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A Word in Your Ear
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A Word in Your Ear

Author: ABC listen

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Emeritus Professor Roly Sussex from the University of Queensland discusses the wonderful and odd aspects of English and many other languages.
316 Episodes
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Have you ever thought about why we call the objects in our kitchen whatever we call them?
Professor Roly Sussex unpacks the different ways women communicate, and how these contrasts emerged.
Professor Roly Sussex discusses the origins and uses of our 26 letters, and explains why we don't use a phonetic alphabet. 
Professor Roly Sussex is joined by ABC Radio Australia presenter Michael Chow, who speaks two and a half Papua New Guinean languages.
Professor Roly Sussex unpacks the language of some of the most successful adverts and why they have stood the test of time. 
Do you call a spade a spade, or do you prefer to be a bit more gentle with the things you say? Professor Roly Sussex explores the use of hedging and why it's so common in the English language. 
Professor Roly Sussex explores how new insults have emerged and why some have disappeared from our vocabulary. 
Food isn't just something we eat, it's something we speak. Professor Roly Sussex takes a bite out of the language of food, exploring the different flavour of phrases across cultures. 
Arvo, brekkie, sunnies, mozzie, servo...the list goes on. Professor Roly Sussex explains why us Aussies shorten our words more than anyone else. 
Young people have always reshaped the way we speak, reinventing new lingo to distinguish themselves.Professor Roly Sussex unpacks how slang has evolved through the last few decades.  
The English language has developed various regional and social norms that continue to cause confusion. Professor Roly Sussex addresses some of your most pressing English language questions. 
The rise of computer technology forced the English language to adapt, and fast!But where did these words come from and how did they take root in our everyday language?
What makes a language successful? Professor Roly Sussex discusses why some languages rise while others fade. 
As the English language has evolved, various pronunciations, norms, and mistakes have formed. Professor Roly Sussex takes us through some of the most common examples. 
Grab a cuppa and gear up for a chinwag. Professor Roly Sussex has a yarn to explain great Aussie phrases. 
When you "dust" something, are you removing the dust or adding it?Professor Roly Sussex unravels the double meanings of contronyms. 
Have you got a grammar gripe? Frustrated by a phrase? Professor Roly Sussex tackles your language queries. 
Ever wondered how your favourite footy teams got their names? Professor Roly Sussex tackles the phrases of footy. 
Did you know that 70% of the world's languages use alphabets similar to English? Professor Roly Sussex breaks down the building blocks of the English language: the alphabet. 
If you make your kids cringe with dad jokes, this episode's for you! Professor Roly Sussex discusses the power of puns, and why language lovers keep the tradition alive. 
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Comments (1)

Paul Allan

Always an interesting listen. The word wizard knows his stuff. Learn to speak proper English like 😉

Jan 21st
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