The Owlish Folk

The Owlish Folk

By amanda and daveEducation
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The Owlish Folk episodes

  • 19. Technology Words: Mice or Mouses?

    In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss the question of how to pluralize "computer mouse": is it mice or is it mouses? They also discuss the sometimes unexpected origins of other words related to modern technology, including software, blog, code, Bluetooth, computer, and file.

    You can contact the show with questions or comments at [email protected]. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts,  Podcoin, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on iTunes! 

    27 min
  • 18. Is a resolution the same as a promise?

      In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss the difference between promises and resolutions. They also discuss the origin and meaning of the song "Auld Lang Syne" and of the Swedish concept of the "year walk" called  "Årsgång ." As stated in the episode, here are the lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne": Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne. CHORUS For auld lang syne, my jo, For auld lang syne. We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne. And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp! And surely I'll be mine! And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne. REPEAT CHORUS We twa hae run about the braes And pu'd the gowans fine But we've wander'd mony a weary foot Sin auld lang syne. REPEAT CHORUS We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn Frae mornin' sun till dine. But seas between us braid hae roar'd Sin auld lang syne. REPEAT CHORUS And there's a hand, my trusty fiere! And gie's a hand o' thine! And we'll tak a right guid willy waught, For auld lang syne. REPEAT CHORUS Should old acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, And long, long ago. REPEAT CHORUS And for long, long ago, my dear For long, long ago. We'll take a cup of kindness yet For long, long ago. And surely youll buy your pint-jug! And surely I'll buy mine! And we'll take a cup of kindness yet For long, long ago. REPEAT CHORUS We two have run about the hills And pulled the daisies fine; But we've wandered manys the weary foot Since long, long ago. REPEAT CHORUS We two have paddled in the stream, From morning sun till dine; But seas between us broad have roared Since long, long ago. REPEAT CHORUS And there's a hand, my trusty friend! And give us a hand of yours! And we'll take a deep draught of good-will For long, long ago. REPEAT CHORUS   You can contact the show with questions or comments at [email protected]. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts,  Podcoin, or wherever  you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and  Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous  review on iTunes! 

    28 min
  • 17. Interview Series: Happy Christmas or Merry Christmas?

    In this episode, Amanda and Dave have the first of many discussions entitled the "Interview Series" wherein a guest comes to The Owlish Folk! For this episode, they have a guest discuss the negative and positive traditions of Christmas, as well as the significance of the liturgical calendar, Pagan origins, the Medieval and Victorian atmospheres during Christmas, and modern interpretations and symbolism.

     

    You can contact the show with questions or comments at [email protected].  Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Podcoin,  or wherever  you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and  Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous  review on iTunes! 

    51 min
  • 16. A Stocking Full of Christmas Words

     In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss some interesting words related to Christmas.

    You can contact the show with questions or comments at [email protected]. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on iTunes! 

    19 min
  • 15. How can one word have opposite meanings?
    In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss the many different kinds of contronyms: words which have two opposite meanings. They discuss the three kinds of contronyms and give many examples.
    You can contact the show with questions or comments at [email protected]. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on iTunes!
    28 min
  • 14. Are We Free to Boldly Split Infinitives?
    In this episode, Amanda and Dave have a dialogue about the controversy of splitting infinitives; is it acceptable, or is it a crime? Other grammar myths and common misused words and phrases are discussed.
    You can contact the show with questions or comments at [email protected]. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on iTunes!
    22 min
  • 13. The Entire History of Q
    In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss the history of the letter "Q." They also discuss why "Q" and "U" do, and do not, go together.
    As mentioned in the episode, here is the Greek letter koppa: Ϙ. More information about the Greek adoption of the Phoenecian alphabet can be found here:
    https://archive.is/20120628161421/http://www.tlg.uci.edu/~opoudjis/unicode/nonattic.html#selection-237.0-237.23
    You can contact the show with questions or comments at [email protected]. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on iTunes!
    27 min
  • 12. A Bag of Curious Words
    In this owlet, Amanda and Dave discuss words or terms coined by Shakespeare, Tolkien, Dawkins, Carroll, and others.
    Some words discussed are: attercop, tween, robot, chortle, yahoo, google, meme, and alligator.
    You can contact the show with questions or comments at [email protected]. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on iTunes!
    12 min
  • 11. Halloween Movies
    Happy Halloween! In this holiday episode, Amanda and Dave discuss Halloween movies and holiday-themed words that are associated with the titles. They also share their favorite Halloween movies!
    You can contact the show with questions or comments at [email protected]. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on iTunes!
    19 min
  • 10. Where New Words Come From: James Joyce and Quarks
    In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss where new words come from. They also discuss James Joyce and the words he created, as well as literary devices he utilized to create new words.
    As mentioned in the episode, here are where the portmanteau words appear in Joyce's Finnegans Wake:
    -unhappitents (FW 258.22) n. Sad or unhappy dwellers or inhabitants.
    -selfthought (FW 147.9) n. Instructed by one’s self or self-taught through one’s own study, thinking, or thought.
    -Absintheminded (FW 464.17) adj. forgetful, abstracted, or absent-minded from the consumption of absinthe
    -eyewitless (FW 515.30) noun. A stupid or witless firsthand observer.
    -twowsers (FW 276.F1) noun. Two pairs of pants or trousers.
    You can contact the show with questions or comments at [email protected]. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on iTunes!
    32 min

About The Owlish Folk

From the publisher's feed

A podcast that answers questions about the English language. In each episode we talk about - and attempt to answer - a question about a feature or quirk of the English language.