Martha Barnette
Recent Pieces from Martha Barnette
Bouncy House of Language (#1372)
(54:00)
From: A Way with Words
Some people proudly embrace the label cancer survivor, while others feel that's not quite the right word. Is there a better term for someone who's battled cancer? Writers and ...
The One Who Brung You (#1355)
(54:00)
From: A Way with Words
You've been reading a book but you're just not into it. How do you quit it, guilt-free? How do you break up with a book? Also, what do you ask for when you go through the ...
On the Shoe Phone (#1371)
(54:00)
From: A Way with Words
First names like "Patience," "Hope," and "Charity" are inspired by worthy qualities. But how about "Be-courteous" or "Hate-evil"? The Puritans sometimes gave children such ...
Fake English (#1354)
(54:00)
From: A Way with Words
Everyone knows you don't start a sentence with "But." But why? We sort out the confusion over this little word. Also, how voice recognition technology is changing the way we ...
Can of Worms (#1353)
(54:00)
From: A Way with Words
What do you call a guy with a bald pate? A chrome dome? Maybe the lucky fellow is sporting a solar panel for a sex machine. Also, which would you rather open: a can of worms ...
Got Your Six (#1370)
(54:00)
From: A Way with Words
Starting this year, Scripps National Spelling Bee contestants not only have to spell words correctly. A controversial new rule means they'll have to answer vocabulary ...
Nothing to Sneeze At (#1352)
(54:00)
From: A Way with Words
This week, forensic linguists use what they know about speech and writing to testify in courtrooms. And get out your hankies! Martha and Grant are talking about the language ...
Gone Pecan (#1351)
(54:00)
From: A Way with Words
How did the word "gay" go from meaning "happy" to "homosexual"? Martha and Grant discuss the evolution of this word. Also, why are elementary schools sometimes called grammar ...
Dog-and-Pony Show (#1350)
(54:00)
From: A Way with Words
Remember getting caught sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G? Grant and Martha wax nostalgic on some classic schoolyard rhymes. What do you call your offspring once they've grown ...
