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Geoff Nunberg Geoff Nunberg is the linguist contributor on NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross.
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Geoff Nunberg

Politics

'Socialist' Charge Draws On Old Fears

The McCain campaign's charge that Barack Obama has socialist leanings has put the spotlight on a word relatively uncommon to modern American elections. Linguist Geoff Nunberg explains how the "S" word was used in the past — and why it's come up now.

'Socialist' Charge Draws On Old Fears

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Opinion

For Candidates, An Accent on Authenticity

Fresh Air

What do Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, George W. Bush, and John Edwards have in common? They've all been criticized for the way they speak. Linguist Geoff Nunberg has some thoughts about candidates and regional cadence.

For Candidates, An Accent on Authenticity

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Opinion

Parsing The Politics Of 'Main Street'

Fresh Air

Much has been made of the effects the recent financial crisis will have on "Main Street." Linguist Geoff Nunberg Geoff Nunberg discusses how this term gained such popular — and presidential — usage.

Parsing The Politics Of 'Main Street'

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Lipstick On Your Choler (Or: Did You Call Me a Pig?)

Fresh Air

When Barack Obama trotted out a well-worn, folksy phrase about cosmetics and swine, the political world developed a sudden rash. Linguist Geoff Nunberg asks what all the shouting was about.

Lipstick On Your Choler (Or: Did You Call Me a Pig?)

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Opinion

Technology

Teens, Tech And Language: A Tired Old Tale Retold

Fresh Air

From the telegraph to the typewriter to the text message, every new technology inspires rhapsodies about the effect it'll have on language — especially the language of the young. Geoff Nunberg points out that language — and the young — somehow manage to survive.

Teens, Tech And Language: A Tired Old Tale Retold

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Opinion

'Um' ... A Pause for Linguistic Appreciation

Fresh Air

It's one of the most common words in English, and one of the most maligned. But it has been doing useful work for centuries, and lately it's acquired a new, hip meaning. Fresh Air linguist Geoff Nunberg gives us his thoughts on the little word, "um."

'Um' ... A Pause for Linguistic Appreciation

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Opinion

Analysis

Parsing Obama's 'National Conversation'

Analysts wondered if Barack Obama's speech on race in Philadelphia last month was the beginning of a "national conversation" on the subject. Meanwhile, Fresh Air's contributing linguist Geoff Nunberg is wondering what, exactly, a "national conversation" is — and when we started talking about them.

Parsing Obama's 'National Conversation'

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Opinion

'Fleeting Expletives' Are Fair Game. Now What?

Fresh Air

An appeals court ruled recently that the FCC couldn't fine the Fox network for indecency for broadcasting a "fleeting expletive" during an awards show. What does the ruling mean — and what qualifies as a "fleeting expletive" these days, anyway?

'Fleeting Expletives' Are Fair Game. Now What?

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Opinion

Wikipedia: Blessing or Curse?

Fresh Air

Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, is designed to take advantage of "the wisdom of crowds," meaning anyone can edit (and re-edit) the entries. The open-source approach brings with it a unique set of strengths — and limitations.

Wikipedia: Blessing or Curse?

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