Linguistics Lounge

Tony Fisher sits down with not one poet but two! The unrelentingly brilliant John Hegley and the singularly talented Leonel Alvarado zoom into the Linguistics Lounge to talk about the language of poetry.

Tony Fisher talks to Dr Tracy Morrison and Professor Alma Gottlieb about menstruation, its meaning in different cultures, and the methods often employed in order to talk about it. We consider euphemism, taboo, and the impact of gender fluidity on shifting attitudes and discourse surrounding ‘that time of the month’.

Julia de Bres talks to linguistics graduate and disability advocate Angela Desmarais from the Disabled Persons Assembly about the evolving ways we use language to talk about disability, and how important it is that disabled people are in the front seat driving language change.

Julia de Bres talks to Jaye Barclay and Alex Ker from InsideOUT, who spill the tea on gendered pronouns in German, te reo Māori and English. We discuss the significance of the term takatāpui in te reo Māori and the current expansion of gender identity terms in English, while reflecting on how we can all use our linguistic powers to be good allies to gender diverse people.

Tony Fisher is joined by Associate Professor Brian Larson and Professor Richard Shaw in taking a look at the language of televised political debates in the 2020 US and NZ elections. So grab the custard creams (or other biscuit of your choice, if you must), and buckle up as we look back over a remarkable few weeks in politics.

Tony Fisher sits down with acclaimed New Zealand singer songwriter Don McGlashan over a bowl of Muesli to talk about the art of song translation and performing in te reo Māori. Come blunder through the forest of language with them, and hear Don perform exclusively for the Linguistics Lounge.

Put the kettle on! Dr Julia de Bres and Dr Shelley Dawson are here to discuss discourses of New Zealand's Director General of Health, and part-time sex symbol, Dr Ashley Bloomfield!