How do words change their meanings? What are the mechanisms behind semantic change? And how do technological advances -- like the development of e-books -- affect language? We discuss these topics and more with Ray Belli, host of the Words for Granted podcast.
Episode 28: Coach, or The History (& Future?) of Education
We trace the history of 'coach' back to its Hungarian roots, and explore its connections to the development of higher education in Europe. Then we run through a capsule history of the goals (stated and unstated!) of education from classical Athens to today, and discuss how the new world of online learning, including YouTube and podcasts, fits into the ideals and best practices of the future of education. Please let us know about all the things we over-simplified, left out, or got wrong in the process of covering almost 3000 years of western European schooling, and weigh in on where you see things heading now!
Show Notes
"Coach" video
CGP Grey's video “Digital Aristotle”
Veritasium's video “This Will Revolutionize Education”
Episode 27: Yellow & Orange
We return to our series on colour words with a discussion of Yellow and Orange in Greek, Latin, & English. The Roman and medieval associations of the colours take us from a wedding hymn by Catullus to Mary Magdalene & pawnbrokers -- and finally to modern connections to cowboys and Cheetos.
This podcast episode on YouTube
Show Notes
Catullus poem 61 & English translation
Episode 26: Rogue One
We're joined by Sam McLean to discuss Rogue One's connections to Germanic heroism, Norse thautr, Roman epic, Terry Pratchett, heist films, & The Dirty Dozen. Following up last year's conversation about The Force Awakens, we're interested in seeing how the newest Star Wars film changes genres and develops new themes.
This podcast episode on YouTube
Show Notes
Episode 25: Twelve Days
We delve into the origins of the gifts in "The 12 Days of Christmas" carol, talk about Christmas as the season for games, read a little Latin poetry, and discuss the parallels between feisty women and old farts. And there's a bonus song!
This podcast episode on YouTube
Show Notes
James Burke Connections app kickstarter
You Are Not So Smart podcast, ep. 89
"Partridge in a Pear Tree" Cocktails:
http://www.fabhousewife.com/a-classy-christmas-cocktail/
https://blog.bedbathandbeyond.com/bbb-recipe/partridge-in-a-pear-tree-cocktail-recipe/
PNC Wealth Management Christmas Price Index
Mark Forsyth, A Christmas Cornucopia
Paul Anthony Jones, The Accidental Dictionary
Episode 24: Talking Turkey
The origin of the turkey's name leads to discussion of the origin of Thanksgiving, the role of myths in constructing ideology, and some Horace, Homer, & Ovid. Also featuring some spicy cocktails.
This podcast episode on YouTube
Show Notes
The Story Behind Podcast @storybehindpod, #podernfamily
@HumCommCasters & @HumCommVids
James Burke Connections app kickstarter
Quirks & Quarks interview with Dan Everett about Arrival
An etymological Christmas card
Bushwick's Spice Trade Cocktails
Episode 23: Dirk Gently
We discuss Douglas Adams' Dirk Gently novels, the 2010 BBC miniseries, and the new BBC America adaptation, with Samuel Barnett & Elijah Wood, written by Max Landis. We talk about "the fundamental interconnectedness of all things" as inspiration for Mark's work, the process of adaptation, and 1980's Englishness.
This podcast episode on YouTube
Show Notes
@HumCommCasters & @HumCommVids
Episode 22: Jack o'Lantern
In our Halloween episode we discuss the origins of the holiday, the etymology of Jack o'Lantern, the Canadian connections to trick-or-treating, and the great pumpkin scandal of 2016, and we read a Roman poem about witches scared off by a wooden fertility god.
Show Notes
Episode 21: Haggard Hawks
We talk to Paul Anthony Jones about where his love of etymology and obscure words came from, how he researches his books, the unexpected popularity of his Haggard Hawks twitter account, and more.
Our Patreon page -- and thank you to our newest supporters, Alex Smallman & Benjamin Walls!
Show Notes
Episode 20: Blue & Green
We explore the terms for blue & green in Greek, Latin, and English, and discuss their symbolism and meaning in the various cultures. Is it true the ancient Greeks couldn't see blue? Why do we go 'green with envy'? And what did chariot racing, colours, and religious riots in Constantinople have to do with the Italian national football team?
Our Patreon page -- and thank you to our newest supporter, Rémi Belleau!
Show Notes
Article about Greeks not seeing the colour blue
Horace Ode 1.9 (Soracte) in English
Episode 19: Beef
We chat about the Norman French influence on Anglo-Saxon words for animals and meat, the powerful emotional and political aspects of the words we use for food, and then delve into Latin technical terms for farmyard animals, ending off with Virgil's pastoral poems, the Eclogues.
Our Patreon page -- and thank you to all our Patreon supporters!
Show Notes
Roman Colour Thesaurus – Caroline Lawrence (Roman Mysteries)
Episode 18: Beer
All about beer! From experiments in baking bread with the leftovers from brewing beer to the etymology of beery words, and the complicated question of how fizzy beer has been through the ages. We follow up on questions raised in our Loaf podcast, and get some tips from other foodie podcasters.
Our Patreon page -- and thank you to all our Patreon supporters!
Show Notes
Recreating Egyptian Bread by @miguelesquirol
Recipe for medieval trencher bread and recipe for spent grain tea biscuits, via @Feast_Podcast
Our experiment making bread from leftover beer sludge
Gastropod: Everything Old is Brew Again
Posts on traditional Peruvian beer and traditional South African beer via @beervana
Sources for history of barrels: here & here.
Artificial carbonation of beer & cask and bottle conditioning via @Gastropodcast
Episode 17: Loaf
We talk about words for bread and the close connection between "loaf" and lords, ladies, and dairy-maids, then turn to the history of baking bread and our adventures with sourdough, baking Pompeian bread, and brewing beer.
Our Patreon page -- and thank you to all our Patreon supporters!
Show Notes
Turkish language website
Stack Brewing
"Loaf" video
Re-creating the Pompeii loaf video
Our picture of bread from the ROM Pompeii exhibit.
A loaf of Pompeian bread from the British Museum
Our attempt to recreate Pompeian bread:
Episode 16: Red
We talk about Old English, Greek, and Latin words for red, the cultural importance of dyes, basic colour terms, blushes, blood, and gods. And a little bit about sex and phalluses, but only in the most genteel way. We promise.
Our Patreon page -- and thank you to all our Patreon supporters!
Show Notes
MythTakes Podcast
Lexicon Valley: Red Herring
Episode 15: Stephen Le
We talk to Stephen Le about his book 100 Million Years of Food: What Our Ancestors Ate and Why It Matters Today, and his efforts to use an understanding of evolution to help us decide what to eat. We chat about what it means to "eat what your ancestors ate", the cultural history of food, and his wide-ranging travels in search of traditional foods to try--especially insects!
Show Notes
And thank you to our Patreon supporters:
Carlos Solis
Valerie Polichar
Lukas Hägele
Evermore Anon
Ian & Susan McMaster
Chantal Sundaram
Sean Soderman
Episode 14: Cocktail
We chat about possible origins for the cocktail, and the crazy stories about the word's origin. We also tell the tale of our first cocktail party, that sparked our interest in them and led to the cocktail video series. Do you enjoy drinking or mixing cocktails? Where did your interest in them start? Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments, or tweet us: @alliterative or @avensarah.
Show Notes
The Cocktail video Part One & Part Two
And thank you to our Patreon supporters: Valerie Polichar, Lukas Hägele, Evermore Anon, Ian & Susan McMaster, Carlos Solis, and Chantal Sundaram.
Our other podcast: As We Like It
Pictures from our Cocktail Party over the years:
Bonus: #WhanThatAprilleDay
To mark #WhanThatAprilleDay, a time for celebrating old languages, we read some middle English and Latin.
Show Notes
Chaucer, Nun's Priest's Tale
Episode 13: Album
The etymology of "album" leads to an in-depth conversation about the Latin words for "white", the many terms for "shining" in proto-Indo-European, and the connection between the Beatles and medieval German students. And we drink White Ladies.
Show Notes
The White Lady cocktail
Sappho poem 31
#TheDress
The Adidas jacket
And thank you to our Patreon supporters: Valerie Polichar, Lukas Hägele, Evermore Anon, Ian & Susan McMaster, Carlos Solis, and Chantal Sundaram.
Episode 12: David Hein & Irene Sankoff
We talk to David and Irene about their most recent project, "Come From Away", a musical about the town of Gander, Nfld. on 9/11, and discuss the ways the story, the musical, and their work all demonstrate the importance of connections.
Show Notes
UPDATE: The show will be at the Royal Alexandra Theatre Nov. 15, 2016 - Jan. 8, 2017, and then previews on Broadway begin Feb. 18, 2017 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater. There will also be two benefit concerts in Newfoundland & Labrador on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016.
The official "Come from Away" site
More information about "Come From Away"
And thank you to our Patreon supporters: Valerie Polichar, Lukas Hägele, Evermore Anon, Ian & Susan McMaster, Carlos Solis, and Chantal Sundaram.
Episode 11: Cuckold
We discuss the origin of the word ‘Cuckold’, its connection to Valentine’s Day, its modern meaning, and the development of the modern idea of romantic love. Sexual fetishes, horned animals, Chaucer, Jane Austen, and Ovid all make it into the conversation--while we sip some Valentine's Day themed cocktails.
Show Notes
Thank you to our Patreon supporters: Valerie Polichar, Lukas Hägele, Evermore Anon, and Ian & Susan McMaster
The Horny Cock Valentine's Day Card
"My Cuckoo Valentine" blog post
Claire McEachern, “Why Do Cuckolds Have Horns?” Huntington Library Quarterly 71. 4 (2008): 607-631.
The article about the capons with spurs grafted to their head is by A.W. Kozelka in the Journal of Heredity, 1929. UPDATE: The article has now been scanned in, here's the picture:
