![The crossword craze — now and then — with Ben Zimmer Image](https://img.resized.co/shuffle/eyJkYXRhIjoie1widXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL2ltYWdlLnNpbXBsZWNhc3RjZG4uY29tXFxcL2ltYWdlc1xcXC8wODFiYzI5OC00NzNjLTRiN2YtYjJiYy0wNTFjZTlkNTNmN2ZcXFwvMmVhZWU0Y2YtMzE4Ny00NGQxLTk5ODQtZmE4YWQyMTJhYmMwXFxcLzMwMDB4MzAwMFxcXC9nZy1pbnRlcnZpZXctc2hvdy1tb2NrLXVwLWFydC5qcGc_YWlkPXJzc19mZWVkXCIsXCJ3aWR0aFwiOjI4MCxcImhlaWdodFwiOjI4MCxcImRlZmF1bHRcIjpcImh0dHBzOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmdvbG91ZG5vdy5jb21cXFwvaW1hZ2VzXFxcL2xvZ28uc3ZnXCIsXCJvcHRpb25zXCI6W119IiwiaGFzaCI6ImFlYTY1NDYyOGE2YTllZTRiZDRmMGQ5NzIxYTg1OWM4Y2JkYjIxNTEifQ==/the-crossword-craze-now-and-then-with-ben-zimmer.jpg?aid=rss_feed)
The crossword craze — now and then — with Ben Zimmer
6 June - 27 mins992. What began as a simple word game in 1913 sparked a nationwide craze just a decade later, causing a moral panic and changing American publishing forever. This week, Ben Zimmer, a prolific crossword constructor and language commentator, takes us through the crossword puzzle's surprising early history and enduring legacy. He also explores the modern crossword scene, including competitions, digital tools, and how new puzzle constructors are shaping the future of the game.
Links mentioned in the show:
* Wall Street Journal piece on the centennial of the crossword craze: https://on.wsj.com/3U3zMPk
* Crossword Craze: https://crosswordcraze.today/
* Daily Crossword Links: https://dailycross...
![The Hidden Stories of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart](https://img.resized.co/shuffle/eyJkYXRhIjoie1widXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL2ltYWdlLnNpbXBsZWNhc3RjZG4uY29tXFxcL2ltYWdlc1xcXC8wODFiYzI5OC00NzNjLTRiN2YtYjJiYy0wNTFjZTlkNTNmN2ZcXFwvZDcwOWI1ZWEtZWRiMi00NzNlLWJkZDctM2Y0NGJjZDgyZWUwXFxcLzMwMDB4MzAwMFxcXC9nZy1pbnRlcnZpZXctc2hvdy1tb2NrLXVwLWFydC5qcGc_YWlkPXJzc19mZWVkXCIsXCJ3aWR0aFwiOjgwLFwiaGVpZ2h0XCI6ODAsXCJkZWZhdWx0XCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL3d3dy5nb2xvdWRub3cuY29tXFxcL2ltYWdlc1xcXC9sb2dvLnN2Z1wiLFwib3B0aW9uc1wiOltdfSIsImhhc2giOiJmYTNkOGZjYzcwNGIwYTFkOTJlYzhhMzg1M2IzNzI2ZjY3NDdhOWNkIn0=/the-hidden-stories-of-african-american-english-with-dr-sonja-lanehart.jpg?aid=rss_feed)
The Hidden Stories of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart
994. This week, you'll learn about the rich linguistic history of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart, an advisor to the Oxford Dictionary of African American English. We talked about what goes into making an entirely new dictionary and about some of the first entries, including "kitchen," "Aunt Hagar's Children," and "do rag."
39 mins
20 June Finished
![The art of punctuation and the charm of 'kerfuffle.' Nicing.](https://img.resized.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/the-art-of-punctuation-and-the-charm-of-kerfuffle-nicing.jpg?aid=rss_feed)
The art of punctuation and the charm of 'kerfuffle.' Nicing.
995. This week, we look at when to use parentheses, dashes, and commas and how the choice can change the tone of your writing. Then, we dive into the history of words for describing a big fuss — "kerfuffle," "hullabaloo," "hoopla," and more.
18 mins
18 June Finished
![Exploring the Language of 'Dune': An Interview with Kevin J. Anderson and Scott Brick](https://img.resized.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/exploring-the-language-of-dune-an-interview-with-kevin-j-anderson-and-scott-brick.jpg?aid=rss_feed)
Exploring the Language of 'Dune': An Interview with Kevin J. Anderson and Scott Brick
994. This week, I sat down with the prolific "Dune" author Kevin J. Anderson and the famed "Dune" narrator Scott Brick to explore the language challenges in the "Dune" series. Learn how Kevin and Scott navigated Frank Herbert's original vocabulary, stayed true to the cultural influences of the names and terms, and created an extensive pronunciation guide. Whether you're a longtime fan or are new to the series, you'll love Kevin and Scott's stories about the language of "Dune" and its quirky history.
44 mins
13 June Finished
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The power of sign language in 'Dune.' The words we use for dad. Chee
993. This week, we cover the strategic use of sign language by the Bene Gesserit in the 'Dune' movies, including its importance in covert communication. Then, we look at the many words for 'father' and their historical and linguistic significance, from early baby talk to more formal terms for adults.
16 mins
11 June Finished
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From 'dog' to 'hot dog.' The 'audience of one' trick. More on the long S. Footbridge.
991. This week, we trace the origin and meaning of the word "dog," from its mysterious beginning to its current use in phrases like "hot dog" and "hair of the dog." Then we go through the "audience of one" concept, which involves tailoring content to a single, imagined recipient; and we look at how this approach can make your writing more understandable and engaging.
20 mins
4 June Finished