Skip to main content
Donate

Up Next

What Brain Damage Reveals About Language

What Brain Damage Reveals About Language

Season 3 Episode 7
8:43
Why Does Texting Feel Different from Talking?

Why Does Texting Feel Different from Talking?

Season 3 Episode 8
6:48
How the Colors Got Their Names

How the Colors Got Their Names

Season 3 Episode 9
6:29
The Most Extreme Place Names

The Most Extreme Place Names

Season 3 Episode 10
7:11
How Language Nerds Solve Crimes

How Language Nerds Solve Crimes

Season 4 Episode 1
8:59
Why Do These Words Get Mispronounced So Much?

Why Do These Words Get Mispronounced So Much?

Season 4 Episode 2
8:32
Is the Southern Accent Disappearing?

Is the Southern Accent Disappearing?

Season 4 Episode 3
7:33
Why Do We Use Cringey Words for Loved Ones?

Why Do We Use Cringey Words for Loved Ones?

Season 4 Episode 4
9:11
Why Do Some Names Fall Out of Fashion

Why Do Some Names Fall Out of Fashion

Season 4 Episode 5
7:14
How Cult Leaders Use Language

How Cult Leaders Use Language

Season 4 Episode 6
10:58
Is Body Language Really A Language?

Is Body Language Really A Language?

Season 4 Episode 7
8:58
Why Is English Awash in Sailors Jargon?

Why Is English Awash in Sailors Jargon?

Season 4 Episode 8
8:11
Back to Show
Otherwords

How Queer Communities Created Secret Languages

Season 3 Episode 6

Across the globe, queer communities have relied on secret lexicons known as "argots" to communicate safely, which have developed over the years into what some call "verbal jazz."
Stream on your TV
Support Provided By
Is Swearing Good for Your Brain?
6:08
Season 2 Episode 1
Is Swearing Good for Your Brain?
There's evidence that sweating may be good for your psyche.
Otherwords Season 1
7:11
Season 1 Episode 6
60 Euphemisms for Death!
The word "Death" has a lot of euphemisms in virtually every language.
Popular Words Invented by Authors
7:21
Season 1 Episode 5
Popular Words Invented by Authors
We explore some of the popular words authors have created that are now in our lexicon.
What People Get Wrong About African-American English
11:23
Season 1 Episode 4
What People Get Wrong About African-American English
Here are the deep misconceptions about African-American English (AAE).
Can Computers Really Talk? Or Are They Faking It?
11:26
Season 1 Episode 3
Can Computers Really Talk? Or Are They Faking It?
Is it really "language," or just a digital illusion?
What's the Longest Word?
6:59
Season 1 Episode 2
What's the Longest Word?
We'll have to figure out what the word "word" really means...
The Unexpected Origins of the Word ‘Monster’
8:00
Season 1 Episode 1
The Unexpected Origins of the Word ‘Monster’
What can we learn about our relationship to monsters?
Otherwords Season 5
5:51
Episode 5
Where Did Cringey Corporate Jargon Come From?
We're gonna have to ask you to go ahead and watch this video. "
Inside the Fiercest Debate in Linguistics
12:22
Episode 4
Inside the Fiercest Debate in Linguistics
It's one of the most contentious debates in linguistics!
Why A.I. Struggles with Negative Words
7:05
Episode 3
Why A.I. Struggles with Negative Words
The ways we use negation in language can be pretty complex, even AI can’t seem to make sense of it.
The Ancient Origins of Body Words
8:36
Episode 1
The Ancient Origins of Body Words
Join us as we try to figure out how our body parts got their names.
Active loading indicator