Linguistics Behind the Scenes

Linguistics Behind the Scenes

By Linguistics BTSScience
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Linguistics Behind the Scenes episodes

  • How difficult are comic strips and cartoons? | The language of comics

    BAM! POW! WHAM! Dominic and Christina paint a picture of the colorful world of comic books and illustrate their linguistic quirks.

  • - How did comics evolve from being stigmatized to celebrated?

    - Why do Japanese manga read in the "opposite" direction?

    - How do different languages represent onomatopoeia?

  • - Are comics really easier to read than other texts?

    • From Spider-Man to Tintin, from Batman to Asterix, tune in for an action-packed analysis of comics across cultures!


    Full episode transcript available here:

    https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/phil/english/sections/edling/sciencecommunication/podcast-transcripts.php#Episode4

    Full article available to read for free here (in German):“Comicsprache – leichte Sprache?” by Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer.
    https://doi.org/10.60687/2025-0035

    Mentioned in this episode:

    https://xkcd.com/ (nerdy comic strips)

    https://joscha.com/nichtlustig (German cartoons)

    https://www.der-flix.de/flix (German comics)

    https://www.erika-fuchs.de/en/ (comics museum)

    https://www.comic-salon.de/en 

    https://www.gamescom.global/en

    45 min
  • How can we keep Holocaust survivors’ voices alive? | Creating an interactive digital testimony in English

    Christina and Dominic explore language, history, and technology in this episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes!

    - How can we digitally preserve Holocaust survivor testimonies for future generations?

    - What are the challenges of translating deeply personal historical memories?

    - Why do subtitles and dubbing change the way we experience language?

    Gather around as the hosts discuss how linguistics and modern technology help keep the past alive.


    Full episode transcript available here:

    https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/phil/english/sections/edling/sciencecommunication/podcast-transcripts.php#Episode3


    Learn more about Holocaust survivor Abba Naor:

    http://www.edu.lediz.lmu.de/wordpress/abba-naor-en/ 


    Have a virtual conversation with Abba Naor in English:

    https://studio.intheroom.global/preview/01HY1060FTNX41VF6B7ZWAR52J


    Video tutorial on how to interact with Abba Naor’s interactive digital testimony: 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuqqKT0J5Fo


    Learn more about the making of the video chatbot:

    - LeDiT – Learning with digital testimonies: Holocaust education 2.0. By Antonia Friebel and Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100078

  • - Subtitling Abba Naor’s interactive digital testimony in English: Linguistic considerations underlying the translation process. By Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer, Julie Winter and Antonia Friebel. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-45924-6_3 .


    • Material for teachers on how to use the video chatbot in English/history classes by Antonia Friebel and Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer (some parts in German):

    - Getting to know Abba Naor. Skill: Asking questions in English. https://syncandshare.lrz.de/getlink/fiFamCP6WSQn2B66APCvDj/Interaktives%20digitales%20Zeugnis_Impuls%20f%C3%BCr%20das%20Fach%20Englisch.docx .

  • - Abba Naors Zeugnis im fächerübergreifenden bilingualen Geschichtsunterricht. https://syncandshare.lrz.de/open/MkpqUmNpVzF1ZWlKcVl5d2lQZXpt/Zur%20Vertiefung/Zur%20Vertiefung_Interaktives%20digitales%20Zeugnis%20zu%20Abba%20Naor%20f%C3%BCr%20den%20bilingualen%20Unterricht.docx?filelink_id=fiD3zbEPbMmnYiEvvUwoMM

    • 43 min
  • Does English have an infinite number of words for drunkenness? | Drunkonyms

    Christina and Dominic raise a glass to drunkonyms in this intoxicating episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes!

  • - Why do the English have hundreds of words for drunkenness?

  • - Can you really say “I was utterly gazeboed” and still be understood?

  • - What does linguistics reveal about our most creative intoxication expressions?

    • Enjoy this cocktail of linguistic knowledge as the hosts explore the staggering number of words for being drunk in the English language. Cheers to language!


    Full episode transcript available here:

    https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/phil/english/sections/edling/sciencecommunication/podcast-transcripts.php#Episode2


    Full article available to read for free here:

    “I’m gonna get totally and utterly X-ed.” Constructing drunkenness. By Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer and Peter Uhrig. https://doi.org/10.1515/gcla-2023-0007


    Watch Michael McIntyre’s comedy routine about posh words for being drunk here:
    https://www.facebook.com/TheMichaelMcIntyre/videos/posh-words-for-being-drunk-michael-mcintyre/1119454918243178/

    21 min
  • How has Star Wars changed the English language? | Words from a galaxy far, far away

    Christina and Dominic examine the linguistic legacy of Star Wars in this first episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes!

    - How has Star Wars influenced modern language use?

    - What does it mean to be a "finance Jedi"?

    - How can linguistics measure the rise of Star Wars terms?


    Embark on a journey across the universe of linguistics as the hosts explore how words from a galaxy far, far away have made their way into everyday English.


    Full episode transcript available:

    https://www.tu-chemnitz.de/phil/english/sections/edling/sciencecommunication/podcast-transcripts.php#Episode1


    Full article available to read for free:

    “The impact of Star Wars on the English language: Star Wars-derived words and constructions in present-day English corpora” by Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer. https://doi.org/10.1515/lingvan-2023-0029.

     

    Try out the popular free text analysis software AntConc for yourself:

    https://www.laurenceanthony.net/software/antconc/

    23 min

About Linguistics Behind the Scenes

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This podcast is for everyone who enjoys or even loves language.