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Linguistics with Laura

Linguistics with Laura

By Laura Koch

This podcast series will highlight some of the most important aspects of linguistics. Over the span of numerous episodes, we’ll discuss topics such as the definition of linguistics, history of the English language, word structure, speech sounds, grammar, meaning, sentence structure, and more. If you’re interested in learning more about language but don’t have oodles of free time, this series will introduce you to the beauty of linguistics in short and sweet light-hearted episodes.

Source:
Fromkin Victoria et al. An Introduction to Language. 11th ed. Cengage 2019.
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How Does Language Influence Society? How Does Society Influence Language?

Linguistics with LauraFeb 18, 2021

00:00
12:06
Why Study Linguistics? How Can We Apply Linguistics To Our Everyday Life?

Why Study Linguistics? How Can We Apply Linguistics To Our Everyday Life?

In this final episode of the series, we’ll discuss the many ways that studying linguistics can lead to not only a fulfilling career, but a fulfilling life in general. Tune in to learn about rediscovering forgotten languages, speech pathology, forensic linguistics, and AI language capabilities.
Mar 31, 202110:55
How Do Our Brains Process Language?

How Do Our Brains Process Language?

This episode will give an overview of all the systems inside our brains that are responsible for understanding and producing language. We’ll also talk about bilingualism, language disorders, and slips of the tongue, which can tell us a lot about how our brains process language.
Mar 13, 202117:30
How Does Language Influence Society? How Does Society Influence Language?

How Does Language Influence Society? How Does Society Influence Language?

In this episode, we’ll discuss dialects, accents, pidgins, creoles, lingua francas, and code switching. We’ll also explain the impact of language on gender and class, and vice versa. Tune in to learn more about sociolinguistics!
Feb 18, 202112:06
How and Why Language Changes

How and Why Language Changes

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow language enthusiast Emery Schramm to discuss the reasons for language change and how these changes come about. Tune in to learn about interesting linguistic phenomena such as retronyms, skeuomorphs, proprietary eponyms, meaning shifts, and a whole lot more.
Jan 17, 202137:43
How Did the English Language Come to Be? How Did English Originate?

How Did the English Language Come to Be? How Did English Originate?

This episode of Linguistics with Laura will provide a brief overview of English and a brief history of the language. Tune in to learn about Indo-European languages, Old English, Middle English, Modern English, and everything that went down in between.
Dec 31, 202009:48
What is Phonology?

What is Phonology?

In this episode, we’ll dive into more of the sound-related aspects of linguistics with an overview of phonology. Tune in to learn about English’s phonological rules, patterns, and fascinating nuances.
Dec 15, 202016:20
Accents and Pronunciations Across the US

Accents and Pronunciations Across the US

In this episode, I sit down with one of my best friends Katie who joins me in discussing different types of US accents. Tune in to find out how we pronounce words like museum, aunt, caramel, coupon and more!
Nov 20, 202032:32
What is Phonetics?

What is Phonetics?

In this episode, we’ll take a deep dive into the acoustic side of linguistics with the topic of phonetics. Tune in to learn all about how speech sounds are created in the human body and how these sounds are distinguished from one another.
Nov 17, 202025:41
What is Semantics? How is Meaning Conveyed Through Language?

What is Semantics? How is Meaning Conveyed Through Language?

In this episode of Linguistics with Laura, we’ll talk about one of the most important aspects of language: semantics. This sixth episode will explain the difference between homophones, heterographs, and homonyms as well as polysemy, auto-antonyms, tautologies, contradictions, anomalies, metaphors, and more. How does context affect the meaning of our words and sentences? How is truth conveyed through language, and how is it not? Tune in to find out.
Oct 18, 202025:58
Is There A Correct Way To Speak A Language?

Is There A Correct Way To Speak A Language?

This episode will answer a key question in linguistics that has probably come up in your everyday life, whether you realize it or not. We’ll discuss language prescriptivism as well as its antithesis, language descriptivism. Tune in to learn both the short and long answer to the question of whether there is a right or wrong way to speak.
Sep 13, 202014:21
What is Syntax? What Makes Up a Sentence?

What is Syntax? What Makes Up a Sentence?

This episode of Linguistics with Laura covers the complex linguistic topic of syntax, also known as sentence structure. Tune in to learn about noun phrases, verb phrases, verb tenses, complementizer phrases, different types of verbs, syntactic ambiguity, and more.
Aug 23, 202024:47
Does Language Shape The Way We Think?

Does Language Shape The Way We Think?

In this third episode, we’ll answer one of the most studied questions in the field of linguistics: does language influence thought, or is it the other way around? Tune in to learn about some features of languages other than English that might blow you away and give you something to share at the dinner table.
Jul 26, 202013:29
What Is Morphology? What Is a Word Made Of?

What Is Morphology? What Is a Word Made Of?

In this episode, we’ll cover all the fundamental aspects of morphology, the study of word formation. By the end of this episode, you’ll know what people mean when they talk about morphemes, roots, affixes, and the like. Tune in to find out what makes a word a word.
Jul 13, 202016:40
What is Linguistics? How Does Language Make Humans Special?

What is Linguistics? How Does Language Make Humans Special?

In this episode of Linguistics with Laura, we’ll talk about what people mean when they talk about linguistics. We’ll also examine the ways in which humans have been able to use language as a powerful tool to enrich our lives.
Jul 03, 202008:37