Vocal fry. Code switching. Black Twitter. Valley girls. Culture vultures. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TALKING. Alie battles traffic to sit down with linguistics professor Dr. Nicole Holliday about intonational phonology: how tones and pitch help us bond with others and construct identities. Inspired in part by former President Barack Obama's masterful linguistic variability, Dr. Holliday's work focuses on how language is used in the crossing and construction of racial/ethnic boundaries. She graciously fielded tons of questions for a fascinating dive into the nuances and strict grammatical rules of African American Language, cultural appropriation, our educational system, honoring your identity, what not to wear in Paris and the roiling debate over who is the best rapper. Also: Alie is maybe a lizard person.Follow Dr. Nicole Holliday @MixedLinguist on Twitter and InstagramMore episode sources & linksBecome a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a monthOlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, pins, totes!Follow @Ologies on Twitter and InstagramFollow @AlieWard on Twitter and InstagramSound editing by Steven Ray MorrisTheme song by Nick Thorburn
No persons identified in this episode.
This episode hasn't been transcribed yet
Help us prioritize this episode for transcription by upvoting it.
Popular episodes get transcribed faster
Other episodes from Ologies with Alie Ward
Transcribed and ready to explore now
Critical Ponerology (WHAT IS “EVIL”?) with Kenneth MacKendrick
22 Oct 2025
Ologies with Alie Ward
Bonus Episode: COCKROACH MILK with Joshua Benoit and Sinead English
20 Oct 2025
Ologies with Alie Ward
Blattodeology (YES, COCKROACHES) with Dominic Evangelista
15 Oct 2025
Ologies with Alie Ward
Haunted Hydrology (SPOOKY LAKES) with Geo Rutherford
08 Oct 2025
Ologies with Alie Ward
Serpopsychology (WHAT’S CREEPY?) with Frank McAndrew
01 Oct 2025
Ologies with Alie Ward
Revolutionology (REBELLIONS & SOCIAL CHANGE) with Jack Goldstone
24 Sep 2025
Ologies with Alie Ward