Light-hearted conversation with callers from all over about new words, old sayings, slang, family ex
Silence comes in lots of different forms. In fact, says writer Paul Goodman, there are several kinds
Kinbank is a new database that illustrates the global diversity of family terms. English, for exampl
A clever pun can make the difference between a so-so phrase and a memorable one. The phrase “the las
For many people, religion provides language and rituals for key milestones in life, from births to w
A stereotype is a preconceived notion about a person or group. Originally, though, the word stereoty
Sometimes it’s a challenge to give a book a chance: How many pages should you read before deciding i
A book of photographs and essays by famous writers celebrates libraries — and the librarians who cha
Book recommendations, including a collection of short stories inspired by dictionaries, and a techno
The art of the invitation can be tricky. An inviter’s idea of invitation may be taken by an invitee
The game of baseball has alway inspired colorful commentary. Sometimes that means using familiar wor
Barbara Kingsolver’s book Demon Copperhead is a retelling of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield set
How colors got their names, and a strange way to write. The terms blue and orange arrived in English
What do you call a long sandwich filled with lots of ingredients? Whether you call it a sub, a hoagi
Malamute, kayak, and parka are just some of the words that have found their way into English from th
Funny cat videos and cute online photos inspire equally adorable slang terms we use to talk about th
Is there such a thing as a “neutral” accent, and if so what does it sound like? And that quirk in th
According to Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, it’s important to master the basics of writing, but ther
It’s cats and dogs, and a few other critters, too. Animals prowl around inside several English words
A magnificent new book celebrates the richness and diversity of 450 years of written and spoken Engl
Why isn’t “you’re welcome” the default response to “thank you” for everyone? Plus lies that kids tel
