Why Words Matter

UCL is 200 years old this year, and has been first in so many things over that time, expanding the world’s knowledge. First university in London, first to require no faith for entry, first to have a teaching hospital. This episode features an exciting project to celebrate this, bringing writers from 26 together with students from UCL to create pieces of writing on 26 different ‘firsts’. Creative collaboration combined with supportive mentoring. How did it all work? Some of those involved tell the story.

This episode is about dialect, in the main Yorkshire dialect, but with reference to the many others across the UK. It looks at how dialect develops, why it’s important and who speaks and writes it.

Writer, performer and cultural historian Irene Lofthouse is joined by Rod Dimbleby, Chair of Yorkshire Dialect Society and dialect writer/tutor; Richard Wilson, Vice-Chair of Yorkshire Dialect Society; with contributions from John Davidson of the Northumbrian Dialect Society, discussing the topic and sharing examples from literature.

This episode is about the recent collaboration between 26 and Eames Fine Art, called First Impressions. The project involved writers from 26 visiting print makers in their studios, filming the encounter and then subsequently writing about what they’ve learnt about the print maker’s craft. Writer Lisa Andrews and artist Grace Hailstone are joined by Vincent Eames from Eames Fine Art and project co-lead Martin Lee, in discussing the project in particular and wider thoughts about the differences and similarities of art and writing as creative enterprises.

The latest Why Words Matter from writers’ organisation 26 is about creatively connecting people in different parts of the world. Between the UK and New Zealand there are thousands of miles, but 26 connects them with words, particularly words in creative projects like Twinned Bridges which had writers here and there choosing bridges, writing centenas, then collaborating on a further piece of shared writing. Hear John Simmons introduce a panel with Dame Vikki Heywood in London, and Jayne Workman, Jane Berney, Paul White and Lee Ryan in the Antipodes.

In our latest episode of ‘Why Words Matter’ Rob Self-Pierson leads a conversation with John Simmons and Fiona Thompson on the projects that are central to 26 - and why they are such a creative release for writers. The episode looks back on landmark projects as well as giving latest news on projects for 2026.

This episode explores the significance of the word ‘enough’ in everyday usage and also in two specific contexts.

Some of our most common words are so ubiquitous that we rarely stop to think about them. But when we do, it becomes apparent that they are rich and surprising, and worthy of further investigation. Such a word is ‘enough’. 26 board member and co-founder of agency Acacia Avenue Martin Lee looks into this word with the help of discourse analyst and founder of Illume Linguistics, Kirstie Skates; artist and conservationist Beatrice Forshall, and behaviour change expert and director of Women Who Don’t Drink, Stephanie Chivers.

Translation removes language barriers. It opens up a world of literature that would otherwise be denied to most of us. But how easy is it to turn words written in one language into the words of another – while preserving their essential meaning and spirit? Or will some things always be lost in translation?

Former BBC journalist and broadcaster Wendy Jones delves into the translator’s art with the cosmopolitan cast of Fiona Sze-Lorrain, writer, poet and translator from Chinese and French to English, Diane Webb, translator of Dutch art and cultural history into English, Nabeela Ahmed, writer, poet and translator working in English, Pahari-Pothwari, Urdu and Punjabi, and Elise Valmorbida, Italian-Australian novelist and creative writing teacher whose books are translated into many languages.

When nature is under stress, words are no longer just tools of communication; they become catalysts. Stories can stir empathy, and the right words can shape the world we want to protect. What happens when we stop telling the stories that put us to sleep and start telling those that wake us up? Hosted by Sangeeta Waldron, author of What Will Your Legacy Be? – Conversations With Global Change Makers About The Climate Crisis, this episode features guests Emily Buchanan (Send Flowers) and Olivia Sprinkel (To Hear The Trees Speak). Together they dive into climate grief, the art of listening to nature, and how words can shift heart, spark action, and keep hope alive.

A special episode discussing 26 Bridges, and 26’s upcoming appearances at The Bloomsbury Festival – the 26 Bridges Auction on Thursday 16 October, and our annual Wordstock Festival on Saturday 18 October. Featuring Sam Gray, Stuart Delves, Jo Lilford, and Joni Brown.

3 writers, 2 plays, 1 book. What binds them altogether is writing about deeply personal stories - surviving Covid, fathers separated from sons, when dementia strikes. That’s when the weight of every word matters. Barra, Katherine and Alastair find a common ground in the search for language that does justice to their experiences.