In this bonus episode, linguistics professor Valerie Fridland discusses her favourite American accents, invents a new slang word, and chats with Liam about some of the everyday differences between American and English.

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Special guest for this episode:

• Valerie Fridland, a Professor of Linguistics at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is an expert on the relationship between language and society, and is co-author of the book Sociophonetics. Her latest book, Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English is available to buy now.

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Highlights from this episode:

• The perception of accents in America often reflects cultural stereotypes that can be misleading.
• Southern accents evoke a sense of warmth and home for many, despite negative stereotypes associated with them.
• Linguists focus on the descriptive nature of language rather than enforcing strict grammar rules, emphasizing authenticity in speech.
• The organic evolution of slang often reflects the emotional experiences of younger generations and their unique social contexts.
• Accents are often judged based on social class and education, leading to a complex relationship between language and identity.
• Expressions like 'mumforia' highlight the evolving nature of language, as new terms emerge to describe contemporary experiences.

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Additional Resources:

Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English by Valerie Fridland

Sociophonetics (Key Topics in Sociolinguistics) by Tyler Kendall, co-authored by Valerie Fridland

Why We Talk Funny by Valerie Fridland

ValerieFridland.com 

Language in the Wild | Psychology Today

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And if you like this episode, you might also love:

What Makes Country Music so American?

Are the Oscars Still Relevant?

Why Does Everyone Love Disney?

Could Friends BE Any Bigger?

How Accurate is Forrest Gump?

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This episode is sponsored by What's Your Map

What's Your Map is the British Podcast Award-winning show from map expert Professor Jerry Brotton. In each episode, he invites a special guest to share a map that means something to them. It's a fascinating show, and you can listen to the new season right now: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/whats-your-map/id1766500219