Ever been told you have an accent — or quietly judged someone else's? We all have one, but most of us know surprisingly little about where they come from or why they persist. Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada, argues that our accents aren't errors to be corrected — they're living records of migration, identity, and history. Her new book, Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents, is a fun, smart, and surprising guide to the sounds that define us. And in the second half of the show, she shares some big ideas from her earlier book, Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English.

🎁 Save 20% on a Next Big Idea Club membership when you used code PODCAST at ⁠nextbigideaclub.com⁠⁠

✉️ Get big ideas in your inbox with our daily newsletter. Subscribe at ⁠bookoftheday.nextbigideaclub.com⁠⁠

Sponsored By:

Homeserve — Go to ⁠homeserve.com/nbid⁠ to find the plan that's right for you

FODZYME. — Finally, you can enjoy your favorite foods without the pain. Go to ⁠icaneatagain.com/daily