The Allusionist

146. Survival: Today, Tomorrow part 1


Listen Later

The Icelandic language has remained so stable over the centuries, speakers can read manuscripts from 900 years ago without too much trouble. And when they need a new word for more recent concepts, there are committees to coin one, so that the modern Icelandic lexicon includes such things as the internet, helicopters and mansplaining. Defending the language from the encroachment of English, however, is rather more challenging.

Find out more about the topics covered in this episode, and a transcript, at theallusionist.org/todaytomorrow1.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses, bonus etymologies, a trip around Iceland's museums via me, AND a delightful community of Teamlusionists!

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

Support the show: http://patreon.com/allusionist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The AllusionistBy Helen Zaltzman

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

2,972 ratings


More shows like The Allusionist

View all
Answer Me This! by Helen and Olly

Answer Me This!

821 Listeners

The Bugle by The Bugle

The Bugle

3,723 Listeners

the memory palace by Nate DiMeo

the memory palace

6,880 Listeners

99% Invisible by Roman Mars

99% Invisible

26,211 Listeners

No Such Thing As A Fish by No Such Thing As A Fish

No Such Thing As A Fish

4,824 Listeners

Imaginary Worlds by Eric Molinsky | QCODE

Imaginary Worlds

1,988 Listeners

Gastropod by Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley

Gastropod

3,612 Listeners

Sidedoor by Smithsonian Institution

Sidedoor

2,191 Listeners

Twenty Thousand Hertz by Dallas Taylor

Twenty Thousand Hertz

3,941 Listeners

What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law by Roman Mars

What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law

3,998 Listeners

Ologies with Alie Ward by Alie Ward

Ologies with Alie Ward

24,041 Listeners

Decoder Ring by Slate Podcasts

Decoder Ring

2,085 Listeners

Articles of Interest by Avery Trufelman

Articles of Interest

3,367 Listeners

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford by Pushkin Industries

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

5,086 Listeners

The Atlas Obscura Podcast by SiriusXM and Atlas Obscura

The Atlas Obscura Podcast

1,687 Listeners