In 2014, a seemingly trivial and boring incident at the bank propelled me down a linguistic road via medieval werewolves, Ms Marvel and confusingly inscribed gravestones, to find out why the English language is riddled with all this gender. What’s it FOR? How did it GET there? Will it go AWAY now please? It is, at the very least, taking up brainspace and not paying any rent.

This is a recording of a live performance at the Blueberry Hill Duck Room in St Louis, Missouri on 23 November 2019, and there were visuals happening, so I’ll drop in sometimes to explain them, and I’ve also put a transcript and pictures in this post.

There are swears in this. There are also arguments that will be very useful to you if you ever come up against a denier of singular they. You will definitely win.

Why do we all sound like idiots when we talk to babies? Don't be embarrassed, we're helping them acquire language. Child psychologist Ben Jeffes explains. There is more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/baby-talk.

iTUNES • RSS • MP3

Why do we all sound like idiots when we talk to babies? Don't be embarrassed, we're helping them acquire language. Child psychologist Ben Jeffes explains.

Caution: may cause flashbacks to the time you were trapped in the Why? Loop for six years.

WHO WANTS A WICKLE READ? YES YOU DO! YES YOU DO!

Here's a comprehensive piece about how politeness sent 'thou' packing in favour of 'you'.
What we refer to as 'baby talk' in the episode is also known as 'parentese', apparently.
Here's a whopper of a New Yorker article about talking to children, and the differences arising from economics/class.
Read a quick overview of bilingual babies, and then more of the science.
There's a transcript of this episode here.
Allusionist T-shirts exist! Treat your torso at teepublic.com/stores/the-allusionist.

RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
decrepitate

CREDITS:

Ben Jeffes is a child psychologist. He must hear a lot of 'Why?' in his working day. Find him at childprofiles.co.uk.
This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear and/or download more - WITH LYRICS! - at thesoundoftheladies.bandcamp.com.
Talk to me like we're both adults at facebook.com/allusionistshow, twitter.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/helenzaltzman.

iTUNES • RSS • MP3

Why do we all sound like idiots when we talk to babies? Don't be embarrassed, we're helping them acquire language. Child psychologist Ben Jeffes explains.

WHO WANTS A WICKLE READ? YES YOU DO! YES YOU DO!

RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
decrepitate

CREDITS:

For the next month, The Allusionist will be WEEKLY. So you'd better remember to join me again next week.

- HZ

iTUNES • RSS • MP3

Why do we all sound like idiots when we talk to babies? Don't be embarrassed, we're helping them acquire language. Child psychologist Ben Jeffes explains.

WHO WANTS A WICKLE READ? YES YOU DO! YES YOU DO!

RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:decrepitate

CREDITS:

For the next month, The Allusionist will be WEEKLY. So you'd better remember to join me again next week.

- HZ

RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
decrepitate