Alex speaks 15 languages fluently. Does he have a special gift or could we all do this? Plus, what does 'to Donald Duck' mean in Hungarian?
Producer Sally Heaven

Being a Polyglot

Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them

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Joshua Reno talks about how Charlie, his non-verbal son who is on the autism spectrum, communicates with him very effectively using gestures known as "home signs".  Joshua is the author of Home Signs: An Ethnography of Life beyond and beside Language. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally Heaven

Language When There Are No Words

In conversation with Michael about his book "32 Words For Field" Manchán Magan reveals Ireland's deep connection with the landscape expressed through the Irish language.  The author traces his country's relationship with the natural world and its corresponding belief system that encompasses the 'otherworld'.   He lists many similarities between Irish and Sanskrit and even Arabic - suggesting a link between the ancient Islamic word Shamrakh and the Irish Seamróg (shamrock).  It's a fascinating discussion of a rich and poetic language that survives in traditional communities on the west coast and is being enthusiastically revived in the cities. Manchán also lists the many words that we use in English that have come from Irish and Scots Gaelic: words like 'bog' 'whisky' 'hooligan' and Tory.
We also learn a bit of Hiberno-English along the way. Producer: Maggie Ayre for BBC Audio Bristol A longer version of this programme is available on the podcast

The Irish Language

Professor Lucy Easthope explains why language is important in the aftermath of a disaster, why some words are useful and some can be damaging. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally Heaven

Disaster Dialogue

Dominic Fifield explains how football clubs got their names, uncovering a fascinating social history behind the Wanderers, Wednesdays and Villas. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally Heaven

Football Club Names

"If you want to hide something in the 21st century world, you don't need to create a James Bond style plot. Just cover it in acronyms".  Gillian Tett is a columnist at the Financial Times, but she initially trained as a cultural anthropologist, studying  marriage rituals in Tajikistan.  She joins Michael Rosen to discuss how the study of language has been vital to her work, who continues to see the world through the lens of an anthropologist. The pair talk about the etymology of words like 'company', 'office', and 'bank', why we should all speak more like the Dutch, how Brits in the workplace are more similar to the Japanese, and why it would be useful for all of us to think more like an anthropologist.   Gillian Tett is the author of Fool's Gold, The Silo Effect, and Antho-Vision.  Producer: Eliza Lomas, BBC Audio Bristol.

Being a Polyglot

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