The Word Nerds
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Linguistic Tics (106)
Linguistic tics: Friends, this week Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd sort of, you know, explore little linguistic tics, right? Paralinguistic vs. linguistic tics (1:59) Causes of linguistic tics; tics as style identifiers; some classic linguist…
Ambiguity (105)
Ambiguity: Barbara Shepherd and Dave Shepherd try very hard to figure out exactly what each other means, as they explore the topic of ambiguity. Thanks to Paul L., Smaran D., Mary M., Michelle M., Dolores B., and Peter D. for PayPal donations …
Syntax (104)
Syntax: This week it’s shake-up the order of sentences that Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd do, as explore the topic of syntax they shall. Thanks to Emma H. and Mary T. for PayPal donations (2:07) Syntax: not just word order, but sentence…
Please complete our audience survey. (103A)
The Word Nerds would be very grateful if everyone listening could complete the audience survey on our website, thewordnerds.org. See the navigation column on the right side of the web page. This survey will give us valuable statistical evidence of…
Prosody (103)
Prosody: Barbara Shepherd and Dave Shepherd try not to use “that tone” with each other as they discuss prosody in speech and in poetry. Thanks to Marilyn O. for a PayPal donation (1:54) Speech prosody: the rhythm, intonation, and…
Rhetoric, part 3: Rhetoric in Famous Speeches (102)
Rhetoric in Famous Speeches: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd conclude their three-part series in rhetoric by presenting some examples of rhetoric and public discourse. At the time this is posted, our web site is not fully functional. It will be…
Games and Wordplay (101)
Games and Wordplay: Barbara Shepherd and Dave Shepherd explore word games, games with words, and ways of playing with words. Dave thanks Brad and Naoko for donations, and Naoko, Ralsen, Asa, Jason and Hossein for their emails. (1:59) This show was…
Baby Talk (100)
Baby Talk: Howard Chang and Dave Shepherd use their best adult vocabulary as they discuss baby talk. Dave thanks Andy, Beverley and Jianxia for their support through the PayPal donation button. (2:00) This is show #100. The recording date, March 21, …
Rhetoric, part 2–Tropes and Schemes (99)
Rhetoric, part 2–Tropes and Schemes: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd continue their discussion of rhetoric by exploring tropes, schemes, and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Grimace from the Word Nerds Forum corrects us on our example of…
Body Words (98)
Body Words: Howard Chang and Dave Shepherd put their noses to the grindstone and go toe-to-toe in a tete-a-tete, as they talk about body words. Dave thanks Scott and Mary for their support through the PayPal donation button. (2:05) This topic is, of …
Rhetoric, part 1 (97)
Rhetoric, part 1: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd explore the difference between rhetoric and dialectic. They invoke Plato, Aristotle, Rush Limbaugh and Michael Moore. Dave thanks Michael, Tim, Emma, and Clint for their support through their…
Special 2008 New Year’s Edition (96A)
2008 New Year’s special edition: Dave Shepherd sends New Year’s greetings from the Word Nerds team, and responds to listener feedback. Dave reads and responds to emails from Hilary, Idiosyncratic Idiot, Chris, Rob, and Donna. (3:10) A…
Silence and Speechlessness (96)
Silence and Speechlessness: Howard Chang and Dave Shepherd sit in silence for a few seconds–and then find that they have something to say after all. They explore speechlessness and silence. We are currently somewhat speechless because of…
Religious Words (95)
Religious Words: Barbara Shepherd and Dave Shepherd look deep within their souls–without proselytizing–as they talk about the connection between religious language and everyday language. Religious words as they are re-appropriated into…
Nicknames (94)
Nicknames: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd call each other by names other than their given names as they discuss nicknames. Listener feedback (2:22) Eke-names, mascots, and a shout-out to a former student (5:18) Music bumper from…
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