Lexicon Valley
Booksmart Studios
Linguists John McWhorter and guests dissecting language curiosities, from slang to dictionary entries.
Why we picked this
We picked Lexicon Valley because it treats the history of English as a living, messy archive rather than a set of rigid rules. The show maps how common words and odd grammatical quirks shift across centuries, using literary texts, historical letters, and old recordings to explain why we speak the way we do. It rewards a curious listener with patient explanations and a sharp ear for the eccentricities of human speech.
Recent episodes
How to Kill a Language, Part I
Oct 21, 202659 min
Bang for the Buck
Oct 14, 202622 min
The Language of Liars
Oct 6, 202628 min
No More Mr. Nice Guy
Sep 29, 202617 min
Nice Guys Finish Last
Sep 22, 20269 min
Happily Ever Arter
Sep 15, 20266 min
Grand Am
Sep 8, 202618 min
Haut Corn!
Sep 1, 202622 min
A Quick Buck
Aug 25, 202616 min
Nice of You to Join Us
Aug 11, 202620 min
The Dating Game, Great White Edition
Aug 4, 202627 min
The Original Maverick
Jul 28, 202623 min
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