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.
201
Can Climate Influence Language?
Tonal languages evolved mostly in hot and humid places. What would explain that?
42 min
202
When Ain't Was Alright
What we can learn about English from am, the seemingly simplest verb.
35 min
203
The Semitic Tongues
Where did Arabic, Hebrew and Amharic originate? And what is a triconsonantal root?
41 min
204
Precious Little
How an old word for child morphed into a versatile, and very modern, suffix.
39 min
205
When Words Collide
Some more of the many ways that neologisms form.
40 min
206
Truth Be Told
An actually very literal discussion of true words. Really!
36 min
207
A Penetrating History of F*%k
English speakers have been getting it on with the F-word for centuries.
42 min
208
When Did English Get Happy?
A New Year's meditation on a joyful word.
34 min
209
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
210
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
211
Is Social Media Changing English?
Our speech is becoming more childlike, but not for the reasons you think.
37 min
212
What Was the First Language?
How far back can we trace, with any accuracy, the spoken word?
43 min
213
So ... Let's Talk About So
How long have we been starting our sentences with "so"?
35 min
214
Like-Minded
A meditation on the evolution of the word like.
28 min
215
Why Do Southerners Talk Like That?
John McWhorter dissects the many distinct features that make up Southern speech.
36 min
216
The Habitual Past
Did you "used to" do something but don't any longer? Where does that expression come from?!
31 min
217
A Riot of Color
Our word for "red" predates our word for "blue"—and that's true for almost every language!
37 min
218
The Rise of They
English pronouns are evolving and it's time to embrace it.
39 min
219
Wabbit Twacks
A linguistic analysis of Looney Tunes.
40 min
220
Tee Time
What the French Canadian version of The Flintstones can teach us about the letter T.
38 min
221
Happy Birthday OED!
John McWhorter raises an etymological glass to the nonagenarian Oxford English Dictionary.
32 min
222
If Frozen, Why Not Squozen?
Language lessons from this year's Tony nominees for Best Musical.
35 min
223
The Pronouning of Profanities
Words like f*ck and sh*t are increasingly standing in for *it* and *that*.
31 min
224
One Tongue to Rule Them All
The tantalizing prospect of a universal language.
35 min
225
The Art of the Spiel
A brief history of oratory from the Gilded Age to the Era of Trump.
40 min