That's What They Say podcast

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That's What They Say

Funner, snuck, and LOL are all things that we're hearing people say these days.That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan studies linguistics and the history of the English language. Each week she'll discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public All Things Considered host Rebecca Hector.That's What They Say airs Fridays at 4:45 p.m. and Sundays at 9:35 a.m. on Michigan Public and you can podcast it here.Do you have an English or grammar question? Ask us here!

Funner, snuck, and LOL are all things that we're hearing people say these days.That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan studies linguistics and the history of the English language. Each week she'll discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public All Things Considered host Rebecca Hector.That's What They Say airs Fridays at 4:45 p.m. and Sundays at 9:35 a.m. on Michigan Public and you can podcast it here.Do you have an English or grammar question? Ask us here!

 

#20

TWTS: When a wave becomes a tsunami

The midterm election coverage was inundated with talk of not just waves but potential tsun... more

06 Nov 2026

05 MINS

05:13

06 Nov 2026


#19

TWTS: A phrase made from "scratch"

Cookies or bread made from scratch sound great, and raise the question of what the scratch... more

30 Oct 2026

05 MINS

05:24

30 Oct 2026


#18

TWTS: A healthy dose of healthy language

We can be healthy and eating an apple seems clearly healthy, and then there’s the healthy ... more

23 Oct 2026

05 MINS

05:05

23 Oct 2026


#17

TWTS: When "f" and "v" were sort of one

If you know how the sound ‘f’ worked in Old English, it suddenly isn’t mysterious why the ... more

16 Oct 2026

05 MINS

05:12

16 Oct 2026


#16

TWTS: Why no one is "gonna Pittsburgh"

If I say I’m gonna do it, I don’t necessarily mean I’m headed out the door right now to do... more

09 Oct 2026

05 MINS

05:15

09 Oct 2026


#15

TWTS: Dictionaries get glow-ups too

The New York Times announced that the Merriam-Webster Dictionary “is wordsmaxxing” and NBC... more

02 Oct 2026

05 MINS

05:13

02 Oct 2026


#14

TWTS: The same, just more exact

Concerns about redundancy are back this week. It's the exact same thing we’ve talked about... more

25 Sep 2026

05 MINS

05:10

25 Sep 2026


#13

TWTS: Fore! It's a lightning round

This may be one of the only times that throw pillows, golf, and curling all get wrapped in... more

20 Sep 2026

05 MINS

05:19

20 Sep 2026


#12

TWTS: "Proactive" gets a reaction in advance

While people may agree that being proactive is a positive trait, the word proactive can el... more

11 Sep 2026

05 MINS

05:27

11 Sep 2026


#11

TWTS: Cat chasing pixies? There's a word for that

Is your cat running around in circles? Be advised, that kitty might be pixilated.

04 Sep 2026

05 MINS

05:42

04 Sep 2026


#10

TWTS: Old English, new boundaries

When we talk about Middle English, it suggests that we know when English began and when it... more

28 Aug 2026

05 MINS

05:23

28 Aug 2026


#9

TWTS: The cards language deals

There are lots of cards we can still play now, but we’ve lost some good ones too.

27 Aug 2026

04 MINS

04:38

27 Aug 2026


#8

TWTS: "Hunky dory" is doing just fine

If "hunky dory" means the same thing as "right as rain," then we face the question of how ... more

14 Aug 2026

05 MINS

05:18

14 Aug 2026


#7

TWTS: "Highfalutin" is too good for one spelling

While we may know highfalutin language when we hear it, we don't all agree about how to sp... more

07 Aug 2026

05 MINS

05:27

07 Aug 2026


#6

TWTS: Be careful what you hear around the scuttlebutt

We exchange scuttlebutt at the proverbial water cooler, and there's an etymological clue i... more

31 Jul 2026

05 MINS

05:12

31 Jul 2026


#5

TWTS: Time to talk about your watch

The little clock we wear on our wrist could be called a clock. Instead, it has long had it... more

24 Jul 2026

05 MINS

05:05

24 Jul 2026


#4

TWTS: Careful how you're using that 👍

Sometimes new slang jumps out in front of you, waving its hands, or thumbs, so that you ca... more

17 Jul 2026

05 MINS

05:35

17 Jul 2026


#3

TWTS: Understanding the depth of "fathom"

We can count fathoms when we’re measuring things. We can also metaphorically fathom or not... more

10 Jul 2026

05 MINS

05:12

10 Jul 2026


#2

TWTS: Speaking of "bespoke"

This is a bespoke segment of That’s What They Say that focuses on “bespoke.”

03 Jul 2026

05 MINS

05:21

03 Jul 2026


#1

TWTS: Up and down your alley... and your street

If it’s up your alley, it might also be up your street. And perhaps it’s down rather than ... more

26 Jun 2026

04 MINS

04:59

26 Jun 2026