Your New Favorite Word

Jamis and Tessa team up to discuss two different kinds of “name” words: those that sound the same as other words, and those that simultaneously mean their own opposite. How can this be, you ask? Listen and find out!

Pandemonium ensues when Tessa tries to pronounce “pandemonium” and follows John Milton to the depths of Hell. Jamis then gathers eggcorns to share, with a surprise favorite word at the end. No spoilers!

Did you know that “divide”, “devise”, and “device” all come from the same Latin root? Neither did Jamis, until he started researching the word “divvy”! Tessa uncovered a shifting cloud of words of her own around the word “mirage”. Miraculous!

A breakfast conversation leads Tessa to ponder the origins of the crepe, and the question of semantic boundaries. Jamis disgusts the phenomenal of the malapropism. Or, wait, I mean, discusses the phenomenon. Whatever.

Tessa announces the winners of our recent contests, and then we discuss some meatier topics than usual. Jamis finds iniquity in inequity, and Tessa uncovers meaning in the seamy side.

After announcing details for two (count 'em, two) contests to celebrate the release of episode 10, Tessa admits to feeling a bit off-kilter and wonders if it is possible to be “on-kilter”. Jamis explores the fascinating phenomenon of the “mondegreen” while revealing that the Beach Boys used to free his soul.

What’s a kithara, and how does it relate to a guitar? What does the Arabic word for “wood” have to do with the lute? Tune in and listen as Jamis explains the history of these words and instruments, and then laugh along as Tessa shares an unlikely story about Ghandi and ties it into the literary phenomenon known as the “feghoot”.

Tessa meanders down Alaska’s Glacier Highway and ends up in an “awkward” place. With a high school senior in the house, Jamis reflects on graduation and related vocabulary.

In this episode, Jamis tells us about the origins of the words “Hooch” and “Booze”. Tessa explores different meanings of the word “coin”, and talks about how lexicographers decide which words make it into the dictionary.

Tune in as Tessa shares the cultural and linguistic history of the yo-yo. Jamis follows it up with a discussion of “Shm-Reduplication” and its pitfalls. Language, shmanguage!