Word of Mouth

Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them

Radio 4,304 episodes

Episodes

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Scots
Michael Rosen goes to Glasgow to hear about the Scots language with Sanjeev Kohli.
22 Apr 2014,28 mins
Social Register
Do we change the way we speak according to the person we are speaking to?
15 Apr 2014,28 mins
Journalese
Michael Rosen on the necessary evil of journalistic cliché.
08 Apr 2014,28 mins
Creating Characters
Michael Rosen talks to writers about how character is created through language.
01 Apr 2014,28 mins
Talking Terrorism
It's a word that can start a war. Michael Rosen explores the meaning of 'terrorist'.
28 Jan 2014,28 mins
How accurate are scientific metaphors?
Is gravity really like a bowling ball on a sheet? Michael Rosen on scientific metaphors.
21 Jan 2014,28 mins
Office Jargon
Michael Rosen and guests 'drill down' into the subject of office jargon.
14 Jan 2014,28 mins
Chimps and Language
Chimps communicate but, asks Michael Rosen, do their utterances mean they use language?
07 Jan 2014,28 mins
Baby Talk
Michael Rosen asks if baby talk benefits or hinders language development.
31 Dec 2013,28 mins
Kids TV
Michael Rosen looks at children's television and its effects on language development.
30 Dec 2013,28 mins
Prime Suspects
Michael Rosen and top crime writers on the changing language of the police interview.
17 Dec 2013,28 mins
The Rise of the Political Soundbite
Chris Ledgard and guests discuss the art and efficacy of the political soundbite.
03 Sep 2013,28 mins
Language Laws
Chris Ledgard looks at the laws surrounding language use, from libel to blasphemy.
27 Aug 2013,28 mins
Language Games
Chris Ledgard mulls over the language and peculiarity of puzzles.
20 Aug 2013,28 mins
Fashion
Chris Ledgard explores how we talk about scents, slogans on T-shirts and fashion lingo.
13 Aug 2013,28 mins
Misophonia, Mondegreens and Miscommunication
Chris Ledgard and Stuart Maconie explore miscommunication, mondegreens and misophonia.
06 Aug 2013,28 mins
D is for Dictionary
Chris Ledgard talks to the outgoing editor of the Oxford English Dictionary.
30 Jul 2013,28 mins
Babel
Chris Ledgard explores the language ideas in the story of Babel.
23 Jul 2013,28 mins
How do you talk to an alien?
Chris Ledgard explores our efforts to communicate with extra-terrestrial intelligence.
16 Jul 2013,28 mins
English and German
At the Brighton Festival, Michael Rosen and guests debate our linguistic ties with German.
14 May 2013,28 mins
07/05/2013
With a royal baby due, Michael Rosen investigates the royal and national name hoard.
07 May 2013,28 mins
Accents Will Happen
Michael Rosen explores the impact of your accent and dialect, starting with the very young
30 Apr 2013,28 mins
Instructions Instructions
Michael Rosen discovers why instruction manuals are so hard to follow.
23 Apr 2013,28 mins
Language and Politics in India
In Delhi and Jaipur, Chris Ledgard continues to explore the politics of language in India.
16 Apr 2013,28 mins
Language in India; politics and passion
In Delhi and Jaipur, Chris Ledgard explores the passion and politics of language in India.
09 Apr 2013,28 mins
Speaking to Yourself
Michael Rosen asks who we are really talking to when we talk to ourselves.
02 Apr 2013,28 mins
The Persuaders
Michael Rosen explores propaganda and the language of persuasion in media old and new.
26 Mar 2013,28 mins
The University of Babel
Michael Rosen asks how English spoken by foreign students equips them for university life.
19 Mar 2013,28 mins
Audio Books
Michael Rosen charts the rise of the audiobook and asks if every writer is a performer.
22 Jan 2013,28 mins
Autism and Learning Difficulties
Michael Rosen on communicating with people with autism or profound learning difficulties.
15 Jan 2013,28 mins