Slate Debates
A feed from the Slate podcast network featuring episodes with enlightening conversations, opposing views, and plenty of healthy disputes. You'll get a curated selection of episodes from programs like What Next, The Waves, and the Political Gabfest, with deep discussions that go beyond point-counterpoint and shed light on the issues that matter most.
226
Can Climate Influence Language?
Tonal languages evolved mostly in hot and humid places. What would explain that?
42 min
227
When Ain't Was Alright
What we can learn about English from am, the seemingly simplest verb.
35 min
228
The Semitic Tongues
Where did Arabic, Hebrew and Amharic originate? And what is a triconsonantal root?
41 min
229
Precious Little
How an old word for child morphed into a versatile, and very modern, suffix.
39 min
230
When Words Collide
Some more of the many ways that neologisms form.
40 min
231
Truth Be Told
An actually very literal discussion of true words. Really!
36 min
232
A Penetrating History of F*%k
English speakers have been getting it on with the F-word for centuries.
42 min
233
When Did English Get Happy?
A New Year's meditation on a joyful word.
34 min
234
Sponsored: Adjusting the Lens on Chronic Disease
More than half of Americans are currently living with one or more serious, preventable, chronic diseases. These rates are expected to increase significantly over the next two decades.
28 min
235
Why Language Can't Be Tamed
A conversation with Lane Greene, author of Talk on the Wild Side, about the "vague and anarchic" nature of language.
35 min
236
Is Social Media Changing English?
Our speech is becoming more childlike, but not for the reasons you think.
37 min
237
What Was the First Language?
How far back can we trace, with any accuracy, the spoken word?
43 min
238
So ... Let's Talk About So
How long have we been starting our sentences with "so"?
35 min
239
Like-Minded
A meditation on the evolution of the word like.
28 min
240
Why Do Southerners Talk Like That?
John McWhorter dissects the many distinct features that make up Southern speech.
36 min
241
The Habitual Past
Did you "used to" do something but don't any longer? Where does that expression come from?!
31 min
242
A Riot of Color
Our word for "red" predates our word for "blue"—and that's true for almost every language!
37 min
243
The Rise of They
English pronouns are evolving and it's time to embrace it.
39 min
244
Wabbit Twacks
A linguistic analysis of Looney Tunes.
40 min
245
Tee Time
What the French Canadian version of The Flintstones can teach us about the letter T.
38 min
246
Happy Birthday OED!
John McWhorter raises an etymological glass to the nonagenarian Oxford English Dictionary.
32 min
247
If Frozen, Why Not Squozen?
Language lessons from this year's Tony nominees for Best Musical.
35 min
248
The Pronouning of Profanities
Words like f*ck and sh*t are increasingly standing in for *it* and *that*.
31 min
249
One Tongue to Rule Them All
The tantalizing prospect of a universal language.
35 min
250
The Art of the Spiel
A brief history of oratory from the Gilded Age to the Era of Trump.
40 min