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Linguafiles

Linguafiles

By Alex Morgan

Come and explore the mysterious and wonderful world of language. Each episode we ask questions like: Why are malapropisms funny? What on Earth are malapropisms? What makes English so special? How can a language belong to a family? What’s a conlang? Why is tea called tea, and gin called gin? So, pour yourself something, and listen, learn, laugh, subscribe and share.
Written and presented by Alex Morgan, an English actor, writer, accent coach, and linguaphile (with a ‘ph’...). www.alexjmorgan.com
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Currently playing episode

Language Families

LinguafilesApr 29, 2020

00:00
21:26
The Final File

The Final File

Time to leave geeks’ paradise...

Arabella Merryweather was played by Felicity Houlbrooke.

Alex was played by Alex Morgan

The wizard was played by Alex Morgan

Music and effects by Epidemicsounds.com

References:

Time Maps. The Phoenicians. Online. 2020. Viewed 1/07/20. https://www.timemaps.com/civilizations/phoenicians/

“Tuchus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tuchus. Accessed 01 Aug. 2020.

The British Museum. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Rosetta Stone. Online. 2017. Viewed 02/07/20. https://blog.britishmuseum.org/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-the-rosetta-stone/

Wikipedia. Ptolemy V Epiphanes. Online. 2020. Viewed 02/07/20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemy_V_Epiphanes

MICHAEL QUINION. World Wide Words. How bona to vada your eek! Online. 1996. Viewed 02/07/20. http://www.worldwidewords.org/articles/polari.htm

ERIN MCCARTHY. Mental Floss. 11 Dothraki Words and Phrases Every Game of Thrones Fan Should Know. Online. Feb 22, 2019. Viewed 03/07/20. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/574048/game-of-thrones-dothraki-language-phrases-to-know

Wikipedia. Aurora. Online. 2020. Viewed 04/07/20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora

Wikipedia. Italy. Online. 2020. Viewed 04/70/20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy#Italian_unification

Wikipedia. Polari. Online. 2020. Viewed 05/07/20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polari#Naff

Wikipedia. Uralic Languages. Online. 2020. Viewed 05/07/20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uralic_languages#Genetic_evidence

Wikipedia. Old Norse. Online. 2020. Viewed 05/07/20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Norse

THE EDITORS OF ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA (INC VIRGINIA GORLINSKI). Britannica. Yiddish Language. Online. 2020. Viewed 06/07/20. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yiddish-languaget

Aug 16, 202028:20
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Put that in your wizard’s pipe and smoke it...

Performed by Alex Morgan.

Music and sounds by Epidemicsounds.com


References:

Hiswelókë's Sindarin dictionary, Compiled, edited and annotated by Didier Willis. Online. Viewed 26/06/20. https://www.jrrvf.com/hisweloke/sindar/online/sindar/dict-en-sd.htmle

"Arabic – Ethnologue". Ethnologue. Simons, Gary F. and Charles D. Fennig (eds.). 2018. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 21st edition. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2018.

Wikidepia. Online. Viewed 26/06/20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_language, https://quicksilvertranslate.com/2554/basque-words-in-english?doing_wp_cron=1592840652.8962969779968261718750, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy#Italian_unification, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibberish

STEPHEN WHITELEY. Basque Words in English. Quicksilver Translate. Online. 31/12/2013. Viewed 25/06/20. https://quicksilvertranslate.com/2554/basque-words-in-english?doing_wp_cron=1592840652.8962969779968261718750

translator.eu. English -> Klingon. Online. Viewed 28/06/20. https://www.translator.eu/english/klingon/translation/

JACOPO PRISCO, CNN. CNN Style - How do you design a language from scratch?. Online. 3rd July 2018. Viewed 29/06/20. https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/star-trek-klingon-marc-okrand/index.html

"Fuck." OED Online. Draft Revision, June 2008. Oxford University Press. Online. Viewed 28/06/20. OED.comhttp://public.oed.com/the-oed-today/recent-updates-to-the-oed/previous-updates/march-2008-update/

The Free Dictionary by Farlix. Sociolinguistics. Online. 2003-2020. Viewed 30/06/20. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Sociolinguisitcs

BrailleWorks. History of Braille. Online. 2020. Viewed 30/06/20. https://brailleworks.com/braille-resources/history-of-braille/

Jul 30, 202028:28
Tea for Two

Tea for Two

Ooohhhhhhh...don’t mind if I do...


Arabella Merryweather was played by Felicity Houlbrooke. 

Music and sounds by Epidemicsounds.com

References:

Afternoon tea.co.uk. Online. 2020. Viewed 20/06/20. https://afternoontea.co.uk/information/what-is-high-tea/

GUARDIAN.CO.UK, DOMINIC WATT. Semantic Enigmas. Online. 2011. Viewed 20/06/20. https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-3153,00.html

DOUGLAS HARPER. Etymology Online. Online. 2001-present. Viewed May 2020.  https://www.etymonline.com

CHRISTOPHER KLEIN. The Sweet History of Chocolate. Online. Aug 22, 2018. Viewed 21/06/20. https://www.history.com/news/the-sweet-history-of-chocolate

BEN JOHNSON. Historic UK, Afternoon Tea. Online. Visited 21/06/20. https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Afternoon-Tea/

MANDY BARROW. Project Britain. Online. 2014. Viewed 21/06/20. http://projectbritain.com/flowers.html

ERIC T. Culinary Lore. Online. June 9, 2018. Viewed 22/06/20. https://culinarylore.com/drinks:whats-the-difference-between-a-tisane-and-a-decoction/

ROBIN MCKIE. The Observer: How do you pronounce ‘scone’, to rhyme with ‘cone’ or ‘gone’? It depends where you’re from. Online. April 23, 2017. Viewed 22/06/20. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/23/how-do-you-pronounce-scone-answer-says-a-lot-english-language-day-shakespeare-birthday

Jun 25, 202024:48
The Peacock has Landed

The Peacock has Landed

Bon joor? Bone jowar? Bong zhoor? BONJOUR!


Justin Case was played by Paul Sandys

Gudrun Schneider was played by Rachel Morgan

Music and effects by Epidemicsounds.com

References:

1. Alex’s bizarre mind.

2. KAREN LEONG. Peacock Plume; A Short History of the Croissant. Online. Sept 12, 2016. Visited 07/06/20. http://peacockplume.fr/arts-culture/croissant-really-french

3. ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE. Online. Visited 06/07/20. http://www.academie-francaise.fr

3. DOUGLAS HARPER. Etymology Online. Online. 2001-present. Viewed May 2020.  https://www.etymonline.com

4. HENRIETTE WALTER. L'Aventure des langues en Occident - Leur origine, leur histoire, leur géographie (préface d'André Martinet), Robert Laffont, 1994 (ISBN 978-2-2210-5918-0) (prix spécial de la Société des gens de lettres et grand prix des lectrices de Elle) : une présentation accessible des différentes langues parlées en Europe, avec leur origine et leur évolution. Quelques exercices pour tester ses connaissances.

Jun 11, 202024:48
Biting the Wax Tadpole

Biting the Wax Tadpole

Still hanging. Need some fried carbs, and good chat. Pocari Sweat, anyone? 

This episode contains some swearing

Britney was played by Helen Keeley

Music and effects by Epidemicsounds.com 

References: 

1. INC, GEOFFREY JAMES. 20 Epic Fails in Global Branding. Online. 2020. Viewed 19/05/20. https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/the-20-worst-brand-translations-of-all-time.html 

2. BUSINESS NEWS DAILY, SKY SCHOOLEY. Lost in Translation: 10 International Marketing Fails. Online. August 12th, 2019. Visited 19/05/20. https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5241-international-marketing-fails.html 

3. BLOGGER, JERILYN. ARTIST CHICK. Clairol “Mist Stick” in Germany “Manure Stick”. Online. 2007. Visited 20/05/20.   http://jmo83.blogspot.com/2007/04/clairol-in-germany.html?m=1 

4. GLANTZ DESIGN. Say What??? Campaigns that Failed To Translate. Online. 2008-20. Visited 20/05/20. https://glantz.net/blog/campaigns-that-failed-to-translate/ 

5. SNOPES.COM. Did the Chevrolet Nova Fail to Sell in Spanish-Speaing Countries?. Online. 3rd April 1999. Visited 20/05/20. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/chevrolet-nova-name-spanish/ 

6. LISTEN & LEARN BLOG. The Funniest Food Translations. Online. 2007-2020. Visited 22/05/20. https://www.listenandlearnusa.com/blog/the-funniest-food-translations/ 

7. SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. JULIAN RYALL. Pocari Sweat: how the iconic sports drink, huge in Asia, became one of Japan’s most successful beverages. Online. 30th November 2019. Visited 22/05/20. https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3039792/pocari-sweat-how-iconic-sports-drink-huge-asia-became-one

May 28, 202020:51
On the (Etymological) Lash

On the (Etymological) Lash

Alex really wanted to take you out for a drink, because you’re awesome. However, seeing as that’s off the cards at the moment, he decided he’d take you on a virtual night out instead. Go on, you know you want to. Let’s go on the (etymological) lash. Just, don’t tell his mum...


Credits:

Mylène: Charlotte Mangel

Yelena: Kat Soloviev

Piotr: Egor Gavrilin

Barman: Alex’s Father

Darren: Also Alex’s Father

Alex’s Mother:...Alex’s Mother


Music and effects by Epidemicsounds.com


References:

1. RAMMINGER, JOHANN. (accessed 16 July 2016). Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700[2]. Pre-publication website, 2005-2016

2. HARDY A, WALTON R, VAISHNAV R Int J Environ Health Res. 2004 Feb;14(1):83–91. Composition of eye cosmetics (kohls) used in Cairo.

3. DOUGLAS HARPER. Etymology Online. Online. 2001-present. Viewed May 2020.  https://www.etymonline.com

4. EMMA. A Brief History of Gin and Tonic - Flaviar. Online. July 2018. Viewed. May 2020. https://flaviar.com/blog/gin-tonic-history

5. BRUCE MOORE (1999). The Vocabulary of Australian English. Australian National Dictionary Centre.

6. REAL ACADEMIA ESPAÑOLA (2014). Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición. Real Academia Española, 2014

7. Trésor de la langue Française informatisé. Online. Viewed May 2020. http://www.atilf.fr/tlfi, ATILF - CNRS & Université de Lorraine.

8. Findwords.info. Word finder 2020. Viewed May 2020. https://findwords.info/term/cognac

9. BARNHART, ROBERT ED., Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology. H.W. Wilson Co., 1988.

10. Whiskyforeveryone.com. Whiskey or whisky? Online blog 2012. viewed May 2020. http://www.whiskyforeveryone.com/whisky_basics/whisky_or_whiskey.html

11. European Waterways, Whisky Business: The Celtic Love of the ‘Water of Life’. Online 2020. Viewed May 2020, https://www.europeanwaterways.com/blog/whisky-business/

12. Arcanum adatbazis. Online. Viewed 2020 https://www.arcanum.hu/hu/online-kiadvanyok/Lexikonok-magyar-etimologiai-szotar-F14D3/b-F1794/bor-F1966/

13. VinePair Inc.,The Oddly Interesting Origins Of Wine Words 2014-2020. Online. Viewed May 2020 https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/etymology-wine-words/

14. Voxy, Why is Spanish cerveza So Different? Online. April 6 2012. Viewed May 2020 https://voxy.com/blog/2012/04/spanish-cerveza-english-beer/

15. WILLIAM DWIGHT WHITNEY. The Century Dictionary: An Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language vol. 1.

16. HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language(5th ed.). Boston: . Retrieved 18 May 2019

May 14, 202021:11
Language Families

Language Families

Gather around the fire and listen as Alex tells you the tale of Celeste and her two daughters, whose fates will change the way you see words forever. Learn about the colourful past of the English language, and get the key to unlocking a mysterious ability that it bestows upon its speakers. So, get a hot cup of cocoa, and enjoy. 

Music by Epidemicsounds.com

References: 

1. Eberhard, David, M., Gary F. Simons, and Charles D. Fennig (eds.) (2020).  Ethnologue: Languages of the World. Twenty Third Edition. Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com 

2. Mark Forsyth, (2011). The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language. Icon Books: First Edition edition. 

3. James Clackson (2007). Indo-European Linguistics, An Introduction. Cambridge University Press 

4. P. H. Matthews (2003). Linguistics, A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press 

5. Stephen R. Anderson (2012). Languages, A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press 

6. Ti Alkire & Carol Rosen (2010). Romance Languages, A Historical Introduction. Cambridge University Press 

7. Anderson, Poul (1989). Uncleftish Beholding. Analog Science Fiction and Fact. Vol. 109 no. 13. Davis Publications. pp. 132 - 135 Music by Epidemicsound.com

Apr 29, 202021:26
Malapropisms and false friends

Malapropisms and false friends

We hope you chew in to the first episode of the bran new cereal, the 'Linguafiles'. Join Alex on a whirlwind door of discovery through some of languid's funniest and oddest quarks ...Wait...what? Don't worry. It’ll all make sense in episode one. Promise. 

Music by Epidemicsounds.com

References: 1.  Oxford Languages (2012). The Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press 

2. Sheridan, Richard Brinsely (1775). The Rivals: A Comedy 

3. New Scientist (18th June 2005) Malapropism for Malapropism. newscientist.com   

4. BBC (2nd May 2018) BBC News 

5.  Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, Henry Stuart Jones, Roderick McKenzie (1843) A Greek-English Lexicon, Oxford University Press Music by Epidemicsound.com

Apr 15, 202013:15
Trailer

Trailer

The trailer for the Linguafiles series.

It's a podcasting starter. An hors d'oeuvre. An antipasto.

Main course to follow.

Language, but not as you know it.

Listen, subscribe, share!



Music by Epidemic sound

Mar 25, 202001:28