Spectacular Vernacular

A podcast that explores language … and plays with it.

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About the Show

Linguist Nicole Holliday and Wall Street Journal language columnist Ben Zimmer discuss the ways language is changing, talk to scholars and writers, and set and solve word puzzles.

Hosts

  • Ben Zimmer is a linguist, lexicographer, and all-around word nut. He is the language columnist for the Wall Street Journal and a contributing writer for the Atlantic.

  • Nicole Holliday is an assistant professor of linguistics at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on variation, intonation, and language in society.

Taking a Trip Down Language Lane

We reflect on the amazing guests who graced the podcast with their presence and chat about Planet Word.

Dialects vs. Languages

And how the difference relates to Ukraine.

New Siri. Who’s This?

How Apple is trying to be more inclusive with its newly developed voices for Siri.

“Who Dey” vs. “Who Dat”

We break down football chants and their possible connection to African American English.

Capital Language From Kyiv to Washington, D.C.

How the capital of Ukraine has become a linguistic hot take.

The Making of Wordle

The creator of the online word game tells us about the product decisions that have us playing day after day.

The Year of the “Vaxx”

Two top dictionary editors tell us about the selection process for Word of the Year.

Choosing Your Voice

VocaliD founder Rupal Patel talks about the importance of identity when choosing a digital voice.

Cracking the Omicron Code

The latest COVID variant’s name is proving to be a mouthful.

Taylor Swift’s “F— the Patriarchy”

The history of Swift’s now-infamous line in the new version of All Too Well.

Interrupting to Show We Care

A closer look at the interrupt-y conversational style that’s gone viral on TikTok.

The Millennial Language Cheat Code

Speaking the language of millennials one GIF at a time.

Squid Game in Translation

Netflix’s popular show Squid Game has some issues with its English subtitles.

The Wide World of Language Diversity

Exploring Black American Sign Language and regional grammar.

Double Dutch

How popular online language-learning tool Duolingo is taking people around the world via technology.

How the Grid Kid Became King of the Online Spelling Bee

The New York Times’ Sam Ezersky breaks down how he adjudicates the Spelling Bee.

TikTok Language Rabbit Hole

TikTok and Reddit are great places to observe the evolution of language.

Taking Home the Gold in Language

How language made an appearance in the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.

They Might Be Linguists

Slate’s new language podcast talks to John Linnell of They Might Be Giants about his new project in an unexpected language.