Language
Ye Olde Words
Dr Andrea Calude from the Department of Applied Linguistics at Waikato University was one of a small group of researchers at the University of Reading who made an attempt to trace a group of words… Audio
Ideas for 31 March 2013 - Invented Languages
Esperanto is undoubtedly the best known and most successful invented language but it's far from the only one. Richard Langston talks to Arika Okrent who lists 500 of them in her book 'In the Land of… Audio
Words and phrases that should be deleted
Words and phrases Time Magazine wants deleted from the vocabulary in 2013. Audio
Sayings that come in and out of vogue
Jim talks about "Keep calm and carry on" and "What it says on the tin". Audio
Te Reo 101
Te reo Māori with Te Manu Korihi host Eru Rerekura... pronunciation guides, especially for place names. Audio
Place names: marae
Peter Dowling looks at the names of marae: Taputapuatea, Tūrangawaewae. Audio
Outspoken for 26 December 2012
Simon Mercep looks at whether a second language for primary schoolchildren should be mandatory. Audio
NZ lexicographer found to have deleted words from the OED
A lexicographer who was born in Whanganui has been found responsible for covertly getting rid of words from the Oxford English Dictionary. Audio
Facebook translations annoy Maori Language Commisison
The commission that promotes the use of the Maori language says the coining of new Maori words is getting out of hand after the creation of new terms for Facebook. Audio
Banished words and phrases
The Lake Superior State University annual list of banished words and phrases is out. Audio
Ian Martin - the art of swearing
Writer and swearing consultant for the British television series The Thick of It, and columnist for The Guardian. Audio
Auckland Story for 3 October 2012 - Maori Sign Language
A small group for the Deaf in South Auckland is developing sign language in Maori. Audio
The story of English spelling
Linguistics expert David Crystal has written more than 100 books, the latest of which is called Spell It Out: The Singular Story of English Spelling, which begins with the arrival of Christian… Audio
One In Five for 2 September 2012
Providing employment for people with disabilites and a project archiving the evolution of New Zealand Sign Language. Audio
One In Five for 29 July 2012
Katy Gosset examines the language of disability and how it's changed over time. Audio
Ngā kupu o te kura - words used at school
Ngā tākaro – sports, tamaiti – child, tamariki – children, māhita – teacher, pouaka tina – lunchbox, wai ipu – water bottle, pene rākau – pencil, pukapuka – book. Audio
Ngā taputapu kei roto i te tari - objects found in the office
Tūru – chair, rorohiko – computer, pene – pen, papa pātuhi – keyboard, rātaka – daily planner, kōpae mārō – hard drive, waea – telephone, rama – lamp. Audio
Laurie Bauer - Prepare to be Dizzified
When is a word really a word? When it's in the dictionary? How does it get there? Laurie Bauer, Professor of Linguistics at Victoria University, says dictionaries are out of date the moment they are… Audio
More interesting facts about words
Words and phrases entering and leaving the language. Audio
The Etymologicon
The origins of hundreds of everyday words and phrases are in a new guide called 'The Etymologicon', which makes the interesting point that an influx of words into English often occurs at times of… Audio