1125. This week, we talk with linguist and author Danny Bate about his book, "Why Q Needs U." We look at the ancient origins of our alphabet, tracing its conceptual leap from Egyptian hieroglyphs to symbols that represent sounds. Danny explains the "acro principle" (one sound from a picture) and why the letter A was originally a consonant, not a vowel. Find Danny Bate on his <a href="http://dannybate.com" target="_blank">website</a>, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:i4oicfdtysshyfxjmvpx2xza" target="_blank">Bluesky</a> or on <a href="https://x.com/DannyBate4" target="_blank">X</a>. Get the book, <a href="https://dannybate.com/book/" target="_blank">"Why Q Needs U."</a>Listen to Danny's podcast, <a href="https://dannybate.com/podcast/" target="_blank">"A Language I Love Is..."</a>🔗 Share your familect recording in a <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://wa.me/message/LTNZOVFAQJK6B1&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1753892325231019&usg=AOvVaw2Z5GB4pvIMaVbr_E2jmpuS" target="_blank">WhatsApp chat.</a>🔗 Watch my <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/mignon-fogarty" target="_blank">LinkedIn Learning writing courses</a>.🔗 Subscribe to the <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscribe" target="_blank">newsletter</a>.🔗 Take <a href="https://podsurvey.com/GRAMMAR" target="_blank">our advertising survey</a>. 🔗 Get the edited <a href="https://grammar-girl.simplecast.com/episodes/danny-bate/transcript" target="_blank">transcript</a>.🔗 Get <a href="https://amzn.to/3LULzLb" target="_blank">Grammar Girl books</a>. 🔗 <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/">Join Grammarpalooza</a>. Get ad-free and bonus episodes at <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grammar-girl-quick-and-dirty-tips-for-better-writing/id173429229">Apple Podcasts</a> or <a href="https://joinsubtext.com/grammar">Subtext</a>. <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/subscription/">Learn more about the difference</a>. | HOST: Mignon Fogarty| VOICEMAIL: 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475).| Grammar Girl is part of <a href="https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/podcasts">the Quick and Dirty Tips podcast network</a>.<ul><li>Audio Engineer: Dan Feierabend</li><li>Director of Podcast: Holly Hutchings</li><li>Advertising Operations Specialist: Morgan Christianson</li><li>Marketing and Video: Nat Hoopes, Rebekah Sebastian</li></ul>| Theme music by <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/beautifulmusic.co.uk">Catherine Rannus</a>.| Grammar Girl Social Media: <a href="https://dashboard.simplecast.com/accounts/dd74e7bd-f654-43a6-b249-3f071c897900/shows/e7b2fc84-d82d-4b4d-980c-6414facd80c3/episodes/cfec9501-0b7a-415c-a558-213d584f3fa1/YouTube.com/grammargirl">YouTube</a>. <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@therealgrammargirl">TikTok</a>. <a href="http://facebook.com/grammargirl">Facebook</a>.<a href="https://www.threads.net/@thegrammargirl">Threads</a>. <a href="http://instagram.com/thegrammargirl">Instagram</a>. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/grammar-girl">LinkedIn</a>. <a href="https://mastodon.social/@grammargirl">Mastodon</a>. <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/grammargirl.bsky.social">Bluesky</a>. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

Why Q needs U and how hieroglyphics created our alphabet, with Danny Bate

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

AI Chapters

AI Insights

Reviews