Media Docudrama's Fine Line Between Truth and Fiction September 21, 2006 How do you draw the line between dramatic license and historical accuracy? That was the essence of the controversy over the recent ABC docudrama The Path to 9/11, just as it was a few years ago with the CBS miniseries that put words in Ronald Reagan's mouth that he never uttered. Docudrama may be a new word, but it raises old questions about truth and fiction. Docudrama's Fine Line Between Truth and Fiction Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6118258/6118259" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Opinion Space Dwarfing Pluto Fresh Air August 28, 2006 Our linguist Geoff Nunberg doesn’t profess to know much about astronomy. But when astronomers changed the definition of the word planet, they entered his territory -- language. Dwarfing Pluto Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5723794/5723795" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Opinion The Evolution of 'Lifestyle' Fresh Air July 31, 2006 The word lifestyle has moved around in our culture since it first appeared more than 35 years ago. Our linguist says the word has gone from being a way to differentiate the '60s counterculture to a marketing tool and now to a political catchphrase. The Evolution of 'Lifestyle' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5594617/5594618" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Diversions Enumerating English Fresh Air May 8, 2006 How many words are in the English language? 500,000? 1 million? Our linguist says there is no way to really count all the words. What's more, he wonders why people even care. Enumerating English Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5390581/5390582" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Talking About the Law November 29, 2005 It's been a busy couple of years for the law, from the controversy over gay marriage to nominations to the Supreme Court. From a linguist's point of view, dictionaries are crucial in the world of jurisprudence. Talking About the Law Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/5031283/5031284" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Opinion Analysis Choosing Your Terms: The Language of Katrina Fresh Air September 8, 2005 Linguist Geoff Nunberg considers the language that's been used the describe the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. What words do we use, "looting," "finding" or "foraging"? "Refugees," "evacuees" or "the displaced"? Choosing Your Terms: The Language of Katrina Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4837711/4837712" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Opinion Selling Policy with Catchy Language Fresh Air August 5, 2005 Increasingly catchy terminology is used to package government missions and policies. Consider "war on terror" and "no child left behind," for instance. Linguist Geoff Nunberg offers his thoughts on the subject. Selling Policy with Catchy Language Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4786939/4786940" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Opinion Understanding the Brits' 'Stiff Upper Lip' Fresh Air July 13, 2005 Linguist Geoff Nunberg reflects on the use of the phrase "stiff upper lip" when referring to the British, especially in reports of the July 7 London bombings. Understanding the Brits' 'Stiff Upper Lip' Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4751910/4751911" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Opinion Promoting the Memorization of Poetry Fresh Air June 21, 2005 The publishers of Poetry Magazine have been using the proceeds of a large bequest to encourage the practice of memorizing poetry. Linguist Geoff Nunberg comments. Promoting the Memorization of Poetry Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4712745/4712746" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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National The 'Etymythologies' of Words Fresh Air June 14, 2005 Linguist Geoff Nunberg discusses the "etymythologies" of words, including those used as racial epithets. The 'Etymythologies' of Words Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4702761/4702762" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Red vs. Blue Politics: A Linguist's Perspective Fresh Air May 18, 2005 Political analysts have been dividing the country into red states and blue states for several elections now, but it's only in the last year or two that the distinction has really caught on with the media and the public. As our linguist Geoff Nunberg points out, the odd thing is that the new usage seems to reverse the traditional political meanings of red and blue. Red vs. Blue Politics: A Linguist's Perspective Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4657161/4657162" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Red vs. Blue Politics: A Linguist's Perspective Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4657161/4657162" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Opinion Pro and Con in a Social Debate Fresh Air April 7, 2005 Linguist Geoff Nunberg considers the adjectives pro and con used to describe the President's social security proposal. Pro and Con in a Social Debate Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4580772/4580773" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Linguist: Euphemistically Speaking Fresh Air February 10, 2005 Linguist Geoff Nunberg considers the term "love-child" and other euphemisms. Linguist: Euphemistically Speaking Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4493678/4493679" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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Books Linguist Essay: The Importance of Grammar Fresh Air February 1, 2005 Linguist Geoff Nunberg reflects on the popularity of grammarian Lynne Truss's book Eats, Shoots & Leaves. Linguist Essay: The Importance of Grammar Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4473683/4473684" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
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National Political Language and "Democracy" Fresh Air January 19, 2005 Linguist Geoff Nunberg discusses political language and the word democrat, with a small "d." Political Language and "Democracy" Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4458456/4458457" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Political Language and "Democracy" Listen Toggle more options Download Embed Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/4458456/4458457" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">