Kyle and Emily look at the meaning and origin of vignette, a word which gives them snapshots of life in everything from illuminated manuscripts to early photography, and from book illustrations to theatrical tableaus.

This word starts as nothing more than a small and humble vine. However, it wound its way into the world of illustrated manuscripts, early printing, and wood engraving. Our hosts discuss how this vine grew into a delicately painted border, and later joined the world of photography and instagram filters as well.

A picture is worth a thousand words, but it turns out it’s also worth adding a few words. Kyle discusses the little “slice of life” tableaus used to break up otherwise dull books. And Emily discovered how those evolved into little scenes in literature and theatre. 

Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.

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Produced by⁠ ⁠Seth Gliksman⁠⁠, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers

Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore