Allusionist 34: Continental

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I'm not usually one to yearn for the past, but today, trying to find a clear definition for what a continent is, I find myself thinking, "Pangaea. One single continent. That was a simpler time."

Plus: more 'please'. Following the previous episode, listeners from several continents have contributed their local experience of 'please' usage, in what eventually will surely be considered the definitive global study of human niceties. Also, Lynne Murphy and Rachele De Felice return to explain how 'thank you' is not necessarily an expression of gratitude.  

TL;DR: trust nothing.

READING MATTER:

• Yeah but come on, what IS a continent? Anyone?

• How the continents - whatever the hell they are - got their names.

• Learn about Pangaea and Panthalassa, so you’re prepared when the next supercontinent shows up.

• How and why non-European countries can compete in the Eurovision Song Contest.

• Cincinnati Please.

• “This is a shocked pair of girls who have just heard the apologetic U.S. soldier say that he looked like a bum. In English slang, he said he looked like his own backside.” Thanks to listener Mike for sending me this 1942 advice for Americans visiting Britain. So many linguistic obstacles for transatlantic travel(l)ers!

• There's a transcript of this episode at theallusionist.org/transcripts/continental.

RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
rowel

CREDITS:

• Linguist and 'please' investigator Lynne Murphy's blog is separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com and she is @lynneguist on Twitter. Rachele De Felice is @racagain on Twitter.

• This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman, with music by Martin Austwick. Martin's continental drift-inspired instrument-free instrumental was the result of combining boredom, Garageband for iPad and all the homemade percussion options offered by a B&B room in Utah.

- HZ

Allusionist 33: Please

There's an ocean between Britain and the USA, but an even wider division between each country's use of a particular word: 'please'. Linguists Lynne Murphy and Rachele De Felice explain how one nation's obsequiousness is another nation's obnoxiousness.

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There's an ocean between Britain and the USA, but an even wider division between each country's use of a particular word: 'please'.

Linguists Lynne Murphy and Rachele De Felice explain how one nation's obsequiousness is another nation's obnoxiousness.

PLEASE, READ MORE ABOUT IT:

• Lynne Murphy’s blog is Separated By A Common Language. She has written about ‘please’ and ‘please’ in restaurants.

• Anthropologist David Graeber considers the reciprocity in using these niceties.

• “We should use "please" and "thank you" selectively so we don't confuse each other about the difference between favors and obligations”.

• Why do the British say ‘sorry’ so much?

• This claims to be a history of etiquette, but is mainly about forks. Get the forks right, and the rest follows (or so the fork tyrants would have you believe).

• Emily Post may have died in 1960, but she’s still looking out for your manners. Keeping the Post flag politely flying, her great-great-grandchildren host the Awesome Etiquette podcast.

• There's a transcript of this episode at theallusionist.org/transcripts/please.

RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
linstock

CREDITS:

• Lynne Murphy's blog is separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com and she is @lynneguist on Twitter. Rachele De Felice is @racagain on Twitter. If you're interested in linguistics, follow them!

• This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman, with music by Martin Austwick.

• Please find me at facebook.com/allusionistshow, twitter.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/helenzaltzman.

Please come back for another episode in two weeks.

- HZ

Allusionist 32: Soho

Around the world, there are several places called Soho, getting their names from an acronym/portmanteau-ish composite of local streets or neighbouring areas. But not the original Soho in London. In fact, London's place names are an etymological hotchpo...

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Around the world, there are several places called Soho, getting their names from an acronym-portmanteau-ish composite of local streets or neighbouring areas. But not the original Soho in London. In fact, London's place names are an etymological hotchpotch: landmarks present and long gone; 1000-year-old vanity projects; and Cockfosters.

This is a companion piece to the 99% Invisible episode 'The Soho Effect', about the proliferation of acranamed places.

MO SOHO INFO

• Peruse lots of historical and modern pieces about Soho on the Museum of Soho's blog, and find their touch screen exhibit on Sherwood Street.

• The Soho Stories app will take you on a walk around Soho and play anecdotes into your ear when you pass notorious places.

• There are so many stories of Soho, usually saturated with booze and sex; these ones are quite endearing.

• There’s yet another Soho in Britain’s second city, Birmingham. There are acranamers claiming it’s from ‘SOuth HOuse’, but it’s probably a second win for the hunting cry.

• Learn about Pittsburgh’s former Soho.

• Have a look at the first edition of Roget’s Thesaurus.

• Read an 1878 account of Soho, if you can handle the verbosity.

• The Londonist was keeping track of the city’s rebranded areas.

• Encyclopedia Briannica just tweeted to tell me that ‘acranames’ are actually ‘clipped compounds’. Yeah, but accuracy’s gain is acromanteaus’ loss.

• Hungry for more portmanteau words? There's a feastmanteau in the Brunch episode of this show.

• There's a transcript of this episode at theallusionist.org/transcripts/soho.

RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
yarak

CREDITS:

• Tony Shrimplin is the chair of the Museum of Soho, a grassroots community project which you can find at mosoho.org.uk and twitter.com/TheMuseumOfSoho. Pop into their Bowie's London exhibition, 9-23 April at 35 Beak St. You can also hear him on Soho Radio, Sundays at 10am.

• This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman, except for the bit that was produced by Avery Trufelman and 99% Invisible. The music is by Martin Austwick.

• Tony and I met in the Soho landmark Black's Club, who very kindly paused the coffee machine while we were talking.

• Sound the hunting cries at facebook.com/allusionistshow, twitter.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/helenzaltzman.

Let's reconvene in two weeks for another of these.

- HZ