Mudlarking - 25 January 2021

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A Way with Words

Language Learning, Society & Culture, Education

4.6 • 2.3K Ratings

🗓️ 25 January 2021

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Twice a day the River Thames recedes, revealing a muddy shoreline. Hobbyists known as mudlarks stroll the surface searching for objects that have found their way into the river over the centuries, everything from ancient Roman jewelry to modern wedding rings. A new book about mudlarking describes the irresistible appeal of searching for treasures and the stories behind them. Also, why do performers whisper the phrase toi, toi, toi to wish each other well backstage before a show? And, what’s the plural of octopus? Octopuses? Octopi? Something else? Plus, schniddles vs. schnibbles, visiting vs. talking, fotched a heave, creature comforts, trade-last, a timely pangram, Doves Type, a brain teaser about malapropisms, and more. Read full show notes, hear hundreds of free episodes, send your thoughts and questions, and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org/. Email words@waywordradio.org. Twitter @wayword. Our listener phone line 1 (877) 929-9673 is toll-free in the United States and Canada. Elsewhere in the world, call +1 (619) 800-4443; charges may apply. From anywhere, text/SMS +1 (619) 567-9673. 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	You hear that? That's the sound of your energy use going in reverse.
0:07.0	Rewinding, reducing. We're Ovo, an energy company that wants you to use less energy.
0:19.0	Some may see that as a bit backwards, but we like to see things differently.
0:26.0	Join us and see energy from a different angle.
0:29.0	Ovo.
0:30.0	You're listening to Away with Words, the show about language and how we use it.
0:33.7	I'm Grant Barrett.
0:34.8	And I'm Martha Barnett. In the late 18th century the English term mudlark was a rather
0:40.6	grim one. It referred to people who scavenged for usable debris in the cold,
0:46.7	stinking tidal mud of a river because they didn't have any other means of income.
0:52.4	Today, mudlarking is more of a hobby. didn't have any other means of income.
0:52.6	Today, mudlarking is more of a hobby,
0:55.3	and it's the subject of a book I'm really enjoying
0:58.0	by Laura Maiklem.
0:59.2	It's called Mudlark, in search of London's
1:01.7	past along the River Thames.
1:04.0	It turns out that much of the River Thames is title,
1:08.0	which means that twice a day it pulls back to reveal its secrets,
1:12.0	and Mecklem has found all kinds of things. pulls back to reveal its secrets.
1:12.6	And Mecklem has found all kinds of things over the years,
1:15.8	everything from ancient Roman jewelry
1:18.3	to modern engraved wedding rings.
	...

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