Use Your Words Wisely: Idioms, Expression, and Meaning

Original Air Date Wednesday, January 26, 2022 

There are approximately 6,500 languages spoken in the world. In each of those, there are multiple dialects, meanings, and expressions. While some Cincinnatians may say ‘Jeezle Petes’ when they are confused by someone’s behavior. Our friends across the pond say ‘for Pete’s sake’ with a similar connotation, even though both groups are both speaking English. Consider some of your favorite words and expressions. Where do they originate? Did your grandparents create it out of thin air or is it a turn of phrase rooted deep into linguistic history?

To investigate all the joy this human communication tool can offer, Harvesting Happiness Podcast Host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with two wordsmiths about the origin story of age-old expressions and how language is ever-evolving.

Martha Barnette is the host of A Way with Words, a radio show that investigates the connection between dialects and linguistic diversity in languages as well as the origin of widely-used phrases.

Beth Kobliner recounts her parents’ journey of collecting 11,000 different language expressions which they compiled in their book, So to Speak: 11,000 Expressions That’ll Knock Your Socks Off. Beth also engages Lisa with some fun word and expression games.

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Meet Our Guests:

Martha Barnette is co-host of the public-radio show A Way with Words, heard each week by listeners on National Public Radio affiliates across North America, and worldwide by podcast. Before her work in radio, Martha was a reporter for the Washington Post and an editorial writer for the Louisville Courier-Journal. She’s the author of three books on word origins.

Martha Barnette — Use Your Words Wisely:

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Beth Kobliner is a commentator and journalist. A New York Times Best-selling author several times over, Beth has contributed to many well-known US magazines and newspapers including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Huffington Post. A graduate of Brown University, she lives in New York with her family. Her parents authored the book So to Speak and passed away before it reached final publication.

Book: So to Speak: 11,000 Expressions That’ll Knock Your Socks Off

Beth Kobliner — Expressions and Their Origins: 

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