Politics 'Socialist' Charge Draws On Old Fears Fresh Air October 29, 2008 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 Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/96263173/96263171" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
'Socialist' Charge Draws On Old Fears Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/96263173/96263171" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion For Candidates, An Accent on Authenticity Fresh Air October 15, 2008 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 Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/95729820/95729818" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
For Candidates, An Accent on Authenticity Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/95729820/95729818" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Opinion Parsing The Politics Of 'Main Street' Fresh Air October 8, 2008 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' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/95510510/95511157" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Parsing The Politics Of 'Main Street' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/95510510/95511157" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript
Lipstick On Your Choler (Or: Did You Call Me a Pig?) Fresh Air September 16, 2008 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?) Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94665918/94666119" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Lipstick On Your Choler (Or: Did You Call Me a Pig?) Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/94665918/94666119" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opinion Technology Teens, Tech And Language: A Tired Old Tale Retold Fresh Air July 10, 2008 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 Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92406717/92409504" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Teens, Tech And Language: A Tired Old Tale Retold Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/92406717/92409504" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opinion Love and Marriage: Still Going Together? Fresh Air May 28, 2008 Linguist Geoff Nunberg considers the changing definitions of "love" and "marriage." Love and Marriage: Still Going Together? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/90889904/90890401" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Love and Marriage: Still Going Together? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/90889904/90890401" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opinion 'Elite'... What's it to You? Fresh Air April 25, 2008 Fresh Air linguist Geoff Nunberg considers the evolution of the meaning of the "e" word. 'Elite'... What's it to You? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/89940718/89940717" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'Elite'... What's it to You? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/89940718/89940717" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opinion Primaries Toss Some 'Under the Bus' Fresh Air April 22, 2008 Linguist Geoff Nunberg considers the phrase "under the bus," which has been used throughout the heated presidential primaries. Primaries Toss Some 'Under the Bus' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/89834261/89837579" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Primaries Toss Some 'Under the Bus' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/89834261/89837579" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opinion 'Um' ... A Pause for Linguistic Appreciation Fresh Air April 14, 2008 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 Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/89620768/89624254" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'Um' ... A Pause for Linguistic Appreciation Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/89620768/89624254" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opinion Analysis Parsing Obama's 'National Conversation' Fresh Air April 3, 2008 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' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/89338597/89338595" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Parsing Obama's 'National Conversation' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/89338597/89338595" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opinion William F. Buckley: A Man of Many Words Fresh Air March 17, 2008 Fresh Air's contributing linguist remembers a rhetorician whose larger-than-life language helped shape a movement and a nation. William F. Buckley: A Man of Many Words Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/88397125/88397145" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
William F. Buckley: A Man of Many Words Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/88397125/88397145" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opinion On 'Civility' and Its Inverse Fresh Air September 13, 2007 Fresh Air's resident linguist considers how we use the words "civility" and "incivility." On 'Civility' and Its Inverse Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/14384951/14384936" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
On 'Civility' and Its Inverse Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/14384951/14384936" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opinion What Part of 'Smart Aleck' Don't You Understand? Fresh Air August 16, 2007 Our contributing linguist has some thoughts on the use of sarcasm in American English. What Part of 'Smart Aleck' Don't You Understand? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/12838190/12838191" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
What Part of 'Smart Aleck' Don't You Understand? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/12838190/12838191" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opinion 'Fleeting Expletives' Are Fair Game. Now What? Fresh Air June 14, 2007 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? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/11067702/11067704" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
'Fleeting Expletives' Are Fair Game. Now What? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/11067702/11067704" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opinion Wikipedia: Blessing or Curse? Fresh Air June 5, 2007 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? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/10731811/10731813" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Wikipedia: Blessing or Curse? Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/10731811/10731813" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">