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

Scat Cat (Rebroadcast) - 19 September 2016

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

🗓️ 19 September 2016

⏱️ 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

This episode is brought to you by Meta for Work.

0:02.6

It's not just sci-fi anymore.

0:04.4

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0:07.6

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0:11.4

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0:14.1

working shoulder to shoulder in virtual spaces

0:16.2

to get real work done.

0:17.6

And all sorts of professionals are getting hands-on training

0:20.1

and safer, more cost-effective virtual environments.

0:23.0

Meta for work. Work smarter, closer, safer, together.

0:27.0

Visit forwork.meda.com to learn more.

0:30.0

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

0:34.0

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

0:39.0

Oh boy, how many years running is this?

0:40.0

Oh man, so many. 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 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.

1:00.5

Yeah, we did.

1:01.2

And that's what we keep hearing.

1:03.0

We heard from Hazel Hunt singer in Kielder, North Dakota, who said she's always been an excellent

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