Why shouldn’t it be a term of endearment to call someone a cherry Lifesaver? Cherry’s the best flavor! This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Cherry Lifesaver” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, how’s it...
The P/U dialect, common in the South, is marked by distinct emphasis on the first syllable of words such as police and umbrella. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “P/U Dialect” Did you know there’s a dialect of...
Add blow a gasket to your list of Downton Abbey anachronisms. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Historical Anachronism” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Yes, good afternoon. Hi, who’s this? This is Julio Tierno...
Why do so many Americans think British accents automatically connote intelligence? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Accent Implying Intelligence” You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and...
You’re in a business meeting. Is it bad manners to take out your phone to send or read a text? A new study suggests that how you feel about mid-meeting texting differs depending on your age and sex. Grant and Martha offer book recommendations...
Pat in San Diego grew up in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with a Boston-area accent that people still notice even when no obvious “r” is involved. The accent’s hallmark is non-rhoticity: after certain vowels, the “r” may be weakened, changed, or...