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

The Thought Plickens (rebroadcast) - 3 Jan. 2010

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

🗓️ 3 January 2011

⏱️ 52 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

If you’re inappropriately focused on the minutiae of a project instead of the bigger picture, you’re said to be bike-shedding. Grant talks about that modern slang term and Martha discusses a word that goes way back in time, right back to “In the beginning,” in fact. The word is tohubohu, and it means a “mess” or “confusion.”  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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0:04.3

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0:09.0

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0:14.6

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0:19.7

Lenovo.com slash Yoga. Limited time only terms and conditions apply. Engineered to do it all. That's a laptop evolved with Intel Evo Platform.

0:28.0

Hey podcast listener, even though you're hearing this recorded show, you can still call us whenever you want.

0:36.0

1-877 929-967-969-96-73. Our voicemail will take your call. Later, we'll listen to it just as we listen to all of them,

0:45.0

and then there's always a chance that we'll decide to have you on the show to ask your question

0:48.9

or share your story.

0:50.8

On with the show.

0:52.0

Support for Away with Words comes from National University where flexible online classes

0:56.4

let you earn your degree or credential on your schedule. Learn more at inU. u.d u. e d u. u.

1:08.0

You're listening to a way with words. I'm Martha Barnett

1:11.0

and I'm Grant Barrett.

1:12.0

Martha, for one of the projects I've been working on lately, we've been using a term called

1:16.5

Bike Shedding.

1:17.5

Do you know this?

1:18.5

Bike Shedding?

1:19.5

Is that getting rid of your bike and moving up to a motorcycle or down to a tricycle?

1:23.0

No, no, no.

1:24.0

It dates back to 1961 in a book called Parkinson's Law by a fellow by the name of C. Northcoat

...

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