the “yea” in voting “yea” or “nay," and then there’s the celebratory “Yay!" Oh yeah, there's also "yeah."

    5 min

  8. 9 SEPT

    TWTS: Whoa, is that how you spell "whoa"?

    Whoa, whoa, whoa. There are a lot of ways to spell "whoa."

    5 min
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About

That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. Each week University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan will discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public Weekend Edition host Rebecca Kruth.

Information

  • Creator
    Anne Curzan, Rebecca Kruth
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2024
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    That's What They Say

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