Geoff Nunberg http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101618&ft=1&f=2101618 Geoff Nunberg is the linguist contributor on NPR's <em>Fresh Air </em>with Terry Gross.<em></em> en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:51:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Geoff Nunberg http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2101618&ft=1&f=2101618 'Horrific' And 'Surreal': The Words We Use To Bear Witness After more than a week of gruesome media coverage, linguist Geoff Nunberg takes a close look at the words we use to describe events that mesmerize and horrify, that sensitize and desensitize, that transfix and repel us at the same time. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:51:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/26/179021100/horrific-and-surreal-the-words-we-use-to-bear-witness?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/26/179021100/horrific-and-surreal-the-words-we-use-to-bear-witness?ft=1&f=2101618 After more than a week of gruesome media coverage, linguist Geoff Nunberg takes a close look at the words we use to describe events that mesmerize and horrify, that sensitize and desensitize, that transfix and repel us at the same time.

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]]> Even Dictionaries Grapple With Getting 'Marriage' Right Lexicographers know they're in the hot seat as they confront the changing use of the word "marriage." Linguist Geoff Nunberg says the key to getting the new definition right is to crisply describe everything that's in the category and nothing that isn't. Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:10:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/04/176235479/even-dictionaries-grapple-with-getting-marriage-right?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/04/176235479/even-dictionaries-grapple-with-getting-marriage-right?ft=1&f=2101618 Lexicographers know they're in the hot seat as they confront the changing use of the word "marriage." Linguist Geoff Nunberg says the key to getting the new definition right is to crisply describe everything that's in the category and nothing that isn't.

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]]> Historical Vocab: When We Get It Wrong, Does It Matter? We're living in an age obsessed with authenticity, says linguist Geoff Nunberg, but we often choose to nitpick the wrong details. Whether it's <em>Downton Abbey</em>, <em>Mad Men</em>, <em>Lincoln</em> or <em>Argo</em>, Nunberg argues, a historical novel or screenplay should give us a translation, not a transcription. Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:04:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/26/172955182/historical-vocab-when-we-get-it-wrong-does-it-matter?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/26/172955182/historical-vocab-when-we-get-it-wrong-does-it-matter?ft=1&f=2101618 We're living in an age obsessed with authenticity, says linguist Geoff Nunberg, but we often choose to nitpick the wrong details. Whether it's Downton Abbey, Mad Men, Lincoln or Argo, Nunberg argues, a historical novel or screenplay should give us a translation, not a transcription.

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]]> 'The Whole Nine Yards' Of What? There are many theories about where the expression comes from — among them square-riggers with three masts, the amount of cloth in the queen's bridal train, the Shroud of Turin, and a prodigiously well-endowed Scotsman who gets his kilt caught in a door. Mon, 14 Jan 2013 11:19:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/14/169140590/-the-whole-nine-yards-of-what?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2013/01/14/169140590/-the-whole-nine-yards-of-what?ft=1&f=2101618 There are many theories about where the expression comes from — among them square-riggers with three masts, the amount of cloth in the queen's bridal train, the Shroud of Turin, and a prodigiously well-endowed Scotsman who gets his kilt caught in a door.

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]]> Forget YOLO: Why 'Big Data' Should Be The Word Of The Year "Big Data" had just as much to do with President Obama's victory as phrases like "Etch A Sketch" and "47 percent," says linguist Geoff Nunberg. Big Data is also behind anxieties about intrusions on our privacy, whether from the government's anti-terrorist data sweeps or the ads that track us on the Web. Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:58:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/20/167702665/geoff-nunbergs-word-of-the-year-big-data?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2012/12/20/167702665/geoff-nunbergs-word-of-the-year-big-data?ft=1&f=2101618 "Big Data" had just as much to do with President Obama's victory as phrases like "Etch A Sketch" and "47 percent," says linguist Geoff Nunberg. Big Data is also behind anxieties about intrusions on our privacy, whether from the government's anti-terrorist data sweeps or the ads that track us on the Web.

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]]> Even Americans Find Some Britishisms 'Spot On' Adding a foreign word to your vocabulary is like adding foreign attire to your wardrobe. Sometimes you do it because it's practical and sometimes just because you think it looks cool. Linguist Geoff Nunberg says Americans' use of "spot on" falls somewhere between affectation and flash. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/11/01/164032659/even-americans-find-some-britishisms-spot-on?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2012/11/01/164032659/even-americans-find-some-britishisms-spot-on?ft=1&f=2101618 Adding a foreign word to your vocabulary is like adding foreign attire to your wardrobe. Sometimes you do it because it's practical and sometimes just because you think it looks cool. Linguist Geoff Nunberg says Americans' use of "spot on" falls somewhere between affectation and flash.

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]]> One Debate, Two Very Different Conversations Linguist Geoff Nunberg has been puzzling over President Obama's performance in the presidential debate last week. Looking at who the candidates were addressing their answers to shows that Romney was doing something unusual, he says. Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:12:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/09/162561641/one-debate-two-very-different-conversations?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/09/162561641/one-debate-two-very-different-conversations?ft=1&f=2101618 Linguist Geoff Nunberg has been puzzling over President Obama's performance in the presidential debate last week. Looking at who the candidates were addressing their answers to shows that Romney was doing something unusual, he says.

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]]> When Words Were Worth Fighting Over Since the 1961 publication of the <em>Third International Dictionary</em>, people have debated the merits of dictionaries that describe language as it is and those that explain how it should be. Today the debate continues, but it doesn't hold the same cultural significance as before, writes Geoff Nunberg. Wed, 03 Oct 2012 13:28:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/03/162221715/when-words-were-worth-fighting-over?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2012/10/03/162221715/when-words-were-worth-fighting-over?ft=1&f=2101618 Since the 1961 publication of the Third International Dictionary, people have debated the merits of dictionaries that describe language as it is and those that explain how it should be. Today the debate continues, but it doesn't hold the same cultural significance as before, writes Geoff Nunberg.

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]]> With Ryan's Ascent, A Few Thoughts On 'Entitlement' The Republican vice presidential pick wants to take another look at programs like Medicare and Social Security. <em>Fresh Air</em>'s resident linguist parses the word "entitlement" in its political and nonpolitical contexts. Tue, 14 Aug 2012 11:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/08/14/158756957/with-ryans-ascent-a-few-thoughts-on-entitlement?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2012/08/14/158756957/with-ryans-ascent-a-few-thoughts-on-entitlement?ft=1&f=2101618 The Republican vice presidential pick wants to take another look at programs like Medicare and Social Security. Fresh Air's resident linguist parses the word "entitlement" in its political and nonpolitical contexts.

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]]> Swearing: A Long And #%@&$ History Middleborough, Mass., recently imposed a $20 fine for swearing in public. Linguist Geoff Nunberg says profanity makes hypocrites of us all. Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:48:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/07/24/156623763/swearing-a-long-and-history?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2012/07/24/156623763/swearing-a-long-and-history?ft=1&f=2101618 Middleborough, Mass., recently imposed a $20 fine for swearing in public. Linguist Geoff Nunberg says profanity makes hypocrites of us all.

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]]> Taboo Revival: Talking Private Parts In Public Places Earlier this month, there was a national uproar when a Michigan state legislator was disciplined for using a clinical sexual term during a debate. According to linguist Geoff Nunberg, it was just one of many such incidents that reflect a trend he calls the New Reticence. Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/25/155706549/taboo-revival-talking-private-parts-in-public-places?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2012/06/25/155706549/taboo-revival-talking-private-parts-in-public-places?ft=1&f=2101618 Earlier this month, there was a national uproar when a Michigan state legislator was disciplined for using a clinical sexual term during a debate. According to linguist Geoff Nunberg, it was just one of many such incidents that reflect a trend he calls the New Reticence.

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]]> The Word 'Hopefully' Is Here To Stay, Hopefully When The Associated Press said it would no longer condemn the use of the adverb "hopefully" in its style guide, most people shrugged. But the announcement was a red flag to people who have made the adverb the biggest bugaboo of English usage over the past 50 years. Wed, 30 May 2012 11:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/30/153709651/the-word-hopefully-is-here-to-stay-hopefully?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2012/05/30/153709651/the-word-hopefully-is-here-to-stay-hopefully?ft=1&f=2101618 When The Associated Press said it would no longer condemn the use of the adverb "hopefully" in its style guide, most people shrugged. But the announcement was a red flag to people who have made the adverb the biggest bugaboo of English usage over the past 50 years.

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]]> Slut: The Other Four Letter S-Word Rush Limbaugh said a number of things about Sandra Fluke that created such a stir that he ultimately had to apologize. But most of the reactions focused on that one word: slut. Linguist Geoff Nunberg observes that our reaction to the word says quite a lot about the society we live in. Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:36:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2012/03/13/148295582/slut-the-other-four-letter-s-word?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2012/03/13/148295582/slut-the-other-four-letter-s-word?ft=1&f=2101618 Rush Limbaugh said a number of things about Sandra Fluke that created such a stir that he ultimately had to apologize. But most of the reactions focused on that one word: slut. Linguist Geoff Nunberg observes that our reaction to the word says quite a lot about the society we live in.

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]]> 'Occupy': Geoff Nunberg's 2011 Word Of The Year <em>Fresh Air</em>'s resident linguist explains how the magic of metonymy gave "occupy" its symbolism — and how the word implies a culture that made a bunch of protests feel like a movement. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:49:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/07/143265669/occupy-geoff-nunbergs-2011-word-of-the-year?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2011/12/07/143265669/occupy-geoff-nunbergs-2011-word-of-the-year?ft=1&f=2101618 Fresh Air's resident linguist explains how the magic of metonymy gave "occupy" its symbolism — and how the word implies a culture that made a bunch of protests feel like a movement.

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]]> Steve, Myself And i: The Big Story Of A Little Prefix The "i" prefix began as an abbreviation for the word "Internet," but ended up being much more than that. "By the time i- was fleshed out, Apple had transformed itself from a culty computer-maker to a major religion," says linguist Geoff Nunberg. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:14:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/10/25/141655550/steve-myself-and-i-the-big-story-of-a-little-prefix?ft=1&f=2101618 http://www.npr.org/2011/10/25/141655550/steve-myself-and-i-the-big-story-of-a-little-prefix?ft=1&f=2101618 The "i" prefix began as an abbreviation for the word "Internet," but ended up being much more than that. "By the time i- was fleshed out, Apple had transformed itself from a culty computer-maker to a major religion," says linguist Geoff Nunberg.

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