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Otherwords
How Language Nerds Solve Crimes
Season 4
Episode 1
The fact that we all have our own unique way of speaking is a beautiful thing. It's at the core of personal expression and contributes to the wonderful tapestry of language. But it also means that no form of expression can be 100% anonymous. Linguists use language everyday to solve crimes. As the famous Miranda warning goes: "anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."
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6:51
We already know that English borrows from everybody, but can it be considered a Creole language?
8:35
How do you teach children to read? This question is at the heart of a decades-long battle.
8:11
The English language is chock full of sailing jargon but why is that?
8:58
How do we communicate without words? With our bodies. Body language!
10:58
What is the best tool for cult leaders to control other people? It’s the power of language.
7:14
Headlines have sprung up all over declaring that the Southern American dialect is on its way out.
9:11
Why do we use such unusual words for the people we love?
7:33
Let’s dig deep and find out why certain names simply fall out of fashion.
8:32
There are many words you say incorrectly but don’t know you are saying incorrectly.
6:48
Why does switching from texting to talking feel like you’re trying to speak a different language?