Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Howdy!

Ever hear questions that are really veiled criticism, or apologies that are actually excuses? That, and more, in our latest episode: language for resolving personal conflict, in like Flynn, gradoo, Irish pennants, champing, and a silly rule about how to pronounce the word the. Listen to Charismatic Megafauna.

Quick Way to Download Past Episodes

Caught up on the podcast feed (which has just the last 50 airings)? Looking for a way to download all the episodes you've missed? Try this new page! It includes every episode we've aired, adds in online-only minicasts, and removes all rebroadcasts.

See Us Face-to-Face

• Join Martha for a conversation about creativity with children's book author Sara Pennypacker and illustrator Jon Klassen, collaborators onPax, a book about a boy and his fox. Pennypacker is the author of manypopular books for children, including the Clementine series, and Klassen won the Caldecott Medal for This is Not My Hat. This free public event is Wednesday, March 1, at 10 a.m. at California State University San Marcos. It's part of the Art=Opportunity initiative sponsored by the Stuart Foundation.
• We're also both appearing at the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture on April 27. Tickets and more information. It'll be a fun time, with lots of time for questions and answers.
• As part of our nonprofit's educational mission, we both speak at public events nationwide in partnership with schools, colleges, libraries, literacy groups, and other civic organizations. Learn more.

National Mother Language Day

Today is National Mother Language Day, which recognizes the value of multilingual societies, lives, and educations. Our suggestion: start learning another language now.

It's Beautiful

In the late 1800s, a group of librarians set out to find a beautiful handwriting method to use in card catalogs and other materials. They made this.

Until next time,

Photo by Lorenzo Tlacaelel. Used under a Creative Commons license.