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.

iTUNES • RSS • MP3

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