The World in Words focuses on language. We cover everything from bilingual education to the globalization of English to untranslatable foreign phrases. You’ll learn how to insult someone in Icelandic, among other things. Hosted by The World’s Patrick Cox.
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The World in Words
Tourette’s Hero: Changing the World One Tic at a Time
A British woman with Tourette’s Syndrome celebrates the humor of her verbal tics.
Podcast: In Vietnam, a Nation Learns English
As young Vietnamese flock to language schools, older Vietnamese feel the culture shock.
The Chinese Yuan and the Currency of Language
Does China’s rise mean that Mandarin will one day replace English as the language of global trade?
Mistaking Welsh For Hebrew
A linguistic mix-up sends two journalists to a Libyan jail for three weeks.
A Trip Around America’s Languages
Writer Elizabeth Little discovers Twilight tourism and the Quileute language
Mademoiselle in Song, and Translating Jargon
Will French singers stop using the word “Mademoiselle” now that the French government has?
Ben Lewis’ History of Communism Told Through Jokes
There are many ways to tell history. One of the most revealing may be by relating the jokes of a time and a place. Ben Lewis does that in Hammer and Tickle. These are jokes of people victimized by Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
Chinese Orphans Catch a Break
Carol and Patrick discuss five language stories in the news including: new naming protocols for Chinese orphans; a Spanish language movie that is barred from competing as a foreign language film at the Academy Awards; and the latest volume of the Dictionary of American Regional English.
The Voice of Iran in Spanish
The Chinese and Russian government-run TV companies have fast-growing foreign language services. Now, Iran has got in on the act. It has launched Hispan TV, a Spanish language service aimed at Latin America.
Inventing a Word for a Facebook Relationship
Podcast: Asking your Facebook friends to invent a tenuous Facebook relationship.
Fear of the Foreign, Hospital English, and Garifuna Music
Some US presidential candidates seem embarrassed by their ability to speak a foreign language. Also, a hospital trains foreign nurses in local idioms like “I want to spend a penny.” And, a musician sings famous English language songs in Garifuna.
Up Close With Language Super Learners
The latest World in Words podcast continues a conversation with Michael Erard about his new book, Babel No More: The Search for the World’s Most Extraordinary Language Learners.
The Road to Hyperpolyglottery with Michael Erard
A new book investigates language super-learners and their “will to plasticity”.
Bolt, Crook and Payne: What’s in A Name?
Usain Bolt bolts, Anna Smashnova was a tennis pro, Bob Flowerdew is a gardening expert. Coincidence?
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