Category Archives: English

Why do we say “cold” and not “chald”?

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How cities got their names

Enjoy exploring these city name origins 🌎 And learn languages for 7-days FREE at Lingopie! https://learn.lingopie.com/words-unra… Rob and Jess are touring the US and the UK in search of the most interesting city name origin stories. 💨 Does ‘Chicago’ have … Continue reading

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BBC Radio 4 Extra – Words, Words, Words

Sue Perkins explores the house of Samuel Johnson – author of ‘A Dictionary of the English Language’. Published in 1755, this book was to set the standard for all future dictionaries. Comedian Sue also pays a visit to the British … Continue reading

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The ancient origins of Sci-fi and tech words

[…] Rob and Jess are talking tech! In this episode, they explore the linguistic origins of terms from technology, Sci-fi and the internet. 🧌 Who was the first internet troll? 🤖 What does ‘robot’ literally mean? 🔫 Does Jedi actually … Continue reading

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Why is T ‘Dropped’?

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Why do we say ‘bury the hatchet’?

[…] In this episode, Rob and Jess explore the stories behind a host of common sayings. 🪓 Does anyone actually ‘bury the hatchet’? 😈 Was there ever a ‘devil’s advocate’? 🔫 What is a ‘son of a gun’? 🪶 Why … Continue reading

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How The English Language Will Never Be The Same Again: Anne Curzan

Why is English always changing—and why does that change so often make us uneasy? In this fascinating conversation, we’re joined by linguist, author, and University of Michigan Dean Professor Anne Curzan to explore how English evolves, who influences that change, … Continue reading

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The English words nobody can explain

[…] Let’s explore some English mysteries. And go to https://ground.news/robwords to see how language shapes our perspectives. Save 40% for unlimited access to the Vantage Plan through my link. Some of the most ordinary words in English have origins that … Continue reading

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The weirdest verb in English

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Grammarian drops into Errorist’s secret L’error

Part III – The Grammarian saga continues . . . Professor Grammarian visits Misprint Manor to spring a daring trap for the diabolical Errorist. […]

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