English Language

Language commentator recalls how he learned Italian by watching dubbed American movies while studying abroad, and considers why Italian filmgoers prefer dubbing over subtitles.

While vacationing in France, linguist Geoff Nunberg visited a museum exhibit showcasing an early edition of the Grand Larousse dictionary. He considers the cultural significance of this text, and what it says about how the French view language.

Language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg on the efforts of France's culture guardians to keep American expressions out of the language.

Jan Harold Brunvand explores urban legends and the etymology of earwigs.

Language Commentator Geoffrey Nunberg will discuss the effects of Minitel, the computer distributed by the telephone system in France that has brought a word processor to every home with a phone.

Issac Asimov [a.k.a. Paul French], the dean of science fiction writers. Asmiov is arguably one of the most widely published authors ever.

Language Commentator Geoffrey Nunberg discusses the overuse of the superlatives "world-class" and "serious."

Language Commentator Geoffrey Nunberg discusses the centennial of Esperanto, a movement devoted to establishing a world language.

Language Commentator Geoffrey Nunberg will discuss the misleading nature of words, or when a "direct flight" isn't direct at all.

Language Commentator Geoffrey Nunberg shares his thoughts on the peculiar grammatical logic of telephone answering machine recordings.

Language Commentator Geoffrey Nunberg discusses whether it's possible, or even desirable, to eliminate gender bias in language.

Language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg addresses the lengths companies go to in order to come up with the right names for new products.

Fresh Air's language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg.

Language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg discusses the language of post-modernism.

Language Commentator Geoffrey Nunberg discusses the sanitized language defense experts use to describe nuclear war and weapons.

Language Commentator Geoffrey Nunberg explores the language and sounds of talking computers and how they handle the subtlety of vocal inflection.

Language Commentator Geoffrey Nunberg continues his discussion of sexism in language. He says the obvious concerns - like whether to use "mankind" or "humanity" - only scratch the surface.

Language Commentator Geoffrey Nunberg examines the diversity of accents in sunny California.

Language Commentator Geoffrey Nunberg on shibboleths, those subtle points of grammar and usage that linguists' consider vital but which most people have never heard of.

Language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg discusses the new book They Have a Word for It. The book is a collection of foreign words and expressions for which there is no ready English translation.