Lexicon Valley

Ask Not ...?

Listen now | On September 15, Mike Vuolo and Bob Garfield return with their trademark persiflage.

Sep 4 • 

Michael Vuolo

 and 

Bob Garfield

6

5

27:36

OMG, SO MUCH NEWS FROM LEXICON VALLEY! SERIOUSLY. A LOT.

On September 15, Mike Vuolo and Bob Garfield return with their trademark persiflage. All 13 years of episodes to be released.

Sep 4 • 

Lexicon Valley

26

7

July 2025

The American Accent Came First

It wasn't until the 1800s that Brits started talking that way.

Jul 9 • 

John McWhorter

57

21

29:57

May 2025

Oversleeping at the Sleepover

Little prepositions are a big part of what makes English so flexible.

May 20 • 

John McWhorter

28

16

25:09

April 2025

The Story of Us

A brief discussion of what makes seven little words — I, you, he, she, it, we and they — so interesting.

Apr 22 • 

John McWhorter

25

8

21:06

March 2025

Fire, Die, Rim

Why do words sometimes sound so similar in vastly different languages? It's usually one of three reasons.

Mar 11 • 

John McWhorter

36

10

32:22

January 2025

This Little Piggy

How are pig, pork and swine all related? They're not.

Jan 19 • 

John McWhorter

25

3

Hither and Yon

Here, there, where; hence, thence, whence; hither, thither, whither. Notice a pattern?

Jan 7 • 

John McWhorter

42

16

25:50

December 2024

When Are the Dead No Longer "Late"?

Also, did we go from bad to badder to worse?

Dec 4, 2024 • 

John McWhorter

34

5

November 2024

Down the Rabbit Hole

Elmer Fudd's not the only one huntin' wascally wabbits.

Nov 27, 2024 • 

John McWhorter

40

2

22:54

October 2024

Giving You the Business

Getting busy with a going concern.

Oct 15, 2024 • 

John McWhorter

20

4

24:45

September 2024

When Is Code-Switching Inappropriate?

Should a radio announcer be held to a higher standard of pronunciation?

Sep 9, 2024 • 

John McWhorter

83

8

27:26