Linguistics HQ
Linguistics HQ is a podcast about the science of language, hosted by Dr Rebecca Mitchell. It explores questions such as why humans speak and animals do not, why there are so many languages, and why people sometimes switch languages mid-sentence. Episodes also cover topics like whether women talk more than men, the invention of the alphabet, where new words come from, grammatical gender, and whistled languages. Dr Mitchell, a lecturer and public speaker, aims to make linguistics accessible and relevant to everyday life.
Episodes
The usual suspects: an introduction to the Indo-European family
Is it safe to eat a 2000 year old Panini? Are you troubled by eccentric relatives? Should you just Grimm and bear it? Tune into this episode to learn about the origins and history of the Indo-European language family!
It's all relative: an introduction to language families
How do languages end up with family resemblances? Can two words really be separated at birth? What does your vocabulary have to say about your ancestors? And who invited Sanskrit to the family reunion? Tune into the first episode of this new series on historical linguistics and language families to find out more!
Use it or lose it! An introduction to language death
Why are some languages living on borrowed time? Is there life after death for a language? And could your language be next? Tune into this episode to find out the answers to these questions and many more! Linguistics HQ will now take a summer break but will return on September 2nd with a new series, so do subscribe so that you don't miss out!
How to lose a language in three generations: an introduction to language shift
Why do grandchildren always seem to answer in the wrong language? Can a language lose a popularity contest? And is language shift just rebranding with better marketing? Tune into this episode to find out!
The language remix: an introduction to pidgins and creoles
Could you survive an Arctic trading expedition armed with twenty words and your creativity? When is a pidgin fully fledged? And how can you accidentally invent a language? Tune into today's episode to find out!
A double take on contact phenomena: an introduction to code-switching
Do you ever start a sentence in one language and terminarla en otra? Would you like to learn a cunning way to make people think you're bilingual? And the ancient grammarians are back! Tune in da learn bagaimana multilingual speakers miksaju i matchaju on a daily basis!
Grammar on the move: an introduction to syntactic borrowing
Do you know your Balkans from your Baltic? Does that preposition have a passport? And how did the Normans get their own back on us for borrowing so many of their words? Tune into this episode on syntactic borrowing to find out about structural borrowing and convergence!
Finders keepers: an introduction to lexical borrowing
Take a siesta from your schedule, hit the sofa in your pyjamas and rendezvous for a linguistic smorgasbord of loan words! Tune in to this episode to find out why and how we borrow words and where borrowing fits in to a more sinister picture!
Going back to our roots: an introduction to ethnic identity and mother tongue
How can you trick someone into thinking you're bilingual? What are AAVE, MLE and UBE? And where have the Ancient Greeks got to?! Tune in to find out about how a person's ethnic identity and mother tongue might influence the way they speak. Linguistics HQ will then go on an epic Easter egg hunt, but will be back for a new season on Wednesday 22nd April. so don't forget to subscribe, and see you the
International Women's Day: pioneering female linguists
Who was behind the decipherment of Linear B? Who was the 'Saxon Nymph'? And was there once a high priestess of linguistics? Tune in to find out about the work of some influential female linguists and language advocates, and how they’ve made a difference!
In a class of its own: an introduction to language and socioeconomic status
What's another name for a precarious proletariat? Do accents open doors - or are they still quietly closing them? And is covert prestige just for secret agents? This episode, which explores the relationship between language, socioeconomic status and education, will answer all of these questions and more! On your Marx, get set, go! NB. The next episode will be on Wednesday 4th March.
Putting linguistics on the map: an introduction to language and geographical origin
Do you know your MLE from your UBE? Are you more of a trapper or a strutter? Do you ever find yourself changing your accent to fit the situation? And is that a thorn in that rose bush, or a fawn?? This episode will examine how our language use reveals where we come from, and how it can affect people's perception of us. Tune in to find out more! NB. The next episode will be on Friday February 20th.
Just act your age! An introduction to language and age
Does language use really get worse over time, or are we just getting older? Is slang just too skibidi for a parliamentary speech? And for how long have we been at risk of brain rot? This episode, which looks at the relationship between age and language use, will answer all of these questions and more!
He said, she said.....: an introduction to language and gender
What makes a Greek grammarian grumpy? Is it asking for purple but getting midnight aubergine? Or is it appearing in the same podcast episode as Britney Spears and the Kardashians? This episode is the first in a new season on sociolinguistics, starting with language and gender. From swearing to vocal fry, tune in to find out the truth behind some of the stereotypes!
When humans first had the last word: an introduction to the origins of language
Have you ever wondered where language actually comes from? Why did humans develop language in a way that other species didn't? And are bow-wow, ding-dong and poo-poo bona fide academic theories? Season 1 will go out with a bang as this episode attempts to answer one of the biggest questions in linguistics! Linguistics HQ will then go into a brief period of hibernation, but it will be back on Wedne
Between the lines: an introduction to pragmatics
Why do we say 'I’ll think about it' when we’ve already decided? What's the difference between 'thanks' and 'thanks'? Could a misplaced emoji start a war? And are you stuck for ways to celebrate National Linguistics Day? In this episode, we unwrap the hidden messages in everyday talk — where words are just the beginning and context is everything. Tune in to learn about pragmatics and ways to get #N
Meaning business: an introduction to semantics
Have you been mixing your metaphors recently? Are you reticent or reluctant? How can you reanalyse a crayfish? And which deadly device is lurking in your office? This episode looks at semantics, including what makes up meaning, how meaning changes over time, and how AI handles it (obviously not as well as we do!).
Black History Month: Pioneering black linguists
Is it really possible to succeed academically on four hours sleep a night (and retain your good looks)? What’s the key to getting people to use your new alphabet? And is it ever wise to act on an idea you’ve had in a dream? Tune in to find out about the work of some influential black linguists and language advocates and how they’ve made a difference!
The grammar blueprint: an introduction to syntax
Do you know your equative from your versative? Why do some languages play fast and loose with word order? And what did Plato have to say about parts of speech? This episode looks at syntax, including what makes a sentence make sense, different word orders around the world, and how to draw a very simple constituent structure diagram. Pens at the ready!
What's in a word? An introduction to morphology
Have you ever wondered how new words are made? Or how to avoid getting delayed by a chatty Aztec? Is talk of acronyms giving you FOMO? This episode looks at derivational morphology and all the different ways in which languages create their own words, from compounding to back formation to blending. And for a cross-disciplinary twist, we've also got maths with dogs! Don't miss it!www.linguisticshq.c
Sounds intriguing! An introduction to phonology
What’s the difference between a pharyngeal and an alveolar? How many types of 'd' do we really need? What are people really doing when they tut-tut disapprovingly? And is Mark a suitable name for a hamster? In this episode we make the big ideas of phonology bite-sized and fun. From tone to whistling languages, discover the sounds that shape how we communicate!www.linguisticshq.co.uk
Introduction: what is linguistics and why do we need to know about it?
In this introductory episode I'm going to tell you what linguistics is and why we need to know about it! I’m also going to talk about why I decided to launch a podcast on linguistics and why I created National Linguistics Day, and I'll give you an idea of some of the fascinating things I’m going to share with you throughout the series.www.linguisticshq.co.uk
Linguistics HQ trailer
Welcome to Linguistics HQ, the new fortnightly show that aims to get people thinking, talking and learning about the science of language! Starting with the basics, we’ll look at how languages are put together, and how we can use our knowledge of linguistics to discover exciting things and even make our world a better place.This podcast is for anyone who is curious about how languages work. Don’t w
