What does the bat in “acrobat” have to do with the word come? John explains.

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Reflexive pronouns are redundant in a way, sure, but they’re also quite common in many languages. John explains.

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There’s good reason to believe that sophisticated speech began long before homo sapiens hit the scene. John explains.

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Does Ayesha Rascoe have a good radio voice? Not according to many NPR listeners, who find her loud, high-pitched and generally grating. John explains.

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A recent study suggests that a new dialect is emerging in the southern part of Florida. John explains.

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The trial transcript of a 225-year-old murder is filled with fascinating evidence of the way we used to talk. John explains.

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Many English verbs have three forms — sing, sang and sung, for example. The problem is that speakers seem to want only two. John explains.

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Too — whether about excess, addition or contradiction — evolved from to. John explains.

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Some languages adopt their “health” word from the concept of wholeness — a metaphor that makes perfect sense. Other languages, however, adopt their “health” word from trees. John explains.

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Like the French word droit, English’s right has taken on a number of useful metaphorical meanings. John explains.

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In this favorite from the archives, John discusses some unwritten rules of English that can be remarkably difficult for a learner of English to master.

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