Fritinancy

August linkfest

I’ve been reading some excellent books—more about them soon—but right now I want to tell you about a couple of interesting podcasts for language lovers.

• Word Matters is “a show for readers, writers, and anyone who ever loved their English class”; it’s hosted by four Merriam-Webster lexicographers: Emily Brewster, Neil Serven, Ammon Shea, and Peter Sokolowski. Episodes have tackled singular kudo, the pronunciation of antennae, and everyone’s favorite bugaboo, irregardless (which is definitely “a word” even though my editing software red-squigglies it. Yes, “red-squigglies” is also a word. Because I said so, that’s why.)
• Science Diction is “a bite-sized podcast about words—and the science stories behind them,” brought to you by the folks at NPR’s “Science Friday” and hosted by Johanna Meyer. Did you know that restaurant originally meant “a medicinal soup”? Do you know “the linguistic reason why ‘Rocky Road’ sounds so dang delicious”? How about the connection between cobalt and German folklore? Lots more like that, too.

The kobold. (Source)

Listen to me!

Turn up your speakers or pop in your earbuds and listen to the latest episode of The Allusionist, a fine podcast about words and language, in which host Helen Zaltzman interviews me about – what else? – names and the naming process. Stay tuned to the end to hear Helen chat with Roman Mars, host of the 99% Invisible podcast, about how The Allusionist got its name.

And use your eyes to check out the links at the bottom of the page, cleverly subtitled “Readify.” (The joke is explained within the show.) One of them goes to “Title TK,” a 2014 podcast about naming from 99% Invisible that does not feature yours truly but does include this example of a truly appalling coinage, discourtesy of H&R Block, the tax-preparation firm.

Helpth! They evidently love that Frankenword, because they’ve refused to let it go.