53 episodes

Word Wise explores the history, origin or tall tale behind popular words and phrases. Faculty from Baylor University's College of Arts and Sciences offer their expertise in understanding how the words were formed or what their true meaning may be. The show offers a look at how language changes and how words evolve. A variety of disciplines are represented in the show, including science, arts, social sciences, film, literature, and politics.

Word Wise Baylor University - College of Arts & Sciences

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Word Wise explores the history, origin or tall tale behind popular words and phrases. Faculty from Baylor University's College of Arts and Sciences offer their expertise in understanding how the words were formed or what their true meaning may be. The show offers a look at how language changes and how words evolve. A variety of disciplines are represented in the show, including science, arts, social sciences, film, literature, and politics.

    Monster

    Monster

    One of the first instances of the term "monster" is an association with Grendel in the epic Beowolf. Dr. Jim Kenrick, assistant professor of film, explains.

    • 3 min
    Hallelujah

    Hallelujah

    We don't have a lot of words from the Hebrew language because it reads from right to left. But there's one word that prevailed through time- hallelujah! Dr. Bill Bellinger, professor of Religion, explains.

    • 3 min
    Ask and Acs

    Ask and Acs

    Dr. Clay Butler, a senior lecturer in the English department, talks about metathesis, a process by which two sounds in a word are reveresed. In this episode, we take a look at "ask" and its earlier form "acs."

    • 2 min
    Comedy and Tragedy

    Comedy and Tragedy

    Talk about drama! Dr. John Thorburn, professor of Classics, takes us back to the roots of comedy and tragedy.

    • 2 min
    Break A Leg!

    Break A Leg!

    There have always been good intentions behind this phrase. Dr. Stan Denman, professor of Theatre, talks about how although the phrase has several stories of origin, they all meant good wishes for the actor.

    • 3 min
    Violence

    Violence

    One definition for violence comes from the Motion Picture Association of America. For their ratings, they once chose to define violence as it related to criminality. Dr. Jim Kendrick, assistant professor of Film and Digital Media, explains.

    • 3 min

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