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Slate Presents Lexicon Valley

Slate Magazine/Panoply


Podcast Overview

Lexicon Valley is a podcast about language, from pet peeves, syntax, and etymology to neurolinguistics and the death of languages. Hosted by linguist John McWhorter.

Podcast Episodes

Why Do Languages Have Contractions?

John McWhorter explains why we love shrinkage.

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Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com

The Incredible Lightness of Being

John McWhorter considers the eccentric irregularity of the verb to be.

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Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com 

Is There a Jewish Way of Talking?

John McWhorter interrupts the hosts of Unorthodox to discuss hallmarks and stereotypes of Jewish communication style.

Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com 

Mining Graffiti for Slang

John McWhorter talks to Ben Zimmer about the Vietnam Graffiti Project and other slangy topics.

Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus.

Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com

That's Not a Word, Is It?

John McWhorter discusses the near-futile impulse to determine what is, and what is not, a word.

Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus.

Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com 

The Language of Female Friendships

John McWhorter discusses communication styles with linguist Deborah Tannen, author of You're the Only One I Can Tell: Inside the Language of Women's Friendships.

Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus.

Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com 

The Euphemism Treadmill

John McWhorter on the evolution from "crippled" to "handicapped" to "differently abled" and why no such term is likely to stick around long.

Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus.

Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com 

Heyo, Let's Talk About Hamilton

John McWhorter talks to linguist Neal Whitman about the mash-up of hey and yo.

Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus.

Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com 

Earlier American English—More Profane, Parochial and Provincial

John McWhorter time travels to 1930 and eavesdrops on American English.

Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus.

Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com

Like, Why Do We Use Like So Much?

John McWhorter talks to sociolinguist Alexandra D'Arcy about the spike in our use of like.

Join Slate Plus! Members get bonus segments, exclusive member-only podcasts, and more. Sign up for a free trial today at www.slate.com/podcastsplus.

Twitter: @lexiconvalley
Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley
Email: lexiconvalley@slate.com

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