Andres from Washington Heights, New York, heard a radio report suggesting that the same anatomy that lets humans speak also makes us vulnerable to choking, and he wanted to know more. The answer lies in the physical trade-off that sets humans apart...
After our chat about tongue twisters, a Chicago, Illinois, listener shares one that looks much easier than it sounds: Irish wristwatch. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Say “Irish Wristwatch” Five Times Fast” After our conversation...
You might describe someone particularly talkative or gossipy by saying that their tongue wags at both ends. A more elaborate version is Your tongue wags at both ends and is tied in the middle. Another variant: Your tongue is hinged in the middle...
Paul in Camden, Maine, has adopted a new pup, and the dog’s exuberant face-licking has Paul wondering about the many meanings of the word lick, which include getting his licks in and takes a licking, which refers to the act of forcefully beating...
Ash from Arlington, Texas, says her great-aunt would refer to a red bump on one’s tongue as a lie bump. This expression is widespread enough to be used in medical textbooks, although papillitis is the official term, papillae being the anatomical...
Benjamin in Seattle, Washington, says both with a brief L sound, like bolth, a pronunciation his partner noticed before he did. It’s not confined to Northern California, where he grew up, or to the Midwest connection she wondered about. In an online...
