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© Dr Rebecca Mitchell 2025
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Are you curious about how languages work? Have you ever wondered, for example, why humans speak and animals don’t, or why there are so many different languages? Maybe at some point you’ve asked yourself why some people start a sentence in one language and finish it in another, or whether women really do talk more than men, or who invented the alphabet, or where we get new words from. Perhaps you want to know why the language you’re learning has masculine and feminine words, or you’ve heard rumours of languages that consist entirely of whistling! And where do designer dogs fit into all this?!
Well, you’ve come to the right place, because the Linguistics HQ podcast will answer all of these questions and many more! We’ll explore every aspect of the science of language, starting with the basics, from how languages are structured to how we can use our knowledge of linguistics to discover exciting things and even make our world a better place. Whatever sort of language enthusiast you are, Linguistics HQ has got something for you. I’m Dr Rebecca Mitchell and I’m a lecturer, teacher and public speaker, and I’m on a mission to make the science of language everyone’s business. So hit subscribe and let’s get thinking, talking and learning about linguistics!
13 Episodes
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What's another name for a precarious proletariat? Do accents open doors - or are they still quietly closing them? And is covert prestige just for secret agents? This episode, which explores the relationship between language, socioeconomic status and education, will answer all of these questions and more! On your Marx, get set, go! NB. The next episode will be on Wednesday 4th March.
Do you know your MLE from your UBE? Are you more of a trapper or a strutter? Do you ever find yourself changing your accent to fit the situation? And is that a thorn in that rose bush, or a fawn?? This episode will examine how our language use reveals where we come from, and how it can affect people's perception of us. Tune in to find out more! NB. The next episode will be on Friday February 20th. Don't miss it!
Does language use really get worse over time, or are we just getting older? Is slang just too skibidi for a parliamentary speech? And for how long have we been at risk of brain rot? This episode, which looks at the relationship between age and language use, will answer all of these questions and more!
What makes a Greek grammarian grumpy? Is it asking for purple but getting midnight aubergine? Or is it appearing in the same podcast episode as Britney Spears and the Kardashians? This episode is the first in a new season on sociolinguistics, starting with language and gender. From swearing to vocal fry, tune in to find out the truth behind some of the stereotypes!
Have you ever wondered where language actually comes from? Why did humans develop language in a way that other species didn't? And are bow-wow, ding-dong and poo-poo bona fide academic theories? Season 1 will go out with a bang as this episode attempts to answer one of the biggest questions in linguistics! Linguistics HQ will then go into a brief period of hibernation, but it will be back on Wednesday 6th January with a new season all about sociolinguistics, so see you then!
1Why do we say 'I’ll think about it' when we’ve already decided? What's the difference between 'thanks' and 'thanks'? Could a misplaced emoji start a war? And are you stuck for ways to celebrate National Linguistics Day? In this episode, we unwrap the hidden messages in everyday talk — where words are just the beginning and context is everything. Tune in to learn about pragmatics and ways to get #NationalLinguisticsDay trending!
Have you been mixing your metaphors recently? Are you reticent or reluctant? How can you reanalyse a crayfish? And which deadly device is lurking in your office? This episode looks at semantics, including what makes up meaning, how meaning changes over time, and how AI handles it (obviously not as well as we do!).
Is it really possible to succeed academically on four hours sleep a night (and retain your good looks)? What’s the key to getting people to use your new alphabet? And is it ever wise to act on an idea you’ve had in a dream? Tune in to find out about the work of some influential black linguists and language advocates and how they’ve made a difference!
Do you know your equative from your versative? Why do some languages play fast and loose with word order? And what did Plato have to say about parts of speech? This episode looks at syntax, including what makes a sentence make sense, different word orders around the world, and how to draw a very simple constituent structure diagram. Pens at the ready!
Have you ever wondered how new words are made? Or how to avoid getting delayed by a chatty Aztec? Is talk of acronyms giving you FOMO? This episode looks at derivational morphology and all the different ways in which languages create their own words, from compounding to back formation to blending. And for a cross-disciplinary twist, we've also got maths with dogs! Don't miss it!www.linguisticshq.co.uk
What’s the difference between a pharyngeal and an alveolar? How many types of 'd' do we really need? What are people really doing when they tut-tut disapprovingly? And is Mark a suitable name for a hamster? In this episode we make the big ideas of phonology bite-sized and fun. From tone to whistling languages, discover the sounds that shape how we communicate!www.linguisticshq.co.uk
In this introductory episode I'm going to tell you what linguistics is and why we need to know about it! I’m also going to talk about why I decided to launch a podcast on linguistics and why I created National Linguistics Day, and I'll give you an idea of some of the fascinating things I’m going to share with you throughout the series.www.linguisticshq.co.uk
Welcome to Linguistics HQ, the new fortnightly show that aims to get people thinking, talking and learning about the science of language! Starting with the basics, we’ll look at how languages are put together, and how we can use our knowledge of linguistics to discover exciting things and even make our world a better place.This podcast is for anyone who is curious about how languages work. Don’t worry if you’re new to linguistics, as everything will be clearly explained as we go along, and there’ll be lots of fun facts about languages from around the world. Subscribe now and join me as we uncover the secrets behind the science of language. Season 1 is all about how languages are structured, and it drops on September 17th 2025 with three episodes! Don’t miss it!www.linguisticshq.co.uk
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