TikTok users are altering their speech to evade algorithmic filters–but will this harm language in the long run?

Otherwords is a PBS web series on Storied that digs deep into this quintessential human trait of language and finds the fascinating, thought-provoking, and funny stories behind the words and sounds we take for granted. Incorporating the fields of biology, history, cultural studies, literature, and more, linguistics has something for everyone and offers a unique perspective on what it means to be human.

Host: Erica Brozovsky, Ph.D.
Creator/Director: Andrew Matthews & Katie Graham
Writer: Taylor Behnke
Producer: Katie Graham
Editor/Animation: Andrew Matthews
Executive Producer: Amanda Fox
Fact Checker: Yvonne McGreevy

Executive in Charge for PBS: Maribel Lopez
Director of Programming for PBS: Gabrielle Ewing
Assistant Director of Programming for PBS: John Campbell

Stock Images from Shutterstock
Music from APM Music
Otherwords is a production of Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.
© 2025 PBS. All rights reserved.

sources:
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https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/19/st…
https://www.tiktok.com/@appalachianpr…
https://www.tiktok.com/search?q=gripp…
Culpeper, Jonathan, ‘Taboo language and impoliteness’, in Keith Allan (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Taboo Words and Language, Oxford Handbooks (2018)
https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/27/45…
https://www.npr.org/2015/11/08/454606…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/techno…
https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/…
https://www.buzzfeed.com/genamourbarr…
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment…

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