PodcastsEducationLinguistics HQ

Linguistics HQ

Dr Rebecca Mitchell
Linguistics HQ
Latest episode

11 episodes

  • Linguistics HQ

    Just act your age! An introduction to language and age

    21/1/2026 | 18 mins.
    Does language use really get worse over time, or are we just getting older? Is slang just too skibidi for a parliamentary speech? And for how long have we been at risk of brain rot? This episode, which looks at the relationship between age and language use, will answer all of these questions and more!
  • Linguistics HQ

    He said, she said.....: an introduction to language and gender

    07/1/2026 | 18 mins.
    What makes a Greek grammarian grumpy? Is it asking for purple but getting midnight aubergine? Or is it appearing in the same podcast episode as Britney Spears and the Kardashians? This episode is the first in a new season on sociolinguistics, starting with language and gender. From swearing to vocal fry, tune in to find out the truth behind some of the stereotypes!
  • Linguistics HQ

    When humans first had the last word: an introduction to the origins of language

    26/11/2025 | 28 mins.
    Have you ever wondered where language actually comes from? Why did humans develop language in a way that other species didn't? And are bow-wow, ding-dong and poo-poo bona fide academic theories? Season 1 will go out with a bang as this episode attempts to answer one of the biggest questions in linguistics! Linguistics HQ will then go into a brief period of hibernation, but it will be back on Wednesday 6th January with a new season all about sociolinguistics, so see you then!
  • Linguistics HQ

    Between the lines: an introduction to pragmatics

    12/11/2025 | 17 mins.
    Why do we say 'I’ll think about it' when we’ve already decided? What's the difference between 'thanks' and 'thanks'? Could a misplaced emoji start a war? And are you stuck for ways to celebrate National Linguistics Day? In this episode, we unwrap the hidden messages in everyday talk — where words are just the beginning and context is everything. Tune in to learn about pragmatics and ways to get #NationalLinguisticsDay trending!
  • Linguistics HQ

    Meaning business: an introduction to semantics

    29/10/2025 | 17 mins.
    Have you been mixing your metaphors recently? Are you reticent or reluctant? How can you reanalyse a crayfish? And which deadly device is lurking in your office? This episode looks at semantics, including what makes up meaning, how meaning changes over time, and how AI handles it (obviously not as well as we do!).

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About Linguistics HQ

Are you curious about how languages work? Have you ever wondered, for example, why humans speak and animals don’t, or why there are so many different languages? Maybe at some point you’ve asked yourself why some people start a sentence in one language and finish it in another, or whether women really do talk more than men, or who invented the alphabet, or where we get new words from. Perhaps you want to know why the language you’re learning has masculine and feminine words, or you’ve heard rumours of languages that consist entirely of whistling! And where do designer dogs fit into all this?!Well, you’ve come to the right place, because the Linguistics HQ podcast will answer all of these questions and many more! We’ll explore every aspect of the science of language, starting with the basics, from how languages are structured to how we can use our knowledge of linguistics to discover exciting things and even make our world a better place. Whatever sort of language enthusiast you are, Linguistics HQ has got something for you. I’m Dr Rebecca Mitchell and I’m a lecturer, teacher and public speaker, and I’m on a mission to make the science of language everyone’s business. So hit subscribe and let’s get thinking, talking and learning about linguistics!www.linguisticshq.co.uk
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