A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over
Episodes
A Murphy, a Melvin, and a Wedgie (Rebroadcast) - 29 March 2011
29 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to joining Facebook affinity groups, grammar lovers have lots of choices. Take, for example, the group whose motto is “Punctuation sa...
Sailor's Delight (rebroadcast) - 21 March 2011
22 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired March 6, 2010.]"Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky at morning, sailor take warning." Martha talks about this weathe...
Qi, Qat, and Za: Great Scrabble Words - 14 March 2011
15 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Need a good Scrabble word? Grant shares some of his favorites. Also, why do we call those classic screwball films madcap comedies? And what does it m...
It's in My Wheelhouse - 7 March 2011
07 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
What was your first word? Grant and Martha talk about how children acquire language. Also, if you say that something’s in your wheelhouse, you mean...
Sufficiently Suffonsified (rebroadcast) - 31 Jan. 2011
31 Jan 2011
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired February 27, 2010.]What's in a pet's name? Martha and Grant swap stories about how they came up with names for their dogs. A...
Word Up! - 17 Jan. 2011
17 Jan 2011
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARYWhat would you serve a plumber who comes over for dinner? How about ... leeks? The hosts play a word game called "What Would You Serve?" Also, ...
Down A Chimney Up (Rebroadcast) - 10 Jan. 2011
10 Jan 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Good poetry is even better when you read it aloud. For his anthology, Essential Pleasures: A New Anthology of Poems to Read Aloud former U.S. Poet L...
The Thought Plickens (rebroadcast) - 3 Jan. 2010
03 Jan 2011
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired February 6, 2010.]If you're inappropriately focused on the minutiae of a project instead of the bigger picture, you're said ...
Cut to the Chase - 27 Dec. 2010
27 Dec 2010
Contributed by Lukas
This week: whether cotton-pickin’ is racist, unintentionally funny headlines, whether enormity can simply mean “enormous,” how a person can ...
Too Much Sugar for a Dime - 20 Dec. 2010
20 Dec 2010
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARYIs the term "Oriental" offensive? Many people think so. Martha and Grant discuss the reasons why. Also, where do we get the phrase "not one iot...
Anaheim, Asuza, and Cuck-a-monga (Rebroadcast) - 6 Dec. 2010
06 Dec 2010
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired November 9, 2009.] All aboard! This week, a bit about the musical language of railroad conductors' calls: 'Anaheim, Azusa, a...
Zig-Zag and Shilly-Shally (Rebroadcast) - 29 Nov. 2010
29 Nov 2010
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired October 24, 2009.]Bavarian Chalet. Mushroom Basket. Moose Point. Who in the heck comes up with the names of paints, anyway? ...
A Roberta of Flax - 22 Nov. 2010
22 Nov 2010
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARY We have collective nouns for animals, like "a gaggle of geese," "a pride of lions," and "an exaltation of larks." So why not collective nouns ...
NPR Puzzlemaster Will Shortz - 16 Nov. 2010
16 Nov 2010
Contributed by Lukas
This week, a special treat: NPR Puzzlemaster Will Shortz stops by with a quiz about slang and anagrams. Did you know that "A Way with Words" is not pr...
Words of the Year - 15 Nov. 2010
15 Nov 2010
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARYWhat's your choice for 2010's word of the year? Mama grizzly? Starwhacker? And who could forget vuvuzela? Martha and Grant discuss the Five-Oh ...
Lunatic Fringe - 25 Oct. 2010
25 Oct 2010
Contributed by Lukas
SUMMARYIn this week's episode, "It was bright cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen." Martha and Grant discuss their favorite first ...
Drinking Terms (minicast) - 6 Oct. 2010
06 Oct 2010
Contributed by Lukas
An interview with slang lexicographer Paul Dickson about drinking language and his book "Drunk: the Definitive Drinkers Dictionary."--A Way with Words...
A Louse in a Wrestling Jacket - 4 Oct. 2010
03 Oct 2010
Contributed by Lukas
A California college student is campaigning for international scientific authorities to adopt the slang term hella- as an official prefix indicating a...
A Gazelle on the Lawn (rebroadcast) - 13 Sept. 2010
14 Sep 2010
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired March 13, 2010.]What do you say if you have guests over and someone in your family has stray food left on the face? In some ...
Spendthrift Snollygosters (rebroadcast) - 16 Aug. 2010
16 Aug 2010
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired February 20, 2010.]This week, it's the language of politics. Martha and Grant discuss two handy terms describing politicians...
The Language of Less Than Three (rebroadcast) - 9 Aug. 2010
09 Aug 2010
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired February 13, 2010.] Whoever wrote "The Book of Love" neglected to include the handy emoticon
A Whole Nother (Rebroadcast) - 26 July 2010
26 Jul 2010
Contributed by Lukas
For the final word on grammar, many writers turn to the Associated Press Stylebook. But if you find that stylebook too stuffy, you’ll love Fake AP...
Cellar Door (minicast) - 19 July 2010
20 Jul 2010
Contributed by Lukas
The Most Beautiful Words in the English Language: "Cellar Door"?It's been said that the most beautiful combination of words in English is "cellar door...
Picklebacks and Mountweazels (rebroadcast) - 12 July 2010
12 Jul 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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, pic...
What's the Possessive of Y'all? (minicast) - 8 July 2010
08 Jul 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Is it y'all's? Y'alls? Y'alls's? What do all ya'll think?--A Way with Words is funded by its listeners: http://waywordradio.org/donateGet your languag...
Crash Blossoms: When Words Collide (rebroadcast) - 5 July 2010
05 Jul 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Not to Be Confused with Hieronymus (minicast) - 30 June 2010
30 Jun 2010
Contributed by Lukas
A Texas listener came across the word "Boche" in a biography of a French statesman, and wants to know: What does it mean, exactly?--A Way with Words i...
The Fighting Kewpies, Un-hunh! (rebroadcast) - 28 June 2010
28 Jun 2010
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired December 5, 2009.]In high school, no one thinks twice about cheering for the Fighting Trojans or the Tigers. But what about ...
Forte or For-tay: Is Pronunciation Your Strong Suit? (minicast) - 24 June 2010
24 Jun 2010
Contributed by Lukas
How do you pronounce this word that means someone's "strong suit"? And what does it have to do with fencing?--A Way with Words is funded by its listen...
Keep Your Tail Over the Dashboard (rebroadcast) - 21 June 2010
21 Jun 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Are You Annoyed by Embololalia? (minicast) - 18 June 2010
18 Jun 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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, conver...
Season and Sea Change (minicast) - 18 June 2010
18 Jun 2010
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Get Your Nickels Together for a Jitney Supper - 7 June 2010
07 Jun 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Anagrams, rebuses, cryptograms -- Martha and Grant swap stories about the games that first made them realize that playing with words and letters can b...
Bless Your Heart - 31 May 2010
31 May 2010
Contributed by Lukas
This week, it's backhanded phrases, those snarky remarks that come sugar-coated in politeness, like "How nice for you," "Oh, interesting!" and the mot...
Hit the Pickle Button - 10 May 2010
10 May 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Who was that masked man? Was it the Barefoot Bandit, the Mummy Bandit, or perhaps the Botox Bandit? Or maybe it was the Bad-Breath Bandit? The hosts d...
X, Y, and Zed (Rebroadcast) - 26 April 2010
26 Apr 2010
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired October 17, 2009.]Some teachers are using a controversial tactic to get young students reading: They let their 'pupils choos...
Pardon Our French - 19 April 2010
19 Apr 2010
Contributed by Lukas
South African English is a rich mix of Afrikaans, English, and indigenous languages such as Zulu and Xhosa. Martha and Grant discuss some favorite ter...
Awkward Turtle - 5 April 2010
05 Apr 2010
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired October 10, 2009.]Do you say something happened on accident or by accident? Is text-messaging is destroying our kids' writin...
Gyros and Sheath Cakes (Rebroadcast) - 29 March 2010
29 Mar 2010
Contributed by Lukas
What's the right way to pronounce gyros? Have you ever heard of feeling poozley? Called something great a blinger? Use the expression one-off to mean ...
Jan Freeman, Write it Right - 4 March 2010
04 Mar 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Write it Right One hundred years ago, American journalist and satirist Ambrose Bierce published a curmudgeonly book of writing advice called Write It...
Jack Lynch, Author of The Lexicographer's Dilemma - 22 Jan. 2010
22 Jan 2010
Contributed by Lukas
You know that grammatical 'rule' about not ending a sentence with a preposition? Well, who ever decided finishing off a sentence like that is a bad th...
Ken Jennings: Not-So-Trivial Pursuits (minicast) - Jan. 12, 2010
12 Jan 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Grant interviews 'Jeopardy!' champion Ken Jennings about the grueling nature of TV quiz shows, the fine art of writing trivia questions, the special c...
Nicknames Give Me the Heebie-Jeebies and the Vapors (Rebroadcast) - 11 Jan. 2010
11 Jan 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Everybody has a nickname, and there’s usually a story to go with it. Martha and Grant reveal their own nicknames and the stories behind them. Also, ...
Squeejawed Red-heads and Grockles (Rebroadcast) - 4 January 2010
04 Jan 2010
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode originally aired February 9, 2008.] In this week's episode: Just how far back could you go and still understand the English people were...
See A Man About A Horse (Rebroadcast) - 28 Dec. 2009
28 Dec 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired January 12, 2008.] In this week's episode, Martha and Grant discuss not-to-be-believed articles about language from the sat...
Words of the Decade - 21 Dec. 2009
21 Dec 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Enough about the 'Word of the Year.' How about the 'Word of the Decade'? Bailout? Google? Martha and Grant discuss some candidates. Also in this episo...
Coinkydinks and Big Boxes - 30 Nov. 2009
30 Nov 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired May 10, 2008.] We all misspeak from time to time, but how about when we mangle words on purpose? Do you ever say 'fambly' i...
Word Encounters of the First Kind - 14 November 2009
14 Nov 2009
Contributed by Lukas
There’s a frisson you get when you meet a word for the first time—feeling pleasantly stumped in between wondering, “What the heck does that mean...
Shivaree - 4 Nov. 2009
04 Nov 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to another minicast from A Way with Words. I'm Martha Barnette. You may remember the call we had from Tony in Encinitas, California. He was c...
Tilly Tickets (minicast) - 20 Oct. 2009
20 Oct 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Did you ever use a tilly ticket in the bathroom? Over the years, we've answered lots of your questions about words and phrases that have to do with ...
Roy Blount Jr. Slings Southern Slang (minicast) - 15 Oct. 2009
15 Oct 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Humorist Roy Blount Jr. stops by to try his hand at a slang quiz specifically about Southernisms. Blount, who is president of the Authors Guild, also...
We Cook Off Our Potatoes (minicast) - 13 Oct. 2009
13 Oct 2009
Contributed by Lukas
If a restaurant menu states, 'We cook off our potatoes,' what in the heck does that mean? A truck driver who encountered such an announcement at a roa...
What's Slang Jang? (minicast) - 8 Oct. 2009
08 Oct 2009
Contributed by Lukas
No, it's not the neurological effect of spending too much time researching odd new terms. Slang jang is a tongue-tickling sauce found in East Texas. F...
Nuclearly (minicast) - 6 Oct. 2009
06 Oct 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Is it acceptable to make a brand-new adverb simply by adding an -ly to an adjective? A scientist wants to know, and specifically a term she uses, nucl...
West Word, Ho! - 28 Sept. 2009
28 Sep 2009
Contributed by Lukas
It's a brand-new season of A Way with Words! Grant has big news, too: He's used up his last Metrocard, packed up his belongings, and moved to the Left...
English Down Under - 21 Sept. 2009
21 Sep 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode originally aired October 11, 2008.] This week, Martha and Grant discuss terms from Australia, including aerial ping-pong, pumpkin squat...
Oh-ah, Oh-ah: That's How We Roll (minicast) - 17 Sept. 2009
17 Sep 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Does your family have a word for the cardboard tube left over from a roll of toilet paper? A caller says his family refers to them Oh-ah, Oh-ahs. Turn...
The Prehistoric Mother Tongue (minicast) - 15 Sept. 2009
15 Sep 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Many of the world's languages apparently derived from a prehistoric common ancestor known as Indo-European. But since no one ever wrote down a word of...
Never Bolt Your Door with A Boiled Carrot - 14 Sept. 2009
14 Sep 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired October 4, 2008.] Proverbs pack great truths into a few well-chosen words, no matter which language you speak. Check out th...
The Txting Db8 - 7 Sept. 2009
07 Sep 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired Sept. 27, 2009.] OMG, text messaging! It's destroying the English language, corrupting young minds, turning us into a natio...
Bogarting Bangers - 31 Aug. 2009
31 Aug 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired June 6, 2009.] Has the age of email led to an outbreak of exclamation marks? Do women use them more than men? Also, is ther...
Poets Laureate and Poetry Brothels - 24 Aug. 2009
24 Aug 2009
Contributed by Lukas
For 341 years, the poets laureate of Britain have all been male. That just changed with the appointment of Britain’s new poet laureate, Carol Ann Du...
Words With K in Them Are Funny - 17 Aug. 2009
17 Aug 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired May 16, 2009.] Pickle, baboon, cupcake, snorkel, pumpkin, Kalamazoo -- let's face it, some words are just plain funny. But ...
Bothered by People Talking in the Third Person? (minicast) - 13. Aug. 2009
13 Aug 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Does it bug you when people talk about themselves in the third person? A caller finds herself mightily annoyed by this habit, which she observes espec...
Going for that Anti-Marketing Dollar - 10 Aug. 2009
10 Aug 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired May 2, 2009.] In this downbeat economy, some advertisers are reaching for upbeat language. Take the new Quaker Oats catchph...
How Do You Pronounce "Etiquette"? Minicast -7 Aug. 2009
07 Aug 2009
Contributed by Lukas
If a colleague repeatedly mispronounces a word, what's the best way to handle it? Should you correct him? Ignore it? Is it possible to discuss the pro...
Don't Give Me Any of That Flannel Minicast - 5 Aug. 2009
05 Aug 2009
Contributed by Lukas
The English language has no shortage of words that mean nonsensical talk, including one that's piqued a listener's curiosity: How did flannel come to ...
Like a Duck on a June Bug - 3 Aug. 2009
03 Aug 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired Apr. 11, 2009.] Why are the names of cars so unimaginative? Grant argues that auto manufacturers might take inspiration fro...
Moded, Corroded, Your Booty Exploded - 27 July 2009
27 Jul 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode originally aired March 28, 2009.] Why is it that what you say to your family and what they hear are different? If you say 'no,' your ch...
Magnolia Mouth, Zero Plurals, and Cluster Simplification (minicast) - 22 July 2009
22 Jul 2009
Contributed by Lukas
An Alabama high-school teacher observes that one of his fellow teachers tends to write words that should be plural as singular, such as 'I graded all ...
I, For One, Welcome Our New Robot Overlords - 20 July 2009
20 Jul 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired March 21, 2009.] Sure, there's 'Grandma' and 'Grampa,' but there's also 'Gammy,' 'Bumpy,' 'Dadoo,' 'Gre-Gre,' 'Kiki,' 'Kerk...
A Walk Spoiled But Our Lie is Good - 13 July 2009
13 Jul 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired March 14, 2009.] If English isn't your first language, there are lots of ways to learn it, such as memorizing Barack Obama'...
Trespasses vs. Debts - 9 July 2009
09 Jul 2009
Contributed by Lukas
A caller wonders why some versions of The Lord's Prayer include the phrase 'forgive us our trespasses,' while others substitute the word 'debt.' -- ...
Postal Abbreviations - 8 July 2009
08 Jul 2009
Contributed by Lukas
What's the deal with using the two-letter postal code abbreviations for states, instead of the longer, more formal abbreviations? That is, why write I...
Tweet, Tweet! Polly Wanna Cracker! - 6 July 2009
06 Jul 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Twittering, tweeting, twirting—it’s rare to see a whole new body of language appear right before your eyes. But that’s what’s happening with ...
Chicken Scratches and Creaky Voice - 29 June 2009
29 Jun 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired February 23, 2009.] Does your 'handwriting' look like chicken scratches, calligraphy, or maybe something in between? Martha...
A Snarl of Serial Commas - 24 June 2009
24 Jun 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Are serial commas always necessary? An English teacher says she was surprised to learn that she and her husband, who's also an English teacher, are gi...
L-U-R-V-E, Love - 22 June 2009
22 Jun 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired February 14, 2009.] Martha and Grant share a couple of favorite online sources for reading about language: Michael Quinion'...
That's What "Friend" is For? Minicast - 18 June 2009
18 Jun 2009
Contributed by Lukas
How can the word 'friend' possibly describe both the people you went to school with *and* the people to whom you are connected through Facebook and My...
Great Googly Moogly Minicast - 17 June 2009
17 Jun 2009
Contributed by Lukas
'Great Googly Moogly!' A caller wonders where that exclamation comes from. Here's the Snickers commercial that includes the phrase. http://www.youtube...
Summer Housekeeping Minicast - 16 June 2009
16 Jun 2009
Contributed by Lukas
A special message for podcast listeners. Also, this just in: The term gunny sack is a pleonasm! Who knew? (So sue us -- we can't help getting excited ...
Once Upon a Time - June 15, 2009
15 Jun 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired February 7, 2009.] Are fairy tales too scary for children? A survey of parents in Britain found that more than half wouldn'...
Falling off the Wagon (minicast) - 3 June 2009
03 Jun 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Why do we say someone is 'on the wagon' when they abstain from drinking alcohol? -- Get your language question answered on the air! Call or write wi...
Days of Wine Flights and Mullets - 1 June 2009
01 Jun 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[This episode first aired January 24, 2009.] President Barack Obama hopes to boost the economy by pouring federal dollars into efforts to rebuild the...
Hip-Hop Book of Rhymes - 13 May 2009
13 May 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to another minicast from A Way with Words. Iâm Grant Barrett. [Music] Hip-hop is high art. Yeah. Thatâs right. And if you donât understan...
Souped Up and Sizzling - 11 May 2009
11 May 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Like mushrooms in fallen leaves, new words keep popping up overnight. Also, is there an English word that means “the in-laws of your son or daugh...
One Fell Swoop Minicast - 6 May 2009
06 May 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Martha muses about the language of falconry, and in the process, reveals the origins of several words and phrases in one fell swoop. Did you know tha...
A Conversation with Roy Blount Jr. - 29 April 2009
29 Apr 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Humorist Roy Blount Jr. sits down with Grant for a conversation about the controversy over writers' rights and the Amazon Kindle 2. As president of t...
Macaroni and Gravy? - 23 April 2009
23 Apr 2009
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we're going through the e-mail bag. Here's a savory, sensuous one. It's from Stacey in Boulder, Colorado. Stacey grew up out West, but say...
Almost Up to Possible - 20 April 2009
20 Apr 2009
Contributed by Lukas
We recommend books that make great gifts for language lovers, talk about footwear called go-aheads, and look further into going commando. Also, was ...
What's a Hobson's Choice? - 15 April 2009
15 Apr 2009
Contributed by Lukas
What's a 'Hobson's Choice'? If you're facing a Hobson's choice, you don't really have much to choose from. The phrase describes a situation in which ...
Dust Bunnies and Ghost Turds - 6 April 2009
06 Apr 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling fankled? It’s a Scots English word that means “messed up” or “confused.” In this week’s episode, Grant and Martha also discuss a ...
What the Cluck? (Part 2) - 1 April 2009
01 Apr 2009
Contributed by Lukas
What The Cluck, Part 2 What does the expression egg on have to do with chickens? Nothing, actually. Martha explains why, and tells the story of how t...
What the Cluck? - 25 March 2009
25 Mar 2009
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we received an email from Randy in San Diego. Randy writes: 'I recently got myself three hens for the back yard as a hobby that I thought ...
Stem-winding and Spellbinding Sentences Minicast - 18 March 2009
18 Mar 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Recently The New Yorker magazine ran a profile of the writer David Foster Wallace, who died last year at the age of 46. The article included a line th...
Leapin' Lexical Inventions - 11 March 2009
11 Mar 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Martha explains how experiments with dead frogs and live wires led to the invention of the battery, and inspired a couple of familiar English words. ...
Elvis in a Cheese Sandwich - 9 March 2009
09 Mar 2009
Contributed by Lukas
[Portions of this episode were first broadcast November 1, 2008.] Apple core, Baltimore! Ever play the rhyming game where you eat an apple, then shou...
Twacking around Duckish Minicast - 4 March 2009
04 Mar 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Time for another linguistic mystery. Where would you be if you decided to go twacking around duckish, and then you came home and wrote about it in a ...
How About a Game of Meehonkey? - 16 Feb. 2009
16 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Time for another linguistic mystery. In what part of the country would you be likely to hear older folks using the following phrases? 'He sure was mo...
Love Joe Floggers? So Don't I! - 2 Feb. 2009
02 Feb 2009
Contributed by Lukas
Time to solve another linguistic mystery. You're in a restaurant. You overhear a conversation at the next table. The woman says to her friend, 'You k...