Category Archives: English

Precisely how long is a ‘moment’? | TIME WORDS

Jess and Rob present a brief history of time words in an episode filled with chronological etymology. ⌚️ How did “seconds” get their name? πŸ•°οΈ What does “clock” literally mean? πŸ‡«πŸ‡· How did France’s decimal calendar work? These questions answered … Continue reading

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How the CELTS Changed The ENGLISH LANGUAGE

  The Celts were the dominant culture in England for many centuries from about 900 BC until 43 AD but who were there before them. Who built Stonehenge and the other Neolithic sites in Britain? And how did the Celts … Continue reading

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Why is the Pope “the daddy”?

Holy heck! Rob and Jess are back with an episode of biblical proportions. Join them as they get to the gospel truth about the origins of religious words. β›ͺ️ What was kept in the very first chapel? πŸ¦› Which animal … Continue reading

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Xiaoma, a polyglot, was invited to give a speech at a high school for Language Week, and he delivered the entire speech in Gen Alpha slang.

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understanding litotes is not rocket science

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Why is there an N in “passenger”?

[…] πŸšƒ Why do Brits say “transport” and Americans “transportation”? 🚊 What’s the difference between a train and a locomotive? πŸš™ How do you actually pronounce Hyundai? These questions answered – and many more – in this transport[ation] special of … Continue reading

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How the Black Death Saved the English Language

Before the Black Death of 1348 the language of power in England was Anglo-Norman French. The plague changed everything. Sign up for The Rambler newsletter here. http://eepurl.com/izRKww It’s full of interesting insights and stories about the English language and it’s … Continue reading

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Linguist’s predictions for future English

One linguist (who in his day job specializes in Old Norse) looks at current trends in English and extrapolates into the future a little. Jackson Crawford, Ph.D.: Sharing real expertise in Norse language and myth with people hungry to learn, … Continue reading

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Why do we say “as mad as a hatter”? | IDIOM ORIGINS

[…] Rob and Jess “pull out all the stops” in this episode explaining idiom origins. ✈️ Why do we say “balls to the wall” and “push the envelope”? 🐘 What’s so useless about a “white elephant”? πŸ‘• Where were the … Continue reading

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Is it a restroom or a loo?

Let’s explore British English and American English. In another transatlantic war of words, Rob (a Brit) and Jess (an American) debate the differing words for the same things either side of the pond. For our new Channel Memberships click “Join” … Continue reading

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