Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them
On his 80th birthday, Michael Rosen discusses with Dara Ó Briain how we talk about and understand time, and how we look back on the different chapters of our lives. To hear the full conversation, download the podcast. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea, in partnership with the Open University. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz
Michael Rosen and Sophia Smith Galer discuss the urgent issue of language extinction, where half of the world's 7000 languages are projected to disappear by the century's end. Sophia, author of "How to Kill a Language," shares personal insights from her grandmother's dialect and explores how languages are "killed" through factors like shame, political suppression, and neglect. The episode emphasizes the profound loss of cultural capital and identity, advocating for efforts to document and preserve these invaluable linguistic treasures.
Ione Georgiarkis, an occupational therapist and advocacy manager for Tourette Action, discusses the realities of Tourette Syndrome, dispelling common myths, particularly the misconception that everyone with Tourette's swears. She explores the neurodevelopmental nature of the condition, its diverse spectrum of severity, and shares her personal journey to diagnosis. The conversation highlights the significant impact of societal misunderstanding and stigma on those living with Tourette's, while also examining the crucial role of formal diagnosis and various coping mechanisms for managing tics.
Michael Rosen talks to linguist Teddy Mack about Vincy, a language rooted in English spoken on the Caribbean island of St Vincent, alongside standard English. But the English Teddy encountered when he moved to the UK proved to be very different (and far from standardised) and he's learned to switch throughout his life. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea, in partnership with the Open University. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/soun...
Michael Rosen talks to James Geary about his lifetime obsession, aphorisms. These short, witty philosophical sayings have been coined by everyone from Emily Dickinson and James Baldwin to Hallmark, and even Michael's mum. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally Heaven, in partnership with the Open University. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz
Michael Rosen talks to digital anthropologist Jennifer Cearns about the rise of AI companions- how do we talk to AI, and how does AI talk to us? They discuss how chatbots work, whether Michael is replaceable, different application for AI, including romantic partners and griefbots, and what happens when an AI companion goes wrong. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally Heaven, in partnership with the Open University. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.b...
As a port city Liverpool has long been open to a wide variety of global influences and languages that developed into a way of speaking that's termed 'Scouse' - from a word that probably originates in the Baltic region derived from the word 'lobscouse'. Tony Crowley grew up in the heart of Liverpool. When he left home and went to Oxford University he became increasingly aware of his accent and his interest in the way his fellow Liverpudlians use language grew. He has written two books on the subj...
Michael Rosen and linguist Dr. Danny Bate delve into the intricate history of the English alphabet. They trace its roots from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, discussing how letters like A, C, E, H, K, M, O, W, and Z acquired their forms and sounds through various linguistic shifts and cultural influences. The conversation uncovers the surprising journeys of individual letters, the impact of events like the Great Vowel Shift, and the continuous evolution of our writing system.
In this episode, beloved children's author Julia Donaldson shares insights into her creative process and the profound impact of language in her life. She delves into her love for rhyme, its roots in her songwriting career, and how childhood experiences, including busking in Paris and working for the BBC, influenced her unique storytelling. Julia also discusses her new book, "Paper Chase," the crucial role of illustrations, and how her work fosters a love for reading in children, culminating in a reflection on the success of "The Gruffalo."
Michael Rosen and Derek Bousfield delve into pragmatics, the study of how language is used and understood in context, often diverging from literal meaning. They discuss everyday examples like greetings, polite dismissals, and cultural understatements, highlighting how non-literal communication builds rapport and signals identity. The conversation also re-evaluates clichés, revealing their essential role in social connection rather than mere laziness, exploring their origins and common usage.
The 'Manosphere' is a group of loosely affiliated mainly young males who have developed a specialised vocabulary to discuss women online in a negative and hostile way. Some of the vocabulary is a response to feminism which some men claim is diminishing their role in society. For other men a failure to attract women has given rise to phrases such as Chad and Stacey and a belief in the 80/20 theory - that 80% of women are attracted to just 20% of men who are Alpha males or Chads. Acronyms such as ...
Michael Rosen and Dr. Catherine Laing delve into the fascinating world of words that sound like their meanings, discussing classic onomatopoeia and the broader concept of sound symbolism. They trace the historical debate on arbitrary versus iconic language from Plato to de Saussure, explore how children learn through sound-meaning links, and examine examples of sensory and visual iconicity in everyday speech and poetry. The discussion highlights the subtle ways language reflects and evokes experience.
Michael Rosen talks to criminal defence barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind about the legal language of Crown Court cases in England and Wales. From the grandeur of the courtroom and stock phrases like "with respect to my learned friend" to the more colloquial directness of talking to a defendant. How do barristers build persuasive arguments when talking to a jury, or when discussing legal matters with the judge? Do weak arguments hide behind elaborate language? Do the best barristers use more strip...
This episode features Michael Rosen and author Samantha Ellis discussing her profound efforts to preserve Judeo-Iraqi Arabic, a language her parents spoke in Iraq. Samantha shares her personal experience of growing up in London without fully acquiring the language, her emotional connection to its idioms and cultural expressions, and her endeavors to learn it formally and pass fragments to her son. The conversation also explores the challenges of language preservation, its connection to food and family history, and the bittersweet nature of rediscovering a fading heritage.
Michael Rosen and Jonathan Cole discuss how conditions like vocal cord paralysis, spasmodic dysphonia, and aphasia challenge an individual's sense of self and ability to connect. The conversation highlights the frustration of not being understood, the isolation it causes, and the unexpected ways people adapt. It also touches on the medical journey for diagnosis, the importance of patience from listeners, and the potential of technology to unlock communication.
Michael Rosen and sociolinguist Dr. Haru Yamada discuss the profound art of listening. Drawing on Dr. Yamada's book "Kiku: The Japanese Art of Good Listening," they explore different types of listening, from informational to relational and cultural. They touch on personal stories, the Japanese concept of "listening with 14 hearts," vocal cues, and cultural differences in conversational pacing and silence, emphasizing that listening is a learnable skill vital for building strong relationships.
Most of us make lists in some form or other - from essential groceries to reasons to feel positive about life. In this programme Linguistics Researcher Jo Nolan talks to Michael about her interest in the language we use in their making and their uses in literature and society. Jo says the language we use in our lists is idiolectal - it reflects our inner selves, whether in our abbreviations, our choice of spelling, in-words, jokes etc. Her interest some would say obsession with lists extends to ...
In a special recording at the Hay Festival, Michael Rosen talks to bilingual Welsh radio and television presenter Huw Stephens about the Welsh language. And then Huw gets Michael to try reading 'Dyn Ni yn Mynd i Hela Arth, also known as We're Going on a Bear Hunt. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea, in partnership with the Open University. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz
Michael Rosen hears the fascinating story of the origin of all Indo-European languages from Laura Spinney, the author of Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global. Today, nearly half of humanity speaks an Indo-European language and Laura has been investigating how that came to be. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea, in partnership with the Open University. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz
The use of punctuation is rapidly changing within the quickfire back-and-forth of instant messaging. Are these changes causing misunderstandings? Presenter Michael Rosen and his guest Dr Christian Ilbury discuss. Is the full stop on the way out? What about capital letters? Exclamation marks and question marks seem to be holding their ground, but what about the rest? Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Becky Ripley, in partnership with The Open University. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and...
Michael Rosen talks to sociolinguist Philip Seargeant from the Open University about where our street names come from, including Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate in York, and Michael's old address, Love Lane. Also, have you ever thought about the difference between a street and a road? Are there regional differences in the names given to streets? And why are street names sometimes changed? Producer: Sally Heaven Word of Mouth is produced by BBC Audio Bristol in partnership with the Open University Subscribe...
Michael Rosen explores the evocative Old English words used in daily life a thousand years ago, many of which are still in use now. He's joined by the linguist author of The Wordhord, Hana Videen. Hana has been hoarding words from Old English (450 AD to 1150 AD) for a decade, when she began tweeting one a day. Now she has lots of people following her to find out more about the language, and a new book out called The Deorhord: An Old English Bestiary. https://oldenglishwordhord.com Produced for B...
Michael Rosen's parents both grew up in the East End, and now he talks cockney with Andy Green and Saif Osmani from the Modern Cockney Festival. Including some mythbusting about rhyming slang, a discussion about how cockney has evolved, and of course a mention of Dick van Dyke. The Modern Cockney Festival takes place from March 1st to 31st with a month-long programme of online and offline activities. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally Heaven Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never ...
David Adger is Professor of Linguistics at Queen Mary University of London. He's created new languages for TV series and films and he explains to Michael Rosen how he goes about it. For his latest language he used existing Creole languages for his 'conlang', or constructed (artificial) natural language. He talks Michael through the grammar and language principles he applies to his creations and lets him try his hand at the monsters' language he invented for a televised version of Beowulf. Produc...
Professor Louise Mullany talks to Michael Rosen about politeness, and how it governs our lives, from the behaviour of football managers to the different ways children can embarrass us. Why, in this country at least, is it so mortifying to mistakenly assume someone is pregnant, when in other cultures it's simply thoughtful to book two seats on a plane for a larger person. Starring Michael Rosen as Spanish football manager Unai Emery, the politest man in football. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by...
Poet Jackie Kay has written a book in Scots: Coorie Doon: A Scottish Lullaby Story. She joins presenter Michael Rosen to talk about her love of the language and what it meant to her growing up. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz
Adam Rutherford joins Michael Rosen to make sense of the heavily-loaded and often unscientific language that we use to talk about genetics, inheritance, ancestry and race. Adam is a geneticist, science writer, and lecturer in Biology and Society at University College London. His work tries to make sense of what our genes do (or don't) tell us about our similarities and our differences. He writes about this stuff in many of his books, including ‘How To Argue With A Racist’ and ‘Where Are You Real...
Susie Dent joins Michael Rosen to talk about her lifelong fascination with words and their origins. It's a programme bringing some apricity, which is one of Susie's favourite words. Her love of language began when she was a child, then found expression in her passion for French and German and now in her work as a lexicographer, writer and language broadcaster. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sou...
Michael talks to linguist Dr Andreea Calude about her research into how language is used on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter/X. And he asks if we're witnessing the death of email. Dr Andreea Calude is the author of The Linguistics of Social Media: An Introduction. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz Read less
Michael hears from zoologist Arik Kershenbaum about the latest research on how and why different types of animals communicate, from wolves howling to dolphins whistling: a world of soundscapes. He also explains how animal communication can help to shed light on the human variety. Dr. Arik Kershenbaum is a zoologist and the author of: Why Animals Talk: The New Science of Animal Communication. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an ep...
