Countries Archives – A Way with Words

Corotle, A Virgin Islands Word

Posted by Grant Barrett on October 10, 2020 · Add Comment

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Bergmal

Posted by Grant Barrett on September 12, 2020 · Add Comment

The Icelandic word for “echo” is bergmal,which literally means “rock language” or “language of the mountain.” This is part of a complete episode.
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Lovely Poetry from English Immigrant Schoolchildren

Posted by Grant Barrett on August 15, 2020 · Add Comment

The vast majority of young students at Oxford Spires Academy in England are refugees and economic migrants. According to teacher Kate Clanchy, this mixture of cultures and languages creates something magical, including some remarkable poetry in English. Clanchy has published some of them in an anthology, England: Poems from a School. They include the wistful, [...]
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To Lime or Go Liming in Trinidad

Posted by Grant Barrett on January 18, 2020 · Add Comment

Jolene is originally from Trinidad and recalls that when she wanted to ask her friends to get together for some loosely organized socializing, she’dinvite them to go lime or liming. No one’s sure of the etymology, although the Dictionary of the English/Creole of Trinidad & Tobago suggests the term may derive from limey, a derogatory [...]
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Afghan Blanket Origins

Posted by Grant Barrett on November 14, 2018 · Add Comment

Malia in San Diego is of Afghan descent, and wonders why crocheted blankets are referred to as afghans. There is a long, rich history of textile weaving in Afghanistan with repeated geometric designs, and the term afghan was probably borrowed to apply to the blankets consisting of lots of stitched yarn squares. This is part [...]
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Coinkydink (episode #1505)

Posted by Grant Barrett on October 1, 2018 · Add Comment

Sometimes it’s a challenge to give a book a chance: How many pages should you read before deciding it’s not worth your time? There’s a new formula to help with that decision — and it’s all based on your age. • Have you ever noticed someone mouthing your words as you speak? That conversational behavior [...]
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