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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Mittens in Moonlight (Rebroadcast) - 7 November 2022
Diamond Dust (Rebroadcast) - 31 October 2022
Sleepy Winks (Rebroadcast) - 24 October 2022
Touch Grass - 17 October 2022
Made from Scratch (Rebroadcast) - 10 October 2022
Salad Days (Rebroadcast) - 3 October 2022
Funny Papers - 26 September 2022
Your Imaginary Boyfriend (Rebroadcast) - 19 September 2022
Go Bananas - 12 September 2022
Beefed It (Rebroadcast) - 5 September 2022
What in Tarnation - 29 August 2022
Forty Eleven Zillion (Rebroadcast) - 22 August 2022
Blue Streak - 15 August 2022
Mystery Date (Rebroadcast) - 8 August 2022
I Don't Have the Spoons - 1 August 2022
Sour Pickle (Rebroadcast) - 25 July 2022
Not My Circus (Rebroadcast) - 18 July 2022
Excuse the Hogs - 11 July 2022
Scooter Pooting (Rebroadcast) - 4 July 2022
All That and a Bag of Chips - 27 June 2022
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