Language A to Z

Linguistics, the study of language, has a reputation for being complex and inaccessible. But here's a secret: There's a lot that's quirky and intriguing about how human language works-and much of it is downright fun to learn about. But with so many potential avenues of exploration, it can often seem daunting to try to understand it. Where does one even start? In these twenty-four 15-minute lectures by one of the best-known popularizes of language, you'll discover a delightful way to get accessible, bite-sized introductions to language. Using the English alphabet as a unique, offbeat way to approach the subject, Professor McWhorter has crafted a hopscotch tour of some of the field's major topics, hot-button issues, and more. You'll learn why it can actually be OK to use slang like "LOL." Why English speakers don't use words like "thou" and "thee" anymore. What makes "mama" and "papa" a child's first words-in many languages. How popular rhymes like "Eeny, meeny, miney, moe") actually derive from the words for numbers in an early relative of Welsh. Why "like" is here to stay in common American speech. And much more. These and other fascinating topics are all delivered in Professor McWhorter's light-hearted yet informative teaching style, which makes this series essential for anyone looking for a welcoming window into the quirks, curiosities, and intricacies of how language works. Filled with humor, whimsy, and no shortage of insights, it's a fast-paced tour of the same territory linguists tread each and every day.

All Lectures:
1. A for Aramaic
2. B for Baby Mama
3. C for Compounds
4. D for Double Negatives
5. E for Etymology
6. F for First Words
7. G for Greek Alphabet
8. H for Hobbits
9. I for Island
10. J for Jamaican
11. K for Ket
12. L for Like
13. M for Maltese
14. N for Native American English
15. O for Oldsters in Cartoons
16. P for Plurals, Q for Quiz
17. R for R-Lessness
18. S for She
19. T for Tone
20. U for Understand
21. V for Vocabulary
22. W for What's Up, Doc?
23. X for !Xóõ, Y for Yiddish
24. Z for Zed