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That's What They Say

Michigan Radio

That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Radio that explores our changing language. Each week University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan will discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Radio Weekend Edition host Rebecca Kruth.

  • 4 minutes 57 seconds
    TWTS: You can pay homage with or without the "h"
    If you want to pronounce "homage" to a tee, it may depend what you mean.
    29 April 2024, 11:17 am
  • 5 minutes 10 seconds
    TWTS: Learning new slang is good "for the plot"
    As we live our lives, there's some new slang words that can help us narrate it as we go. That is, if we're in a demographic that allows us to use slang credibly.
    21 April 2024, 8:51 pm
  • 5 minutes 7 seconds
    TWTS: Whether "or not" belongs in "whether or not" or not
    We don’t all agree on whether or not we should correct the phrasing "whether or not."
    14 April 2024, 11:49 am
  • 4 minutes 10 seconds
    TWTS: Going forth and back on "back and forth"
    We can talk about sending emails back and forth. But why does it sound odd to talk about sending them forth and back?
    7 April 2024, 1:35 pm
  • 4 minutes 52 seconds
    TWTS: You can tuna fish, but you may not need the "fish"
    Given that “tuna” is a fish, some may find it unnecessary to call out that fact out in the compound “tuna fish.” For others, “fish” may be an important distinction.
    1 April 2024, 4:22 pm
  • 5 minutes 14 seconds
    TWTS: Prone to be prone
    You can be prone to do something, whether you're lying down or not.
    24 March 2024, 7:21 pm
  • 5 minutes 17 seconds
    TWTS: Attend as many "trainings" as you like
    There’s evidence of a new peeve arising. This one is focused on “training” as a countable noun.
    18 March 2024, 12:44 am
  • 4 minutes 33 seconds
    TWTS: An oft overlooked double possessive
    Lots of people don't like the redundancy in "irregardless." However, no one's fussy about the redundancy in a phrase like "a friend of mine."
    10 March 2024, 1:35 pm
  • 5 minutes 13 seconds
    TWTS: An ouster for the ouster
    An ouster can be an act of ousting, or it can be the one who does the ousting. But we seem to have opted for one of those meanings over the other.
    3 March 2024, 6:58 pm
  • 4 minutes 54 seconds
    TWTS: Need something? Manifest it
    At this point, we can manifest our dream future, a good grade on a exam, or even a parking spot.
    25 February 2024, 2:35 pm
  • 4 minutes 48 seconds
    TWTS: "Curry favor" comes from a horse (of course, of course)
    Currying favor has everything to do with flattery and horses, and nothing to do with food.
    18 February 2024, 2:35 pm
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