A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

Latest Episodes:

Cellar Door (minicast) - 19 July 2010 Jul 20, 2010

Show notes

It’s been said that the most beautiful combination of words in English is cellar door. But why? After this caller raised the question, Grant did even more digging on the topic. The result: He wrote an article about it that appeared in the New York Times.

Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org. Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443. Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443. Email words@waywordradio.org. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation.

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Picklebacks and Mountweazels (rebroadcast) - 12 July 2010 Jul 12, 2010

Show notes

Martha and Grant talk about phrases you love to hate, like “Do you mind if I put you on hold?” They also talk about mountweazels, jakey bums, picklebacks, and step-ins. And which is the proper term: mothers-in-law or mother-in-laws?

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What's the Possessive of Y'all? (Minicast) - 8 July 2010 Jul 08, 2010

Show notes

What’s the possessive of y’all? Is it y’all’s? Y’alls? Y’alls’s? What do all ya’ll think?

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Crash Blossoms: When Words Collide (rebroadcast) - 5 July 2010 Jul 05, 2010

Show notes

This week, it’s headlines that make you do a doubletake, like “Child’s Stool Great for Use in Garden.” Martha and Grant discuss a few of these bloopers, also known as crash blossoms. Also, if you unthaw something, are you freezing it or unfreezing it? Do hotcakes really sell that fast? What’s the likelihood of getting people to use a new gender-neutral pronoun? And Grant shares the story behind the term knucklehead.

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Not to Be Confused with Hieronymus (Minicast) - 30 June 2010 Jun 30, 2010

Show notes

A Texas listener came across the word Boche in a biography of a French statesman, and wants to know: What does it mean, exactly?

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The Fighting Kewpies, Un-hunh! (Rebroadcast) - 28 June 2010 Jun 28, 2010

Show notes

In high school, no one thinks twice about cheering for the Fighting Trojans or the Tigers. But what about the Hickman Kewpies? Or the Maryville Spoofhounds? Martha and Grant talk about some of the odder names for school athletic teams. Also, in this episode: If you’re queasy, are you nauseous or nauseated? How do you pronounce the word sorry? And why do conservative Democrats call themselves Blue Dogs?

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Forte or For-tay: Is Pronunciation Your Strong Suit? (minicast) - 24 June 2010 Jun 24, 2010

Show notes

How do you pronounce this word that means someone’s strong suit? Like fort or fortay? And what does it have to do with fencing?

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Keep Your Tail Over the Dashboard (rebroadcast) - 21 June 2010 Jun 21, 2010

Show notes

This week, McGimpers, geetus, and other underworld lingo from the 1930s. Crime novelist James Ellroy stops by to talk slang terms and reveals his own favorite. Also, is the expression “Hear, hear!” or “Here, here!”? Is it bran-new or brand-new? The spooky, creepy story behind the flat hat called a tam. And what does it mean to keep your tail over the dashboard?

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Annoyed by Embololalia (Minicast) - 18 June 2010 Jun 18, 2010

Show notes

Um, are you, like, one of those people who, um, get, like, really annoyed, by, um, you know, like, um, lots of filler words in, you know, like, conversation? If it’s any comfort, there’s a great term for this. Can you say embololalia?

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Season and Sea Change (Minicast) - 18 June 2010 Jun 18, 2010

Show notes

The first of two podcasts this week includes a special message to A Way with Words podcast listeners. Also, Martha answers a listener’s email about the term sea change. Or is it C change?

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