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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Mentioned in this episode:
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