The Word Nerds
English linguistics Educational Words Language
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| Last updated Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:29
A podcast about words, language, and why we say the things we do
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Download Now · | Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:29
Linguistic tics: Friends, this week Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd sort of, you know, explore little linguistic tics, right? Paralinguistic vs. linguistic tics (1:59) Causes of linguistic tics; tics as style identifiers; some classic linguist tics (5:32) Music bumper from “Telepop” by The Jerrys (16:35) Linguistic tics in languages other than English (17:15) Song: “Uh Huh-Oh No” by Anne [...]
Download Now · | Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:22
Ambiguity: Barbara Shepherd and Dave Shepherd try very hard to figure out exactly what each other means, as they explore the topic of ambiguity. Thanks to Paul L., Smaran D., Mary M., Michelle M., Dolores B., and Peter D. for PayPal donations (1:52) Emails from Paul L., Adam R., Maria C., and Anne J. Also, Evan [...]
Download Now · | Sun, 27 Jul 2008 03:59
Syntax: This week it’s shake-up the order of sentences that Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd do, as explore the topic of syntax they shall. Thanks to Emma H. and Mary T. for PayPal donations (2:07) Syntax: not just word order, but sentence structure in general. Which came first, the thing or the act? (2:33) Music bumper [...]
Please complete our audience survey. (103A)
Download Now · | Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:23
The Word Nerds would be very grateful if everyone listening could complete the audience survey on our website, thewordnerds.org. See the navigation column on the right side of the web page. This survey will give us valuable statistical evidence of who is listening to our show, so that any advertising we do is appropriate and [...]
Download Now · | Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:34
Prosody: Barbara Shepherd and Dave Shepherd try not to use “that tone” with each other as they discuss prosody in speech and in poetry. Thanks to Marilyn O. for a PayPal donation (1:54) Speech prosody: the rhythm, intonation, and grouping of sounds that are part of human speech. (2:17) Music bumper from “Heartless” by Michael Burks [...]
Rhetoric, part 3: Rhetoric in Famous Speeches (102)
Download Now · | Mon, 26 May 2008 01:30
Rhetoric in Famous Speeches: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd conclude their three-part series in rhetoric by presenting some examples of rhetoric and public discourse. At the time this is posted, our web site is not fully functional. It will be fixed soon, so that you can find things and make PayPal donations. (1:54) Dave and Barbara [...]
Download Now · | Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:11
Games and Wordplay: Barbara Shepherd and Dave Shepherd explore word games, games with words, and ways of playing with words. Dave thanks Brad and Naoko for donations, and Naoko, Ralsen, Asa, Jason and Hossein for their emails. (1:59) This show was inspired by a game published by Brad Chase, Orijinz. We play a couple of rounds. (Thanks, [...]
Download Now · | Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:43
Baby Talk: Howard Chang and Dave Shepherd use their best adult vocabulary as they discuss baby talk. Dave thanks Andy, Beverley and Jianxia for their support through the PayPal donation button. (2:00) This is show #100. The recording date, March 21, is the third anniversary not only of The Word Nerds, but also of Schlaflos in München. [...]
Rhetoric, part 2'Tropes and Schemes (99)
Download Now · | Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:18
Rhetoric, part 2–Tropes and Schemes: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd continue their discussion of rhetoric by exploring tropes, schemes, and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Grimace from the Word Nerds Forum corrects us on our example of a syllogism. (2:31) Content versus style; tropes and schemes defined; and some examples of tropes. (Note: despite what Dave says in [...]
Download Now · | Sat, 09 Feb 2008 20:22
Body Words: Howard Chang and Dave Shepherd put their noses to the grindstone and go toe-to-toe in a tete-a-tete, as they talk about body words. Dave thanks Scott and Mary for their support through the PayPal donation button. (2:05) This topic is, of course, the theme of Charles Hodgson’s book Carnal Knowledge. It was suggested [...]
Download Now · | Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:51
Rhetoric, part 1: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd explore the difference between rhetoric and dialectic. They invoke Plato, Aristotle, Rush Limbaugh and Michael Moore. Dave thanks Michael, Tim, Emma, and Clint for their support through their PayPal donations to the show. (See the button on the right-hand navigation column of our web page.) (2:00) Rhetoric, dialectic, [...]
Special 2008 New Year’s Edition (96A)
Download Now · | Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:52
2008 New Year’s special edition: Dave Shepherd sends New Year’s greetings from the Word Nerds team, and responds to listener feedback. Dave reads and responds to emails from Hillary, Idiosyncratic Idiot, Chris, Rob, and Donna. (3:10) A bald-faced solicitation of your donations through our PayPal button. (See the right-hand navigation column on our website.) (15:47) Shows [...]
Silence and Speechlessness (96)
Download Now · | Sun, 09 Dec 2007 20:23
Silence and Speechlessness: Howard Chang and Dave Shepherd sit in silence for a few seconds–and then find that they have something to say after all. They explore speechlessness and silence. We are currently somewhat speechless because of overwork. (2:02) Speechlessness: when words fail us. (3:33) Music bumper from “Silence” by Caitlyn Smith. (10:29) Silence: sometimes empty, sometimes [...]
Download Now · | Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:14
Religious Words: Barbara Shepherd and Dave Shepherd look deep within their souls–without proselytizing–as they talk about the connection between religious language and everyday language. Religious words as they are re-appropriated into everyday life. Thanks to EJ for suggesting this topic, and letting us know about the technology evangelists. (1:58) Howard Shepherd tells us about an interesting [...]
Download Now · | Sat, 27 Oct 2007 08:24
Nicknames: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd call each other by names other than their given names as they discuss nicknames. Listener feedback (2:22) Eke-names, mascots, and a shout-out to a former student (5:18) Music bumper from “Grapes” by Evan Stone. (17:34) Monikers–deliberately chosen or applied names (18:23) Song: “Familar Names, Familiar Games” by Doug McLeod (22:50) Rude word of the week: [...]
Download Now · | Sat, 06 Oct 2007 18:43
Public speaking: Howard Chang and Dave Shepherd sit very isolated in the Word Nerds studio, and yet speak to thousands of listeners about public speaking. Oratory, rhetoric, and forensics (2:02) Music bumper from “Forensic” by Nick Murray (14:29) “Everyday” public speakers: teachers, podcasters, managers, and toasters (15:10) Song: “Beer Toast” by Bobby Chitwood (25:43) Rude word of the week: “rabble-rouser” [...]
Download Now · | Sat, 15 Sep 2007 18:49
Transitions: Barbara Shepherd and Dave Shepherd try to move smoothly from one sub-topic to another as they talk about transitions, both in language and in life. Emails and voice messages from Angy, Joel, MrGraphxFargo, Ken, and Ric (2:33) Change in our lives, and the continuum of change and transition (5:51) Music bumper from “Ockham’s Shaving Kit” by [...]
Download Now · | Sun, 26 Aug 2007 01:23
“Inside” Language: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd speak as clearly and openly as they can about “insider” language–normal words that outsiders cannot understand. Our show is introduced this week by the man called Anne from Israel, known to Word Nerds Forum members as RabiAkiva. (0:01) We encourage you once again to check out Charles Hodgson’s book Carnal [...]
Download Now · | Sat, 04 Aug 2007 04:20
Small talk: Howard Chang and Dave Shepherd, who haven’t seen each other for several months, make and discuss small talk. We encourage you to check our our friend Charles Hodgson’s book Carnal Knowledge. (2:22) The inspiration for this show was the book How to Talk to Anybody About Anything by Leil Lowndes. (3:21) In response to a voice [...]
Download Now · | Tue, 17 Jul 2007 03:54
Synonyms: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd discuss, chat, and talk about a plethora, a bundle, a whole bunch of ideas about synonyms. Austin Tichenor of the Reduced Shakespeare Company left us an audio comment via our MyChingo button. (1:55) It was Dave’s turn to travel to German-speaking Europe this past month. (3:04) The inspiration for this show was [...]
Download Now · | Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:11
Abridgment: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd leave out all the unimportant parts as they talk about abridgment. We feature the masters of abridgment, the Reduced Shakespeare Company. We’ve been away. While we were gone, the Nerd Number died. But now you can leave an audio message with our MyChingo button. (1:52) Definitions of “abridge,” plus some related [...]
| Wed, 06 Jun 2007 20:17
After some frantic posting and emailing to several knowledgable people, including fellow podcasters on the Yahoo Podcasters group, I think I have fixed our site. You should now be able to directly download our shows. I have not tested it yet, but I believe you also should be able to download via your podcatcher’s subscription (i.e., [...]
| Tue, 05 Jun 2007 12:39
A listener posted a comment alerting me to the fact that our media files seemed to be unavailable for download. I don’t know what has happened to our blog or feed to cause this, but I have a couple of inquiries out. I apologize for this unexpected glitch that has temporarily taken The Word Nerds off the [...]
| Tue, 29 May 2007 09:23
More than one person has asked us this question lately, via email or the forum. We have not died and gone away. The Word Nerds does continue to live. We just have not been able to record a new show in the past three weeks or more. The reason for this is quite simple: there is no [...]
Download Now · | Mon, 23 Apr 2007 02:25
Spring Break Edition: Dave Shepherd does not have a linguistic topic, nor a Rude Word, nor a song–but he does respond to your emails and voicemails, and announces a new feature to the website. The Virginia Tech shooting touched us–but not directly. (2:20) We have a new feature on our blog site, a MyChingo button. Leave us [...]
