E1
The Unexpected Origins of the Word ‘Monster’
8m Mar 24, 2021
Words don't pop up fully formed... they evolve over thousands of years. What can we learn about our relationship to monsters by tracking the word down into the distant past?
E2
What's the Longest Word?
8m Apr 14, 2021
Before we decide from a long list of contenders, we'll have to figure out what the word "word" really means...
E3
Can Computers Really Talk? Or Are They Faking It?
8m May 5, 2021
New advancements in technology are making it harder than ever to tell the difference between a computer and a human speaker... but what's going on under the hood? Is it really "language," or just a digital illusion?
What People Get Wrong About African-American English
8m Jun 16, 2021
It's one of the most studied — and most controversial — varieties of English. But many people still hold deep misconceptions about African-American English (AAE).
Popular Words Invented by Authors
8m Jul 28, 2021
Authors often create words just for a one-time usage... but a special few will gain traction and become full-fledged parts of our shared lexicon!
Otherwords is a new PBS web series on Storied that digs deep into this quintessential human trait of language and fınds the fascinating, thought-provoking, and funny stories behind the words and sounds we take for granted. Incorporating the fıelds of biology, history, cultural studies, literature, and more, linguistics has something for everyone and offers a unique perspective into what it means to be human.
60 Euphemisms for Death!
8m Sep 20, 2021
No topic is as universally avoided--yet universally unavoidable--as DEATH. So, it's got a lot of euphemisms in virtually every language.
Is Swearing Good for Your Brain?
8m Jan 20, 2022
Does swearing get a bad rap? There's evidence that the shouting obscenities has an evolutionary purpose... and may be good for your psyche!
How Do Clichés Evolve into Memes?
8m Feb 24, 2022
Adaptable clichés called "snowclones" are EVERYWHERE on the internet. We use them for memes, inside jokes, to show our membership of the group. But they weren't invented online. In fact, they're way older than you think!
The Screwed-Up History of English Spelling
8m Mar 24, 2022
The English spelling system is a MESS... arguably more than any other language. How did it get this way?
Pronouns: Little Words That Say a Lot
7m Apr 21, 2022
Pronouns may be little, but they say a lot, and they're always changing!
May 26, 2022
Gossip is an integral part of human social structure... and maybe the reason language evolved in the first place!
Foreign Words We Need in English
7m Jun 23, 2022
English has more words than most other languages, but there are still so many familiar things and experiences that we don't have a word for... but other languages do! Here are some of our faves!
E13
Is Bilingualism a Superpower?
10m Jul 28, 2022
There was a time when psychologists thought growing up bilingual was harmful to brain development, but recent studies into bilingual children have turned that idea on its head!
The Stories Behind Food Names
8m Aug 25, 2022
It shouldn't matter what a food is called as long as it tastes good, right? Well, maybe not.
E15
Literally No One Likes a Grammar Cop
10m Sep 22, 2022
Besides being annoying, what if the grammar police are actually... wrong?
E16
Why Sign Language Was Banned in America
12m Oct 27, 2022
Sign Languages are just as linguistically valid and vibrant as spoken languages, and beneficial to learn for Deaf and hearing people. So why for decades was it illegal to teach them in American schools?
E17
Jan 26, 2023
Why do brands use slang in their marketing? And why does it sound so... cringey?
Feb 23, 2023
We all know that the vowels are A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y... But the way linguists define vowels may mean R qualifies as well!
Where Alcoholic Drinks Got Their Names
7m Mar 23, 2023
Alcohol has been with humanity since the dawn of civilization, and we use still use some of the same terms for it! Come with us on an etymological journey through the history of drinking.
How English Took Over the World
7m Apr 20, 2023
How did English become the most spoken language on the planet, and why are there so many varieties of English?
The Weird History of Invented Languages
10m May 25, 2023
Can you really invent a language? These people sure tried! But does anyone actually speak them?
How Queer Communities Created Secret Languages
7m Jun 22, 2023
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."
What Brain Damage Reveals About Language
9m Jul 27, 2023
Some of the first discoveries about the relationship between language and the brain were made by studying patients with brain damage. Of course, before modern technology, the only way you could see the brain was by opening it up.
Why Does Texting Feel Different from Talking?
7m Aug 24, 2023
Your texts might be cool and clever, but you still get tongue-tied when talking to people face-to-face. Why is that? It's all just words, right? Learn the difference between what linguist call synchronous and asynchronous communication.
How the Colors Got Their Names
7m Sep 21, 2023
The earliest humans didn't have words for colors... and the way they evolved follow a remarkably similar path across cultures.
The Most Extreme Place Names
8m Oct 19, 2023
Place names, known as "toponyms" do more than just help us know where we're supposed to meet up.| They often provide clues that can tell you a lot about a location: its geography, history and the people who lived there.
Why Do These Words Get Mispronounced So Much?
9m Feb 22, 2024
There are actually good reasons why people tend to mispronounce the same words... and why they ofTen end up being the new standard!
Is the Southern Accent Disappearing?
8m Mar 21, 2024
Linguists studying the Southern American Dialect reckon that it ain't what it used to be, y'all. I do declayuh!
Why Do We Use Cringey Words for Loved Ones?
9m Apr 26, 2024
From "kitty" to "lovebug," people across the world use very similar type of words for the people they love. What's behind this universal linguistic trend?
Why Do Baby Names Fall Out of Fashion?
8m May 30, 2024
How many Mildreds did you go to school with? If you're under 60 years old, probably none! Mildred may have been a top ten baby name 100 years ago, but today its almost extinct... Why is that??
E32
How Cults Use Language to Control
11m Jun 20, 2024
If there's one thing cult leaders do, it's talk. A LOT. Language is an integral part of how cults keep their members bonded, isolated and obedient.
E33
What Is Your Body Telling People?
9m Jul 25, 2024
You can choose your words as carefully as you want, but your body may be sending other messages you're not even aware of!
E34
Why Is English Awash in Sailors' Jargon?
9m Aug 22, 2024
There are so many common words and phrases in English that came from the world of sailing, it's almost OVERWHELMING!
You Were Probably Taught to Read Wrong
9m Sep 19, 2024
There are so many common words and phrases in English that came from the world of sailing, it's almost OVERWHELMING!
E36
Oct 31, 2024
There's been a lot of debate amongst linguists about what actually constitutes a creole language. By some definitions, English might be a creole!
E37
Can TV Change the Way We Speak?
7m Nov 21, 2024
Some parents are concerned (or thrilled?) that their kids might be developing an Australian accent from watching Bluey... but is that really possible? How much of our language acquisition comes from TV anyway?
E38
The Ancient Origins of Body Words
9m Jan 30, 2025
The parts of the human body were likely some of the first things people gave names to, so their deep etymologies can teach us a lot about how language has changed over the millennia.
E39
Feb 27, 2025
Like species, languages can go extinct. But there are different stages of language death, and some can be reversed.
E40
Why A.I. Struggles with Negative Words
7m Apr 3, 2025
One of the first words a baby learns is NO! But negation is a deceptively complex linguistic process!
E41
Inside the Fiercest Debate in Linguistics
13m Apr 24, 2025
It's one of the most contentious debates in linguistics, and at the heart of what it means to be human!
E42
Where Did Cringey Corporate Jargon Come From?
6m May 22, 2025
We're gonna have to ask you to go ahead and watch this video.
E43
These Magic Words Are REAL!
8m Jun 26, 2025
Since ancient times, humans have believed in the special power of words to change the world around them... and they might be right!
E44
Will Algorithmic Self-Censorship Unalive Language?
8m Jul 24, 2025
TikTok users are altering their speech to evade algorithmic filters--but will this harm language in the long run?
E45
Popular Word Origins That Are Totally WRONG
8m Aug 21, 2025
Sometimes misunderstandings and made-up origins get popular enough to stick around... we call these "folk etymologies"!
E46
The 2,000 Year Evolution of Punctuation
10m Sep 23, 2025
There was a time when written words were all scrunched together without any spaces or symbols to help the reader make sense of it. How did we get from that to this?
E47
How Brands Use Linguistics to Control Your Mind
10m Oct 28, 2025
Learn the linguistic secrets that companies use to subtly implant thoughts about their products directly into your brain!
E48
Why Linguists Love What's Happening with K-Pop
8m Feb 3, 2026
As K-Pop slowly takes over the whole world, linguists have noticed it's changing the way people speak in multiple countries.
E49
Lying Is Way More Complicated Than You Think
10m Mar 3, 2026
We all know that lying is wrong, right? But trying to figure out what *exactly* counts as a lie is something that religions, courts and linguists have grappled with for years.
E50
Why We All Disagree on How to Talk About Time
10m Mar 31, 2026
In English-speaking countries, the past is "behind" us and the future is still "ahead." But there's much more linguistic variety in how we talk about time... and it might actually influence how we perceive it.
E51
Why Every Generation Uses This One Slang Word
10m Apr 28, 2026
Most slang words come and go, but there's one undisputed king that's over 100 years old and still as relevant as ever... and that's cool.
E52
The Problem with Judges Acting Like Linguists
11m May 26, 2026
In a court of law, your fate can be determined by how a judge interprets a word or sentence... but should judges be acting as armchair linguists?
