A Tallahassee, Florida, listener heard an interview in which actor William H. Macy referred to old cockers, apparently meaning “old fellows.” Although one meaning of cocker is “pal,” Macy was probably alluding to the Yiddish alte kacker, or alter...
Yes, the k in knot, know, knife, and knight was once pronounced. Alvaro in Dallas wonders about that silent first letter. The change is an example of apheresis, the loss of an initial sound. Old English had a pronounced initial consonant in words...
The names Australia and Austria are awfully similar. Is it a coincidence? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Australia and Austria” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, Martha. This is Sendel Rivallery in Chicago...