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A Way with Words
A public radio program about language examined through history, culture, and family.
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Buffet Flats (minicast)

Posted September 19, 2007 .
Do you know what a “buffet flat” is? Is it A) a type of shoe you wear to all-you-can-eat dinners, B) a lull in economic growth predicted by Warren Buffet, or C) a squalid apartment found in the Rocky Mountain States? Find out when Grant gives you the whole megillah.
read more »

This Week or Next? (minicast)

Posted September 12, 2007 .
The Pod Couple—also known as Martha and Grant—consider just when is “next week” or “this Monday” anyway? A husband and wife with a long running dispute turn to Martha and Grant for help.
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Shorthand of Backhands and Forehands

Posted September 9, 2007 .
Greetings, oh wise ones. Here's another podcast, this one featuring a slang quiz on the word "phonemarking." Listen here: http://www.waywordradio.org/phonemark In our discussion forums we're still taking entries to win a copy of Jeff Prucher's book, "The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction." Dozens of submissions have already arrived in our inbox and still more have [...]
read more »

Phonemarking (minicast)

Posted September 9, 2007 .
Oh, yes, it’s time for another podcast, this one featuring a slang quiz on the word “phonemarking.”
read more »

Letters and Canadian Doubles (minicast)

Posted August 31, 2007 .
In our latest online-only episode, Martha’s been putting together a collection of your favorite collective nouns and Grant joins her to swat around a caller’s question about what to call a game of tennis when you have only three players. “Canadian Doubles”? “Australian doubles”? A double on the rocks?
read more »

A Game of Tennis with Three Players?

Posted August 31, 2007 .
Aloha! We have another A Way with Words podcast goofy-footing among the grommets. Martha's been putting together a collection of your favorite collective nouns and Grant joins her to swat around a caller’s question about what to call a game of tennis when you have three players. "Canadian Doubles"? "Australian doubles"? A double on the [...]
read more »
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Episodes & Posts

  • Gone Pecan 04/28/2013: How did the word gay go from meaning lighthearted to homosexual? Also, why are elementary schools sometimes called grammar schools? Plus, imeldific, gone pecan, random... [more]
  • Dog and Pony Show 04/20/2013: Remember getting caught sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G? Grant and Martha wax nostalgic on some classic schoolyard rhymes. What do you call your offspring once... [more]
  • Good Juju 04/15/2013: Imagine a time when heroin was marketed for the whole family. It really happened! Also, how Twitter, M&M's, and Hallmark cards got their names. Plus,... [more]
  • What’s a Hipster? 04/08/2013: Get out your skinny jeans and pass the PBR! Martha and Grant discuss the definition of the word hipster. Also, what happens when you pull... [more]
  • Crazy Crossword Clues 03/25/2013: Should youngsters learn cursive handwriting in school? Plus, someone can be ruthless, but can that same person be ruthful? Which word refers to something larger,... [more]

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Recent Segments

  • Sacapuntas and Mock Obscenity 03/18/2013: If you need to release some tension but don't want to curse, try shouting "sacapuntas!" This Spanish word for "pencil sharpener" falls into a colorful... [more]
  • Daisy-Cutting 03/18/2013: The term daisy-cutting, which refers to the low-action trot of Arabian and Thoroughbred horses, is reminiscent of the low grounder in baseball known as a... [more]
  • Adult Spelling Bee 03/18/2013: Grant and Martha recently served as expert spellers at the San Diego Council on Literacy's annual adult spelling bee, but don't let the age group... [more]

Join the Discussion

  • ♦ re: The Visual Language of Comics Grant Barrett on 2013/05/23
  • ♦ Και νεκρός ενίκα Dick on 2013/05/22
  • ♦ Darmak and Jalad at Tanagra Ron Draney on 2013/05/22
  • ♦ The Visual Language of Comics Dick on 2013/05/20
  • ♦ Way Back Mike Hennessy on 2013/05/20
  • ♦ Already and the tense RobertB on 2013/05/17
  • ♦ Affect used as noun Robert on 2013/05/14
  • ♦ née,fiancé, communiqué, ... Glenn on 2013/05/12
  • ♦ Draught vs Draft, etc. EmmettRedd on 2013/05/11
  • ♦ What is this called? EmmettRedd on 2013/05/11
  • ♦ Man as gender-neutral vocative tromboniator on 2013/05/10
  • ♦ Capitalizing I AnMa on 2013/05/10
  • ♦ An extra "is" in speech AnMa on 2013/05/10
  • ♦ celtic AnMa on 2013/05/10
  • ♦ 1oan! AnMa on 2013/05/10