Because Language - a podcast about linguistics, the science of language.

• 116: Enough Is Enuf (with Gabe Henry)

  Spelling reform in English: a constant failure? Or a secret success? Waves upon waves of optimists have tried to make English spelling reflect its sound and escape its etymological origins, but have never seen their vision fully realised. Author Gabe Henry has chronicled the attempts, and he joins us on this episode.  Gabe is the author of Enough Is Enuf: Our Failed Attempts to Make English Easier to Spell, available from Dey Street Books. Timestamps Cold open: 0:00 Intros: 1:44 News: 9:50 Related or Not: 32:21 Interview with Gabe Henry: 49:23 Words of the Week: 1:33:41 Comment: 1:50:50 The Reads: 1:53:57 Outtakes: 2:03:28

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• 114: Bye Bye I Love You (with Michael Erard)

  First words and last words get a lot of attention. But how did words get to have such a place of prominence? What would we see if we focused on interaction instead? A new book looks at words, gestures, and silence at the beginning and end of life. Daniel has a chat with the author of Bye Bye I Love You, Dr Michael Erard. Timestamps Cold open: 0:00 Intros: 1:05 News: 6:59 Related or Not: 35;54 Interview with Michael Erard: 47:56 Words of the Week: 1:33:32 Comment: 1:45:46  The Reads: 1:49:43 Outtake: 1:56:01

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• 113: "Official" English (with Carmen Fought)

  Breaking news: The president of the United States intends to sign an executive order designating English the official language of the USA. Is this a big deal? Why was this necessary, and what happens now? Dr Carmen Fought joins us on this episode. Timestamps Theme and intros: 0:00 Discussing the executive order with Carmen: 0:56 Thanks and reads: 47:38

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• 112: WotY 2024: The Last Word

  What really goes on behind the scenes at the biggest Word of the Year vote in linguistdom? Are we really going to stick with sanewashing for our word? And which words did we miss? We lock in and crash out with New Words Data Czar Dr Kelly Wright. Timestamps Open: 0:00 Intros: 0:57 Words: 6:54 Related or Not: 59:22 Comments: 1:19:19 The Reads: 1:24:00 Outtake: 1:32:39

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• 111: Words of the Week of the Year 2024 (live with Mignon Fogarty and friends)

  It's our Words of the Year episode, where we do a vibe check on all the words and name one of them our Because Language Word of the Year. We're joined by Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty and a lot of friends and supporters. It's going to be weird. It's going to be brat. You know we're going to eat that. Timestamps Cold open: 0:00 Intros: 0:54 All the words from everywhere: 10:58 Related or Not: 43:28 Words from Mignon and James: 58:50 Our Words of the Week of the Year: 1:13:23 The Reads: 1:33:40 Outtakes: 1:39:29

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About Because Language - a podcast about linguistics, the science of language.