A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

Loaded For Bear - 16 September 2019


Listen Later

One way to make your new business look trendy is to use two nouns separated by an ampersand, like Peach & Creature or Rainstorm & Egg or ... just about any other two-word combination. A tongue-in-cheek website will generate names like that for you. And: In the traditions of several African countries, names for babies are often inspired by conditions at the time of their birth, like a period of grief or wedding festivities, or the baby's position when leaving the womb. In Zambia, for example, some people go by the name Bornface, because they were born face up. Also, slang from a rock-climber, who warns not to go near rock that's chossy. Plus: a proverbial puzzle, loaded for bear, pizey, helter-skelter and other reduplicatives, shirttail relative, counting coup, just a schlook, a brainteaser, and lots more.

Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/. Email [email protected]. Twitter @wayword. Our listener phone line 1 (877) 929-9673 is toll-free in the United States and Canada. Elsewhere in the world, call +1 (619) 800-4443; charges may apply. From anywhere, text/SMS +1 (619) 567-9673. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all overBy Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett. Produced by Stefanie Levine.

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

2,206 ratings


More shows like A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,918 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,970 Listeners

Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,537 Listeners

Stuff You Missed in History Class by iHeartPodcasts

Stuff You Missed in History Class

23,808 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,775 Listeners

The Moth by The Moth

The Moth

27,104 Listeners

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by QuickAndDirtyTips.com

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

2,845 Listeners

The Best of Car Talk by NPR

The Best of Car Talk

16,584 Listeners

Gastropod by Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley

Gastropod

3,661 Listeners

Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

Science Friday

6,444 Listeners

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio by Milk Street Radio

Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio

3,024 Listeners

Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics by Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne

Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics

653 Listeners

Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone by Lipstick Nancy, Inc. & Glassbox Media

Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone

4,084 Listeners

The Atlas Obscura Podcast by SiriusXM and Atlas Obscura

The Atlas Obscura Podcast

1,743 Listeners

How To Do Everything by NPR

How To Do Everything

393 Listeners