That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. Each week University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan will discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public Weekend Edition host Rebecca Kruth.
https://www.michiganpublic.org
Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 8 hours 7 minutes
TWTS: We won't chide you for your past participle of "chide"
Frequent listeners of That's What We Say know how we much we love to talk about…
TWTS: Ain't too proud to talk about "ain't"
The only thing wrong with “ain’t” is that someone decided there’s something…
TWTS: Ten years later, we haven't run out of words
As we celebrate the nation's birthday this week, That's What They Say is…
TWTS: A shrinking pronunciation schism
Many standard dictionaries still list the traditional pronunciation of “schism”…
TWTS: For people that use “that” instead of “who”
English Professor Anne Curzan used to cross out "that" and write "who" when her…
TWTS: A spot of tea with a side of paper
Many contemporary dictionaries will only give the paper meaning of “loose…
TWTS: To whom who are concerned about “who” vs. “whom”
It seems like a good time to revisit the question of when it works well to use…
TWTS: Exploiting pronunciation variants to break down "exploitative"
When something or someone exploits other things or people, we can say they’re…
TWTS: Not-so tender hooks
When you’re waiting nervously in anticipation of something, you’re on a kind of…
TWTS: A glimpse "beyond the pale"
When something is "beyond the pale," it has crossed the line, or perhaps we…