This is But Why, a broadcast for curious kids.

I'm Jane Lindholm.

For seven weeks this spring, we're bringing our podcast to the airwaves for live radio shows

in collaboration with Vermont's Agency of Education to offer kids who are out of school

a chance for your own call in radio show.

And if you live in Vermont and surrounding areas, you don't even need an internet connection.

Today we're going to talk about words and language, how new words come alive, why our

languages are always changing, why most people in one country might speak a different language

than people in another country, and we're going to get into why and how words have power

and who determines the power that words have.

If you want to add your voice to the conversation, grab your adult and give us a call.

Our number is 1-800-639-2211.

That's 1-800-639-2211.

Or you can send an email to questions at butwhykids.org.

Our guest today is John McWhorter.

He's a professor, what's a teacher, at Columbia University in New York.

He's also written a lot of books about language, and he hosts his own podcast.

It's called Lexicon Valley.

John has joined us before.

John, what a pleasure to have you on the show again.

Thank you for thanking me.

Well, we're excited to talk about words and language, and you know, words and language

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