Curated Video
Foreign Words We Need in English
English has more words than most other languages, but there are still so many familiar things and experiences that we don't have a word for... but other languages do! Here are some of our faves!
Curated Video
A Controversial Theory About Gossip
Gossip is an integral part of human social structure... and maybe the reason language evolved in the first place!
Curated Video
Pronouns: Little Words That Say a Lot
Pronouns may be little, but they say a lot, and they're always changing!
Curated Video
The Screwed-Up History of English Spelling
The English spelling system is a MESS... arguably more than any other language. How did it get this way?
Curated Video
How Do Clichés Evolve into Memes?
Adaptable clichés called "snowclones" are EVERYWHERE on the internet. We use them for memes, inside jokes, to show our membership of the group. But they weren't invented online. In fact, they're way older than you think!
Curated Video
Is Swearing Good for Your Brain?
Does swearing get a bad rap? There's evidence that the shouting obscenities has an evolutionary purpose... and may be good for your psyche!
Curated Video
60 Euphemisms for Death!
No topic is as universally avoided--yet universally unavoidable--as DEATH. So, it's got a lot of euphemisms in virtually every language.
Curated Video
Popular Words Invented by Authors
Authors often create words just for a one-time usage... but a special few will gain traction and become full-fledged parts of our shared lexicon!
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What's the Longest Word?
Before we decide from a long list of contenders, we'll have to figure out what the word "word" really means...
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Is Bilingualism a Superpower?
There was a time when psychologists thought growing up bilingual was harmful to brain development, but recent studies into bilingual children have turned that idea on its head!
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The Unexpected Origins of the Word ‘Monster’
Words don't pop up fully formed... they evolve over thousands of years. What can we learn about our relationship to monsters by tracking the word down into the distant past?
Curated Video
Why Do We Use Cringey Words for Loved Ones?
Why do we use such unusual words for the people we love? From baby to bunny, two thirds of American adults refer to their romantic partners by a pet name. And we’ve been doing this for a long time—the Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford...
Curated Video
Is the Southern Accent Disappearing?
When you hear names like Gladys or Herbert or Doris, you probably automatically think of old people, but why is that? Linguists have been studying the science of first names for a long time, and though what's behind a particular parent's...
Curated Video
Why Do These Words Get Mispronounced So Much?
We all love language but still sometimes we pronounce certain words wrong, and everyone does it. We’re not talking about speaking too fast or jumbling letters. We’re talking about good ol’ fashioned mispronunciations–things you didn’t...
Curated Video
How Language Nerds Solve Crimes
The fact that we all have our own unique way of speaking is a beautiful thing. It's at the core of personal expression and contributes to the wonderful tapestry of language. But it also means that no form of expression can be 100%...
Curated Video
How the Colors Got Their Names
In some ways, colors are the ultimate example of language's power. The earliest humans didn't have words for colors. They had words for objects and actions, and it took tens of thousands of years for those words to evolve into the names...
Curated Video
What Brain Damage Reveals About Language
Language is really more related to the brain than any other part of the body. It's where language "happens." Whether you're shaping words with your mouth, signing them with your hands, or writing them on paper, the bulk of the work is...
Curated Video
Why Does Texting Feel Different from Talking?
Have you ever stressed out about sending an email, rereading it to see if it sounds okay, or wondering if you added too many exclamation points? Or maybe you feel confident when expressing yourself via text message, but you just can’t...
Curated Video
How Queer Communities Created Secret Languages
Across the globe, queer communities have relied on secret lexicons known as "argots" to communicate safely, which have developed over the years into what some call "verbal jazz."
Curated Video
The Weird History of Invented Languages
Can you really invent a language? These people sure tried! But does anyone actually speak them?
Curated Video
Where Alcoholic Drinks Got Their Names
There are no shortage of wacky names for alcoholic beverages, from Fuzzy Navels, to Sex on the Beaches, to the NSFW AMF. Humans have been enjoying alcoholic beverages since the dawn of civilization so there's plenty of linguistic...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 4.2 Interview:Quince, Flute, Snout, Starveling, Snug, Bottom
This video features an interview with the characters Quince, Flute, Snout, Starveling, Snug, and Bottom from Act 4, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream." They discuss the challenges they face in putting on a play for the...
Curated Video
A Midsummer Night's Dream 4.1 Interview: Bottom
This video provides an exploration of Act 4, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" through a fictional interview with the character Bottom. The video focuses on Bottom's experiences and insights following his enchanting...
Curated Video
Hamlet 3.1 “It Hath Made Me Mad”
This video examines Hamlet's harsh and cynical tirade against Ophelia in Act 3, Scene 1, where he presents marriage and fidelity in a negative light. It delves into his use of intimate and formal language, suggesting a broader critique...