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A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

Hot Dog, Cold Turkey (Rebroadcast) - 25 December 2017

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over

A Way with Words

Language Learning, Society & Culture, Education

4.6 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 25 December 2017

⏱️ 53 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Why do we call a frankfurter a hot dog? It seems an unsettling 19th-century rumor is to blame. Also, if someone quits something abruptly, why do we say they quit cold turkey? This term’s roots may lie in the history of boxing. Plus, a transgender listener with nieces and nephews is looking for a gender-neutral term for the sibling of one’s parent. Finally, the words barber and doctor don’t necessarily mean what you think. They can both be weather words, referring to very different types of wind. Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org. Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443. Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443. Email words@waywordradio.org. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

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Engineered to do it all. That's a laptop evolved with Intel Evo Platform.

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As you probably know, we make away with words available to everyone, totally free of charge.

0:36.0

But producing it, now that takes money.

0:39.0

Studio costs, editing, and staffing are just a few of the things we have to pay for. So do your part.

0:45.0

Go to wayward radio.org slash donate.

0:49.0

Give whatever you can to keep this show going strong.

0:52.0

And guess what? Thanks to a generous

0:54.0

challenge grant from Jack and Caroline Raymond, your donation goes twice as

0:58.0

far through the end of the year. They'll double whatever you give. It's a two for one but you have to donate before the end of

1:04.7

2017 to activate the Challenge Grant. Thanks.

1:08.3

You're listening to A Way With Words, a show about language and how we use it. I'm Grant Barrett.

1:13.4

And I'm Martha Barnett. Grant I have a short list here of some words in a particular category and I wondered

1:20.1

if you could guess what the category is. Okay. All right. Three terms. Brickfielder, Simoom, and Snoweater.

1:30.0

Let's see where your mind goes.

1:33.4

Brick Fielder, Samoome, and Snow Eater.

1:37.0

Hmm. Good question. The middle one doesn't sound like English to me.

...

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