Linguistics Behind the Scenes
This podcast is for everyone who enjoys or even loves language. Have you ever wondered why we speak or write like that? And how we can find out what is usual, "right" or "wrong" in language use? Then join linguistics professor Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer and linguistics enthusiast Dominic Piazza on a backstage tour of linguistic research as they engage in entertaining chats about all the many fun and interesting aspects of language.
Episodes
What can laughter teach us about language? | Cartoons and fun stories in linguistics
In this animated episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes, Christina and Dominic explore how creative cartoons, comic strips and children’s shows can teach us about language, communication, cognition and learning itself.- How does a curious mouse turn science into storytelling?- Why do comic strips, from Peanuts to XKCD, make such powerful teaching tools?- How can greeny green aliens help us under
What is a "salad salad"? | Copies, quotes, and plagiarism
In this duplicative (but never dull) episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes, Christinaand Dominic explore the fascinating world of copying – from plagiarism tophotocopies, and from fairy tales to “salad salad.” What’s the difference between copying and plagiarizing?Why does “plagiarism” literally mean kidnapping?How faithful must a quotation really be – down to fonts,hyphens, and [sic]s?What doe
Can a robotic arm lose face? | The linguistics of politeness
In this futuristic episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes, Christina and Dominic investigate how we talk to machines – and what our language reveals about the way we see them.- Do we treat AI and robots like tools, teammates… or something in between?- Where did the insult “clanker” come from – and why might it stick?- Can robots have “face,” even without feelings?- What makes a request sound pol
Does punctuation matter? | To hyphenate or not to hyphenate
In this episode, Christina and Dominic make a point of exploring the tiny dots and lines that we find in writing. They uncover the history, humor, and hidden powers of punctuation marks – especially the humble hyphen with its many functions.- Is it possible to write a text without spaces?- Who brought punctuation to English from outside?- Why must we “respect the hyphen” in Spider-Man?- How does a
Are you working hard or hardly working? | Adverbs and data visualization
In this adverbially adventurous episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes, Christina and Dominic dig deep into one of grammar’s dustiest drawers: the adverb category, which combines such different words as "here", "happily", "very", and around.- What’s the difference between “working hard” and “hardly working”?- Why do linguists call adverbs a “dustbin” category?- What
What’s in a name? | How naming customs differ around the world
In this episode, Christina and Dominic tackle the fascinating – and sometimes funny – ways names reflect identity, culture, and even fashion trends.- Can names have meaning, or do they just point to people?- Are you allowed to name your kid “Superman” or “Snow White” in Germany?- How do naming customs differ across languages and decades?- Why may a hyphen in “Mary-Jane” or “Sanchez-Stockhammer” ma
Are cooking recipes about YOU and ME? | Cookbook linguistics
In this deliciously geeky episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes, Christina and Dominic trace the evolution of recipes as both instructions and stories, discussing how language, food, and emotion are bound together.- Do recipes really avoid words like “I” and “you”?- How French are French fries?- Do most recipes start with a personal story?- What do recipes from 1864 have in common with today’s?
Do you say thank you to a robot? | When humans talk to AI
In this human-meets-machine episode, Christina and Dominic explore the curious intersection of linguistics and AI—with special focus on how people talk to robots. They explore the history of chatbots from ELIZA to ChatGPT, and unveil findings from a new study on human-robot interaction using a robotic arm.- How does generative AI like ChatGPT work?- Why is a “Wizard of Oz” study possibly not what
Is English full of lonely words? | Linguistic tricks for learning words
In this brilliantly nerdy episode, Christina and Dominic explore those English words that seem to stand all on their own, with no linguistic parents or children in sight. But wait—are they really that isolated? Discover unexpected word families and the hidden building blocks of language. Learn why “annual” sounds fancier than “yearly,” why mnemonics are your best friend, and how to decode big, sca
Can we predict the future of English? | Current trends and language change
Welcome, time travelers, to a tour through the evolution of the English language! Christina and Dominic chat about the quirks of linguistic prediction, and the weird and wonderful ways language changes right under our noses.- Who’s at the origin of linguistic change?- How is American English sneaking into other dialects?- Will "fewer" finally lose to "less"?- Can we forecast la
What do mocktails, mules, and grammar have in common? | Linguistic purism and hybridization
Grab a cocktail (or mocktail) and join Christina and Dominic for a spirited discussion on hybridity – in language, biology, culture, and beyond. From mules to dronkeys, creoles to hybrid cars, this episode explores what happens when things mix, blend, and blur the boundaries.- Why is English like a linguistic cocktail?- Can you really “borrow” words if you never give them back?- Is “dislike” a Ger
How can you translate the magic of fairy tales? | Grimm linguistics
Once upon a time, Christina and Dominic embarked on a linguistic adventure through the enchanted world of fairy tales to explore the rich history, dark origins, and global legacy of the Brothers Grimm – and what it means to translate their magical style. In this whimsical episode, Christina and Dominic wander deep into the woods of Grimms’ Fairy Tales to talk about the linguistic magic thatbrings
Why do we check in at the check-in but check out at the checkout? | English compounds and their spelling
Christina and Dominic tackle the tangled world of compound words – from the monster nouns of German to the cake-based contradictions of English (listen and see!).- Why are some German words so incredibly long?- Why do some English compounds get hyphens, others spaces, and some nothing at all?- Is English spelling total chaos, or is there a method to the madness?From Mark Twain’s complaints about G
How do comics come to life on the big screen? | Language use in comic book adaptations
Christina and Dominic explore the animated (and linguistic!) world of comics on screen. From Tintin to Spider-Man, they discuss how speech bubbles, onomatopoeia, and talking animals survive (or don’t) in their cinematic transformations.- Why do comic book characters sound different in movies?- Why did Spielberg choose British accents for a Belgian story?- How are foreign languages represented in a
What does your accent say about you? | The role of pronunciation in language learning
Lost in pronunciation? Christina and Dominic explore the quirks of accents, fluency, and identity in language learning.- What does your accent say about who you are?- Is perfect pronunciation worth chasing?- How do tricky English sounds like TH and R trip up learners around the world?From rhotic R’s and intrusive R’s to dialect leveling, accommodation, and the secret life of weak forms, this episo
Can we learn through video games? | Bridging knowledge and adventure
Level up your linguistics! Dominic and Christina explore the intersection of video games and language.- What’s the meaning behind Pikachu’s name?- How can video games be educational?- Are players more motivated to rescue a person or to save treasure when learning difficult words?From portmanteau Pokémon to Indiana Jones-inspired learning, this episode explores how games and language go hand in ha
When does the day end and the night begin? | Talking about time in different languages
Time flies… but how do we talk about it? Dominic and Christina work around the clock in this timely episode to explore temporal terms in different languages.- Have digital clocks changed the way we talk about time?- Why do Germans say “half seven” when they mean 6:30?- Why do the Japanese have “morning rice” for breakfast and the Germans have “evening bread” for dinner?From ancient calendars to th
Should we name prehistoric skeletons? | Creating names for archaeological human remains
What's in a name? Christina and Dominic dig into the fascinating world of names – past and present.- Did early humans have language and names, and how can we ever know?- Why are prehistoric human remains often given numbers instead of names?- What’s the story behind the names of famous finds like Lucy and Ötzi the Iceman?- Can linguists and archaeologists work together to create respectful nam
How difficult are comic strips and cartoons? | The language of comics
BAM! POW! WHAM! Dominic and Christina paint a picture of the colorful world of comic books and illustrate their linguistic quirks.- How did comics evolve from being stigmatized to celebrated?- Why do Japanese manga read in the "opposite" direction?- How do different languages represent onomatopoeia?- Are comics really easier to read than other texts?From Spider-Man to Tintin, from Batman
How can we keep Holocaust survivors’ voices alive? | Creating an interactive digital testimony in English
Christina and Dominic explore language, history, and technology in this episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes!- How can we digitally preserve Holocaust survivor testimonies for future generations?- What are the challenges of translating deeply personal historical memories?- Why do subtitles and dubbing change the way we experience language?Gather around as the hosts discuss how linguistics and
Does English have an infinite number of words for drunkenness? | Drunkonyms
Christina and Dominic raise a glass to drunkonyms in this intoxicating episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes!- Why do the English have hundreds of words for drunkenness?- Can you really say “I was utterly gazeboed” and still be understood?- What does linguistics reveal about our most creative intoxication expressions?Enjoy this cocktail of linguistic knowledge as the hosts explore the staggerin
How has Star Wars changed the English language? | Words from a galaxy far, far away
Christina and Dominic examine the linguistic legacy of Star Wars in this first episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes!- How has Star Wars influenced modern language use?- What does it mean to be a "finance Jedi"?- How can linguistics measure the rise of Star Wars terms?Embark on a journey across the universe of linguistics as the hosts explore how words from a galaxy far, far away have
Welcome to Linguistics Behind the Scenes!
A podcast for anyone curious about language! Christina and Dominic introduce themselves and hint at what to expect from future episodes of this podcast.
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