The Word Nerds: A Weekly Podcast About Words, Language, and Why We Say the Things We Do

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July 2005
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copyright © 2005, 2006 by Dave Shepherd, Howard Shepherd, and Howard Chang

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Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd define and discuss collective and mass nouns. (2:25)

Some cool collective noun links:
World Wide Words Collective Noun Page
British Council Collective Nouns Page
The Collective Noun Page
Paul Vigay's Collective Noun Database

Song:"Crows and Ravens Grouped in Clusters," by The Low Season Combo (WARNING: this song contains a rude word.) (13:59)

Rude word of the week: "philistine" (18:29)

Song: "Gaggle of Titmice," by The Slowly Rubbings (21:53)

Corporate versus individual identity and collective nouns (25:46)

Theme music by Kick the Cat

time: 30:38
size: 28.2 Mb

Direct download: TWN-2005-07-30.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:03am EDT

(UK title: With the Nerds)

The Bioloquy Show

Dave Shepherd acknowledges several nerdy interlocutors. (2:55)

Howard Chang defines 'bioloquy.' (4:36)

Dave Shepherd's bioloquy (5:38)

Howard Shepherd's bioloquy (10:01)

Howard Chang's bioloquy (14:48)

Song: 'Something to Say,' by Mr. E (20:05)

Rude word of the week: 'dork' (23:53)

What we teach and why (27:06)

Theme music by Kick the Cat

time: 35:43
size: 32.8 Mb

Direct download: TWN-2005-07-23.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:02am EDT

Dave Shepherd and Howard Chang explore expressions of discomfort, both verbal and nonverbal. (3:20)

Song: 'Comfortably Uncomfortable,' by Everyday Atlas (15:41)

Rude word of the week: 'up shit creek without a paddle' (19:49)

Song: 'Hurt So Good,' by The Yellow Snow Company (22:26)

Expressions of comfort and pleasure (26:53)

Theme music by Kick the Cat

time: 34:26
size: 31.6 Mb

Direct download: TWN-2005-07-16.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:03am EDT

Dave Shepherd and Annik Rubens talk about using slang in a foreign language, and about English in German advertising. (4:27)

Howard Shepherd and Dave discuss snooty foreignisms, calques, and loan words. (6:48)

Song: 'Babblefish' by Maxwell Strait (16:56)

Rude word of the week: 'shit' and its European cousins (21:02)

Song: 'Lime Ennui,' by Him & the Drinks (24:18)

Loans and calques from English into other languages (28:02)

Theme music by Kick the Cat

time: 32:12
size: 22.1 Mb

Direct download: TWN-2005-07-09.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:02am EDT

Howard Chang and Dave Shepherd discuss the language of inspiration (2:05)

Song: 'Inspiration,' by Dan Mayer (15:12)

Rude word of the week: 'airhead' (18:35)

Song: 'Who Needs Air?' by Orizon (22:20)

Sports metaphors and inspiration (26:49)

How to overcome writer's block (29:45)

Theme music by Kick the Cat

time: 33:04
size: 22.7 Mb

Direct download: TWN-2005-07-02.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 12:01am EDT