Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios
Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios
A*#holes and B%tches
15
0:00
-33:53

A*#holes and B%tches

The persistence of gender in English, from honorifics to insults.
15

Dividing up nouns as “masculine” and “feminine” — like, for example, in Spanish — has not been a part of English for many centuries. And yet our language remains peppered throughout with gender, often overtly in terms like Mrs. and Mr., which evolved from “mistress” and “master.” Sometimes, however, it’s more subtle. John explains.

15 Comments
Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios
Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios
A podcast about language, with host John McWhorter.