A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over
Society & Culture
In Japan, if you want to order a corndog, you ask for an Amerikan doggu (アメリカンドッグ). These types of coinages are called wasei-eigo , or “Japanese-made English,” and there are lots of them. Plus, there’s an atmospheric optical phenomenon that looks somewhat like the aurora borealis, but has a much friendlier name. Scientists refer to these ribbons of color as … Steve. And: need a synonym for the word “conspicuous”? There’s always kenspeckle . Also, nitnoy , faire la grasse matinée , sunday-to-meeting , sana, sana, colita de rana, a codebreaker who solves a years-long mystery, a brain teaser about action-packed metaphors, ghostie , gander’s arch , fluffle , and more.
Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/contact. Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443. Email words@waywordradio.org. Twitter @wayword. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation.
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Noon Of Night (Rebroadcast) - 8 July 2019
Gift Horse - 1 July 2019
Naked as a Jaybird (Rebroadcast) - 24 June 2019
Had the Radish - 17 June 2019
Hot Dog, Cold Turkey (Rebroadcast) - 10 June 2019
Abso-Bloomin-Lutely - 3 June 2019
Skedaddle (Rebroadcast) - 27 May 2019
Coast is Clear (Rebroadcast) - 20 May 2019
Niblings and Nieflings - 13 May 2019
Gone to Seed (Rebroadcast) - 6 May 2019
Kite in a Phonebooth - 29 April 2019
Hell's Half Acre (Rebroadcast) - 22 April 2019
Steamed Bun (Rebroadcast) - 15 April 2019
Kids Are Asking - 11 April 2019
Strawberry Moon - 8 April 2019
Charismatic Megafauna (Rebroadcast) - 1 April 2019
Spill the Tea - 25 March 2019
Knuckle Down (Rebroadcast) - 18 March 2019
Dirty Laundry - 11 March 2019
Lie Like A Rug (Rebroadcast) - 4 March 2019
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