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

Scat Cat - 26 October 2015

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

🗓️ 26 October 2015

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The dilemma continues over how to spell dilemma! Grant and Martha try to suss out the backstory of why some people spell that word with an “n.” A lot of them, it seems, went to Catholic school. Maybe that’s a clue? Plus, the saying “Close, but no cigar” gets traced back to an old carnival game. And the French horn isn’t actually French—so why in the world do we call it that? Plus, a word game based on famous ad slogans, the plural form of the computer mouse, a Southern way to greet a sneeze, and remembering a beloved crossword puzzle writer.  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/contact. Be a part of the show: call 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; worldwide, call or text/SMS +1 (619) 800-4443. Email words@waywordradio.org. Twitter @wayword. 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 can cross your fingers and all your toes during a data center migration.

0:04.0

You can knock on wood, pluck a dozen four-leaf clovers, or look to your lucky stars for a successful office expansion.

0:10.0

You could hold your breath, shut your eyes, and say all the world wishes to help avoid cyber attacks.

0:15.0

But none of that truly helps you.

0:18.0

Because next level moments need the next level network,

0:21.0

with the security, reliability, and expertise to take your business

0:24.2

further. AT&T Business, the network more businesses are choosing.

0:29.4

You're listening to Away with Words to show about language and how we use it.

0:33.3

I'm Grant Barrett.

0:34.3

And I'm Martha Barnett and the emails about the word dilemma are still coming in.

0:38.8

Oh boy, how many years running is this?

0:40.6

Oh man, so many.

0:42.4

We have this discussion right about dilemma several times yes and there were a lot of

0:46.8

people who spell the word dilemma right not m m m m in in the middle but mn as a Nancy or not right.

0:55.0

Not right.

0:56.0

Not right.

0:57.0

Yeah, and we've had a strong suspicion all along that there's a Catholic connection.

1:00.6

Yeah, we did.

1:01.2

And that's what we keep hearing. We heard from Hazel

1:03.7

Hunt singer in Kildare, North Dakota, who said she's always been an excellent

1:07.8

speller, but she's always spelled the word with an n. And she said I was

1:11.5

baffled to learn as an adult with spell check that I had been

...

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