Words for Granted - An etymology and…

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https://www.intelligentspeechconference.com/
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http://www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/words
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The History of the Alphabet: Interview with Danny Bate

Tuesday, March 17, 2026 • Duration 44:49

In this episode, author Danny Bate walks through the alphabet's evolution from its origins in Egyptian hieroglyphs to the letters of the English alphabet familiar to us today. He explains why English spelling became so irregular, while also arguing that non-phonetic spelling can preserve meaning and help unify diverse English dialects. The conversation also highlights memorable letter histories, including an answer to the question: Why does Q need U?

To learn more about Danny and order his new book, click here.

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Lessons on Language with the Grammar Girl (Mignon Fogerty)

Tuesday, January 2, 2024 • Duration 31:45

In this episode, Ray chats with Mignon Fogerty, aka the Grammar Girl. "Good grammar" may seem like the epitome of prescriptivism, but when it comes to her "Quick and Dirty Tips", Mignon leans on a more ideologically neutral approach. Might you even call "good grammar" ... a style choice?

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African American English: Interview w/ Tracey Weldon

Tuesday, August 2, 2022 • Duration 38:55

In this episode, I speak with Tracey Weldon, linguist and board advisor on the Oxford Dictionary of African American English project. We discuss the origins of AAE, the role of code switching within its speech community, AAE's contributions to mainstream English, and more.

For $25 off your Lingoda Sprint Challenge enrollment, use this link:

https://try.lingoda.com/Ray_Sprint

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Episode 28: Scene

Monday, May 29, 2017 • Duration 23:12

The word scene has always had close ties to the theater, but it did not always refer to 'subdivisions within in a play.' The meaning of the original Greek skene was 'tent or booth.' It's an odd etymology, and today's episode explores multiple theories that seek to explain where this original sense may have come from.

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Episode 27: Comedy

Monday, May 15, 2017 • Duration 26:42

Today, 'comedy' is a genre of entertainment that makes us laugh. However, this was not always the case. The word derives from a Greek compound that most likely meant 'revel song,' and it's culturally rooted in an ancient festival called the ... penis parade? Yes, the penis parade. Yet humor was not always the main component of comedy as it is today. Exploring topics as disparate as Dante's Divine Comedy to Punch and Judy puppet shows, this episode covers a condensed history of the genre of comedy.

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Episode 26: Tragedy

Friday, April 21, 2017 • Duration 17:29

The word 'tragedy' is rooted in ancient Greek theater. It's a dramatic form that stills exists today, but what's the word's etymology? Is it connected to suffering? Despair? Heartache? No, no, and no. It most likely comes from a Greek word meaning 'goat-song.' In today's episode, we look at a few theories that explain this strange etymology.

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Episode 25: Tyrant

Friday, April 7, 2017 • Duration 26:24

The word 'tyrant' is steeped in the political history of Ancient Greece. However, it didn't always refer to cruel rulers. Originally, a 'tyrant' was a morally neutral word for someone who usurped the throne and took over leadership on their own terms. Most of the early Greek tyrants were actually lauded by their subjects.

Joining me in the historical exploration of tyrants and tyranny is Ryan Stitt from the History of Ancient Greece.

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Episode 24: Ethnic Suffixes (-an, -ian, -ean, -ish, -ese, -i)

Saturday, March 25, 2017 • Duration 29:54

English uses many different suffixes to indicate ethnicities. Each suffix entered the language independently, and each suffix has a story to tell. This episode attempts to elucidate the geopolitical distribution of the four main categories of ethnic suffixation in English: -an (including -ian and -ean), -ish, -ese, and -i.

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Episode 23: Filibuster

Friday, March 10, 2017 • Duration 21:09

Today's episode looks at the evolution of the modern sense of the word filibuster. Borrowed from a Dutch word meaning 'pirate,' 'filibuster' originally referred to Americans who organized unauthorized military invasions of Spanish colonies in Central America and the West Indies.

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Episode 22: Candidate

Thursday, February 23, 2017 • Duration 15:51

In this episode, we explore the origins of the word 'candidate.' It derives from candidus, the Latin word for 'white,' which describes the typical attire worn by Roman politicians running for office. We also examine some unlikely cognates derived from this same root word.

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Words for Granted - An etymology and linguistics podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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Words for Granted - An etymology and linguistics podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Apple Podcasts

Spotify

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Other38

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