Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics

Kory Stamper, lexicographer and author who spent years at Merriam-Webster, guides a romp through mid-20th-century quests to pin down color names. They explore odd labels like begonia, average coral, and sea pink. Conversations jump from archival detective work and color-measurement labs to the tension between scientific standards and everyday perception.

A lively dive into diglossia and how two language varieties split across social situations and prestige. Stories range from Arabic and Swiss German to Quebec French and creoles. They trace the H/L metaphors, colonial and power dynamics, and how writing, texting, and internet registers create new contrasts. Practical signs for spotting diglossic situations come up throughout.

Explore the fascinating journey from raw language to linguistic data. The hosts share insights on the challenges of recording spontaneous moments and how transcription choices shape analysis. Discover the importance of interlinear glossing for cross-language clarity and the vulnerabilities of different media formats in preservation. They emphasize the ethical considerations in sharing data and the need to recognize contributors. Each discussion highlights the community aspect of language, making data accessible and accountable for future research.

They play with surprise sounds and exclamations like oh, huh, whoa, and wow. They explore surprise intonation patterns and how punctuation and emoji convey astonishment. They explain measuring surprise in the brain with EEG and the N400. They discuss mirativity and grammatical marking of surprise across languages and field methods to elicit surprise.

Danny Bate, a public linguist, podcaster, and author, dives into the intriguing world of Proto-Indo-European language. He shares why reconstructing ancient word order is trickier than sounds and discusses the flexible nature of PIE word order. The conversation explores competing homeland theories, blending insights from genetics and archaeology. Danny also highlights fascinating facts from his book on the alphabet, like how Greek and Latin letters evolved, and explains the history behind double letters in English. A treasure trove for language lovers!

They dive into why nasal sounds appear in almost every language and how the nasal cavity shapes speech. They explore nasal vowels, odd experimental methods for studying the nose, and surprising anatomy facts. They survey nose-related idioms, gestures like cock-a-snook across Europe, and how signed languages use the nose as a meaningful place.

Join Pius Akumbu, a Cameroonian linguist and Director of Research in African Linguistics at CNRS, as he dives into the rich nuances of Babanki. He shares his innovative approach to linguistic fieldwork, including staging a mock wedding to document endangered language rituals, which surprisingly inspired real ceremonies. Pius discusses the complexities of Babanki's tone system, explaining how high and low tones can entirely change meanings. He also recounts his challenges and triumphs in founding a local school, ensuring children can learn in their mother tongue even amidst conflict.

Dive into the complex tapestry of urban multilingualism as hosts explore how cities like New York, Melbourne, and Montreal thrive on linguistic diversity. Discover the over 700 languages spoken in NYC and the grassroots movements reclaiming space for endangered languages. The discussion shines a light on language rights and justice, emphasizing the responsibility to protect linguistic freedom. Personal stories reveal the rich narratives behind everyday interactions, making it clear that every city is a vibrant mix of voices and identities.

Dive into a playful debate on whether a hotdog is a sandwich! The hosts discuss the fluidity of food definitions and how cultural contexts shape our understanding of language. Explore prototype theory and its role in defining everyday words, from burritos to memes. Find out how personal interpretations influence meanings and why arguments over definitions can be so engaging. The hosts also reflect on their journey, community interactions, and the humorous moments that make their discussions unique!

In this discussion, Adam Aleksic, also known as Etymology Nerd, shares his journey from etymology to creating engaging content on TikTok and other platforms. He dives into how algorithms shape modern communication, specifically through short-form videos. Adam explores the evolution of digital slang and the differences in audience engagement between video formats and podcasts. Additionally, he discusses the challenges of writing a book in a rapidly changing linguistic landscape and the implications of censorship on language adaptation.