Artwork for podcast America: A History
BONUS: Hoagies, Grammar Police, and Momphoria
Bonus Episode9th August 2025 • America: A History • Liam Heffernan
00:00:00 00:10:57

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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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Individual Supporters: https://america-a-history.captivate.fm/support

University Partners: https://america-a-history.captivate.fm/partnerships

Brand Sponsors: liam@mercurypodcasts.com

Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com

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Mentioned in this episode:

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