English Language for Your Ears

 In the last few years, more and more linguists have been getting their ideas and interests out to the public through radio programmes and podcasts. In some cases, these are linked to big publishers and broadcasters (the BBC in the UK and Slate in the USA), while others are independently produced. There’s now a really good range out there and plenty to choose from.

 • Have a browse through the suggestions here and listen to one or two in more detail. Most of the radio programmes can be accessed directly through the link provided and the podcasts through the links or via an app like Spotify.  

• Keep listening to any of the podcasts you enjoyed (or try out some others), follow the ones you like on Instagram or Twitter and let the presenters know what you thought. Many of these podcasts will engage with their listeners and pick up ideas that you want to discuss, so get involved. 

*Please let us know which ones you listened to and what you liked about them. 

The BBC’s Word of Mouth programme presented by Michael Rosen, has a huge archive of previous programmes all available for download. Some recent highlights have been selected for you here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qtnz/episodes/player • A Debate About American English https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08g5533 • Will Emoji Be the Future of English? https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08ffvp6 • The Language of Lying https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000dfpy • Romani Language https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00050qw • Black British Identity and Black-related Words https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0004l93 • Solving Crime with Language https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00027n6 • Language, Gender and Trans Identities https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09r4k4l

Lexicon Valley, presented by John McWhorter can be found here and a few particularly relevant ones have been highlighted below: https://slate.com/podcasts/lexicon-valley • Women’s Language https://slate.com/podcasts/lexicon-valley/2020/03/vocal-frywomen-language • Like, Sort Of… https://slate.com/podcasts/lexicon-valley/2019/11/politeness-in-the-english-language • Language on the Internet https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/07/john-mcwhorter-and-gretchen-mcculloch-onbecause-internet.html

Another BBC programme, The Verb often has language issues up for discussion. A few selected episodes are: • Puns and Wordplay https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000dj45 • Sports Writing https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000c2ls • How to Write Out Sexism https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0002zyh