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

See A Man About A Horse (Rebroadcast) - 28 Dec. 2009

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

🗓️ 28 December 2009

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this week's episode, Martha and Grant discuss not-to-be-believed articles about language from the satirical newspaper The Onion, including one headlined 'Underfunded Schools Forced to Cut Past Tense from Language Programs.' By the way, did you ever notice how ONION is ZO-ZO if you tilt your head to the right? 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

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. You're listening to Away With Words, I'm Grant Barrett.

0:36.4

And I'm Martha Barnett.

0:37.4

And Grant, I was looking at one of our favorite publications the other day,

0:41.2

The Onion, the satirical

0:43.0

newspaper and I love this headline did you see this underfunded schools forced to cut past

0:47.8

tense from language programs yes very funny yes I loved it the story started out with a date line of Washington.

0:54.8

Do-t-t-t-tut-tut-tut-tut-tut-tut.

0:56.2

Faced with ongoing budget crises, underfunded schools nationwide are increasingly left with no option but to cut the past

1:02.4

tense from their standard English and

1:04.6

language arts programs. You got to love that. The past tense as history.

1:08.0

One of my favorite all-time onion stories is a copy editor's revenge takes form of unhyphinated word and it goes

1:16.2

on to say Bruce Huntoon said the hyphenated compound modifier is the most extreme

1:20.9

step he has ever taken adding that he drafted a resignation notice

1:24.2

that he will hand in should his superiors notice the omission.

1:27.5

And I, of course, obviously, they're not going to notice the missing hyphen.

1:30.4

Ooh, sabotage.

...

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