Lexicon Valley

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A close examination of language — its power to inform and misinform, to elucidate and obfuscate — from renowned Columbia University linguistics professor John McWhorter. A true polymath, McWhorter analyzes the words and phrases that dominate our discourse and make the headlines. For extra content, including bonus episodes and written columns, please consider becoming a paying subscriber to Booksmart Studios! http://www.booksmartstudios.org/subscribe www.booksmartstudios.org

Booksmart Studios


    • May 20, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 29m AVG DURATION
    • 69 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Lexicon Valley podcast, hosted by John McWhorter, is an incredibly engaging and thought-provoking show that tackles a wide range of language-related topics. McWhorter's demeanor is both pensive and light-hearted, making for a delightful listening experience. His ability to deliver controversial material in a polite and insightful manner is truly impressive. The podcast primarily focuses on current events, which adds to its relevance and impact. Each episode challenges the listener's views in meaningful ways, prompting introspection and growth. Overall, it is the perfect host for such a podcast.

    One of the best aspects of The Lexicon Valley podcast is McWhorter's talent for breaking down complex topics into easily digestible information. This makes the content accessible to listeners of all backgrounds and levels of linguistic knowledge. Whether through his columns or in his podcast episodes, McWhorter has a way of simplifying ideas without losing their depth or meaning. Additionally, his choice of music adds an extra layer of enjoyment to each show, making it a well-rounded experience that is both educational and entertaining.

    On the downside, there have been some complaints about recent episodes being behind a paywall. While it is understandable that creators deserve compensation for their work, this can be frustrating for listeners who follow multiple podcasts and cannot afford to support each one individually. However, this should not detract from the overall quality of the podcast itself.

    In conclusion, The Lexicon Valley podcast with John McWhorter is an excellent resource for anyone interested in language and linguistics. It offers fascinating insights into various aspects of communication while maintaining an approachable tone that appeals to both experts and novices alike. With its engaging topics and brilliant host, this podcast consistently challenges perceptions and expands knowledge in meaningful ways. Despite some concerns related to accessibility due to paywalls, the overall value provided by the content makes it well worth the listen.



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    Latest episodes from Lexicon Valley

    Oversleeping at the Sleepover

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 25:10


    Over isn't just the opposite of under and off is not necessarily the opposite of on. John explains.Please subscribe to Lexicon Valley to support our show — go to www.booksmartstudios.com to find out how! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    The Story of Us

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 21:06


    John talks about the subject of his new book by Avery Publishing — Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words.Please subscribe at www.booksmartstudios.com and thank you for listening! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    Fire, Die, Rim

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 32:22


    The Thai words for fire, die and rim sound an awful lot like the English words fire, die and rim. Why is that? John explains.To help support Lexicon Valley please consider a paid subscription — visit www.booksmartstudios.com and sign up today! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    Hither and Yon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 25:51


    Words like thence and thither are all but obsolete in English, but they were actually quite useful! John explains.SUBSCRIBE to LEXICON VALLEY — please go to www.booksmartstudios.com to become a paid member and receive our BONUS segments. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    Down the Rabbit Hole

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 22:55


    Do you know the difference between a rabbit and a hare? And what then is a bunny? Follow John through the etymological warrens of these several words. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    Giving You the Business

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 24:45


    It may seem apparent how we got from busyness to business, but the origins of the word “busy” itself are shrouded in mystery. John explains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    When Is Code-Switching Inappropriate?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 27:27


    As a daily listener to WNYC Public Radio in New York City, John has noticed that a certain announcer frequently mispronounces words on air. He has thoughts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    The World's Largest Family

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 19:27


    Working backwards from existing languages, linguists have had great success reconstructing Proto-Indo-European. Does that mean we can do the same for all language families? John explains. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com

    English Is Practically Naked

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 21:40


    A cyclone came through and blew off most of English's clothes, says John, in Part II of his discussion of Indo-European. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Family Ties

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 27:01


    There are at least five defining features among hundreds of related languages from English to Hindi to Russian. And what does any of that have to do with the Hittites? John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Going Deep

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2024 32:50


    The simple verb to go quickly gets complex in just about any language and English is no exception. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Come Under Scrutiny

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 25:32


    What does the bat in “acrobat” have to do with the word come? John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Have Your Own Damn Self a Merry Little Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2023 28:14


    Reflexive pronouns are redundant in a way, sure, but they're also quite common in many languages. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    When Did People Start Talking?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 30:12


    There's good reason to believe that sophisticated speech began long before homo sapiens hit the scene. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Who's Afraid of Ayesha Rascoe?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2023 32:04


    Does Ayesha Rascoe have a good radio voice? Not according to many NPR listeners, who find her loud, high-pitched and generally grating. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    What Is Miami English?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2023 26:15


    A recent study suggests that a new dialect is emerging in the southern part of Florida. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Report of the Trial of Levi Weeks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2023 29:11


    The trial transcript of a 225-year-old murder is filled with fascinating evidence of the way we used to talk. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    trial levi weeks
    I Got My Nails Did!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2023 29:50


    Many English verbs have three forms — sing, sang and sung, for example. The problem is that speakers seem to want only two. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    To v. Too

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2023 27:05


    Too — whether about excess, addition or contradiction — evolved from to. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Picture of Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 23:36


    Some languages adopt their “health” word from the concept of wholeness — a metaphor that makes perfect sense. Other languages, however, adopt their “health” word from trees. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    The Right Stuff

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2023 28:14


    Like the French word droit, English's right has taken on a number of useful metaphorical meanings. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Age, Color, Origin, Material

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2023 24:21


    In this favorite from the archives, John discusses some unwritten rules of English that can be remarkably difficult for a learner of English to master. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    One for the Record Books

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2023 25:44


    The word “record” can be broken down into two parts, the re and the cord. But what do those parts even mean? John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Why Do People in Old Movies Talk Like That?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2023 30:52


    John is traveling this week and so we're running a previous episode about the speech patterns of Bette Davis, George Gershwin, Louis Armstrong and countless other Americans of the 1930s. Why do they all sound like that? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Past Master

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2023 24:48


    So many of our words have ugly associations that are particular to a historical time or event. Should we expunge them entirely from our vocabulary? Can we? John weighs in. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Are You Tryna Hear This?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2023 31:21


    Words that come to mean “want” often start out meaning something else. Take “want,” for example. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    The Ambassadors

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2023 29:48


    Henry James wrote his final novels just over a century ago — and yet they are far less accessible than works written much earlier. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Apostrophe S

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2022 25:31


    Possession is more or less about ownership, and we denote that in English by adding 's to the end of a word. But of course there's far more to the story than just that. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Is "Knocked Up" Racist?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 30:54


    There's a rumor going around social networks that “knocked up” traces back to American slave trading. Is there any evidence for that etymology? John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    What a Young Brain Can Do

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2022 37:10


    It's tempting to imagine that a sentence will translate rather neatly, word by word, from one language to another. It's also naive. English, after all, is relatively straightforward, while most languages are far more gunked up with complexity — perhaps none as much as Yimas. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    What Do You Talk?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2022 28:40


    The book and lyrics of The Music Man are replete with everyday, ordinary dialogue that, nevertheless, demonstrates how English often works. John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    The Problem With You

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2022 29:13


    English used to have a more or less typical array of second person pronouns, with thou and thee for the singular — subject and object cases, respectively — and ye and you for the plural. So what happened? John explains. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    The Rodney Dangerfield Pronoun

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2022 33:35


    Comedian Rodney Dangerfield was fond of introducing jokes with a kind of redundancy, for example: “My wife, she told me I was one in a million. I found out she was right.” But those seemingly superfluous pronouns are filled with promise. John explains.Lexicon Valley is a reader-supported publication. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Is Negro a Slur or Just Antiquated?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2022 34:35


    The racial reckoning of the past several years has altered the way we think about and use language, often for better but occasionally for worse. And sometimes, as John explains in this episode, what we tend to believe is at odds with what is most likely true. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    One Is the Loneliest Number

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2022 30:41


    Only, lonely, alone and even atone all derive from the number one, which, by the way, wasn’t always pronounced as if it began with the letter w. John explains. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Throw Up, Turn Out & Believe

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2022 45:36


    Words like chit-chat, pitter-patter and wishy-washy are formed that way for a reason beyond the pleasing way that they sound. The vowel change actually signifies something more meaningful to our human way of thinking. John explains. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Why Fidget Poppers Are "Satisfying"

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2022 38:11


    What does the proliferation of so-called ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) videos say about the nuanced use of the word satisfying? John explains. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Why Do We Dot Our i's?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2022 32:19


    As a guest on The Late Show, John told Stephen Colbert that there was nothing especially interesting to say about the word I. Well, he takes that back — there is, it turns out, much to say. Have a listen. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    You Are SO Articulate. Really.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022 38:08


    Do you remember learning — in grade school most likely — the difference between a count noun and a mass noun? Probably not, and yet chances are that you use them correctly. That’s because you’ve mastered your native language. John explains. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    When Words Collide

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2022 38:11


    We are frequently asked — often by young listeners who are fascinated by language — how English could possibly accumulate the many thousands of words that make up its vast vocabulary. It’s a topic that’s just too fun not to revisit now and again.Please follow us on Twitter (@lexiconvalley) and leave a rating and/or review on Apple’s Podcasts app. Also, if you have a question that you’d like John to answer in his biweekly Q&A column, then send it along to BooksmartStudios@gmail.com. Thanks so much! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    The Haphazard History of C

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022 30:49


    Hi Valley residents! It's Bob Garfield, former LV host, begging asking you to subscribe to my Bully Pulpit column at bullypulpit.substack.com. It's free, unless you wish to be a paid subscriber, for which you receive not a single extra bonus but the satisfaction of helping to keep my work going and my voice in the world. Either way, I'd be honored and delighted to have you aboard. Meanwhile, check out my most recent installment, in which I share Some Personal News and announce my retirement from radio/podcasting.And now, back to the Valley …The letters C and K can both represent what we might call a Hard C — as in Cosmo Kramer or Calvin Klein. Not to mention Q, which usually indicates that same sound. Why does the English alphabet have this confusing redundancy? John explains. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    JFK's Most Famous Sentence

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2022 43:00


    On Jan. 20, 1961, President John F. Kennedy delivered — to an audience seated both outside at the U.S. Capitol and at home in front of their televisions — his inaugural address. Millions were stirred that afternoon by the rousing line: And so, my fellow Americans — ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country. Every part of that exhortation, as John McWhorter explains, is a fascinating linguistic lesson. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    The Evolution of 'Woke'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022 30:19


    What does it mean to be woke? Has the word problematic become problematic? Today in the Valley, John McWhorter talks with Banished host Amna Khalid about the fraught vocabulary of modern censorship. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Reviving Dead Languages

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 44:13


    More than half the world’s approximately 7,000 languages will have no speakers left in the coming decades. Some are working feverishly to preserve or maintain them. Others are asking: Why bother? John explains. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Let Sleeping Dogs Lay

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 26:49


    Listen now | For his 150th episode, John argues that the distinction between "lie" and "lay" is an archaism we should abandon. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    BONUS: How Did Nigeria Gets Its Name?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2022 8:38


    Hint: It's not how you think. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at lexiconvalley.substack.com/subscribe

    Where Is the Name Ketanji From?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2022 38:12


    Listen now | Look to the languages of West Africa, which span the continent's long Atlantic coast. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at www.booksmartstudios.org/subscribe

    The Ukrainian Language

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 28:26


    Listen now | While influenced by Russian, Ukrainian has a character all its own. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at www.booksmartstudios.org/subscribe

    How About This Weather?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 31:16


    Listen now | The language of weather often emerges from our conception of time. Exhibit A: Tempest. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at www.booksmartstudios.org/subscribe

    Joe Rogan and the N-Word, by Way of Kyiv

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2022 41:04


    Listen now | The cultural inhabitants of a place or an ethnicity get to decide what they want, or don't want, to be called. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at www.booksmartstudios.org/subscribe

    Son of a B***h on a Hot Mic

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2022 25:35


    Listen now | A salty phrase with a long history that can be either an interjection or a noun, a compliment or an insult. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at www.booksmartstudios.org/subscribe

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