Word lovers, history lovers, and those wishing to increase their vocabulary will want to give Podictionary a listen. This short and often humorous daily podcast is hosted by Charles Hodgson, author of Carnal Knowledge: A Navel Gazer’s Dictionary of Anatomy, Etymology, and Trivia.
Each podcast covers one word. In the cast Hodgson talks about the words origins, meanings and history. The words aren’t obscure things you’ve never heard of, but are often common words we use all the time. Recent casts have covered words like exotic, meter, chopsticks, siren, ginger, and icon. The podcasts are more like small short stories instead of history lessons. Sometimes the words are less common. Other podcasts covered befuddle, homage, and conundrum.
Hodgson pulls from old respected dictionaries as well as modern slang ones. It’s interesting to me how language changes and how our own English languages pulls from Greek, Roman, Spanish, French, African, Norse and so many other languages and time periods.
A few of the podcasts do cover mature subjects and words that you don’t want to hear coming out of your babies’ mouths, so caution should be used around young children. Most though are fine, and will have the family all learning something. And speaking of baby, that word probably came from the babbling sound babies make when they first learn to talk.
Did you know there are six nouns and three verbs all spelled “lake”. That’s nine different words. and considered to be different words by the Oxford English Dictionary. The word means lace, dye, a gift, a game, and leak. Hodgson details were and when the words were used. For example, “lake” as a game or sport is from the Old Norse over 800 years ago. Charlotte Bronte used the word 150 years ago.
I think it’s fun to learn the history of words. I imagine that this podcast would be great for high-schoolers who are studying vocabulary too. The stories behind the words really help me remember their different meanings and histories.
Also See:
Coffee Break Spanish – Podcast Review
The Writer’s Almanac – Podcast Review