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Artwork for Lingthusiasm

Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics

Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne
Linguistics
Computational Linguistics
Phonetics
Pragmatics
Language Structure
Ergativity
Gesture Studies
Semantics
Language Revitalization
Linguistic Diversity
Phonology
Morphology
Syntax
Possession
Multilingual Grammar Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
Language Models
Ethical Data Practices
Aspect
Machine Translation

A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics by Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne. "A fascinating listen that will change the way you see everyday communications." –New York Times. "Joyously nerdy" –Buzzfeed. Weird and deep half-hour conversations about language on the third Thursday of the month. Listened to all the episodes here and wish there were more? Want to talk with other people who a... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes117Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Science

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Artwork for Lingthusiasm

Latest Episodes

Sometimes, a phrase seems to leap off the page and lodge into your mind, crisp and shining like a precious jewel. Other times, you're reading something and it just won't stick, your eyes wandering away no matter how hard you try. In this episode, you... more

Sometimes, you're talking with someone and you just seem to click. Other times, you just can't seem to get comfortable: they're standing too close or too far away for comfort, making too much or too little eye contact, touching or not touching you in... more

YouTube

What do you do when the only records that remain of a language were made by someone who had absolutely horrendous views of the people who spoke it? In this episode, your host Lauren Gawne gets enthusiastic about a crossover episode with Claire Aubin ... more

YouTube

begonia: a deep pink that is bluer, lighter, and stronger than average coral (see ‘coral’ 3B), bluer than fiesta, and bluer and stronger than sweet William, called also ‘gaiety’. In this episode, your hosts Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne get ent... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Claire Aubin
Host of This Guy Sucked, historian
This Guy Sucked
Episode: 115: The long shadow of Daisy Bates with This Guy Sucked
Kory Stamper
Lexicographer, author
Merriam-Webster
Episode: 114: Begonia, average coral, and sea pink - Defining colour terms with Kory Stamper
Danny Bate
Public linguist, host of the podcast A Language I Love Is, and author of Why Q Needs U.
Episode: 110: The history of the history of Indo-European - Interview with Danny Bate
Pius Akumbu
Professor and linguist from Babunki, Cameroon, with a focus on African linguistics.
CNRS in the LLACAN Lab, Paris, France
Episode: 108: Highs and lows of tone in Babanki - Interview with Pius Akumbu
Adam Aleksic
Known as Etymology Nerd for his online content.
Author of Algospeak
Episode: 105: Linguistics of TikTok - Interview with Adam Aleksic aka EtymologyNerd
Gretchen McCulloch
Co-host of Lingthusiasm
Lingthusiasm
Episode: 105: Linguistics of TikTok - Interview with Adam Aleksic aka EtymologyNerd
Dr. Hanna-Máret Outakoski
Professor of Sámi languages at the Sámi University of Applied Sciences in Kautikano, Norway.
Sámi University of Applied Sciences
Episode: 104: Reading and language play in Sámi - Interview with Hanna-Máret Outakoski
Emily M. Bender
Professor at the University of Washington, Director of Computational Linguistics Laboratory
University of Washington
Episode: 98: Helping computers decode sentences - Interview with Emily M. Bender
Dr. Jacq Jones
Lecturer at Massey University, researcher focused on non-binary speech and gender-related linguistics
Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Massey University
Episode: 93: How nonbinary and binary people talk - Interview with Jacq Jones

Hosts

Gretchen McCulloch
Co-host and host of Lingthusiasm; linguistics enthusiast and writer.
Lauren Gawne
Co-host and host of Lingthusiasm; linguistics communicator and educator.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 2.3k ratings
  • Im episode 11, they are talking about autistic people, who often can't read the room. Also, when people say can instead of may, it's considered slang.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    LisaBC
    2 months ago
  • This podcast introduced me to the world of linguistics. Now I'm off the deep end, reading academic books and understanding the dankest linguistic memes. Thanks, Lingthusiasm!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Gobi Italic
    4 months ago
  • All it takes is one

    I feel the same with this podcast as I do with another language related podcast. As to one host, Ms. Gawne, I appreciate what she has to say and her contributions to the show. I wish I could say the same about Ms. McMulloch. Listening to her is like being a guest at a teenage slumber party. I don’t have the tolerance to listen to a giggling “girl” on a podcast that isn’t supposed to be about giggling girls. So, I had to give up on this podcast. If Ms. Gawne decides to start her own podcast I’... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BobTheDup
    United States6 months ago
  • Great nerdy podcast

    Perfect level of nerdy. One correction from gesture episode - South Africa is a member of commonwealth! There is a culture of dismissal from Australia to South Africa that crops up all the time with stuff like this and also in science circles like the current South Africa /Australian joint project SKA. I still really like the podcast but it does make me feel like I will not take everything you say as accurate.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beesche
    United Kingdom6 months ago
  • Very infotaining!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Henry V
    7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some criticisms note pacing or surface-level depth, with requests for longer, more detailed explorations.
Positive feedback highlights the hosts' genuine passion and ability to connect linguistics to everyday life.
Listeners praise accessible, enthusiastic delivery and clear explanations of complex topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#227
United States/Science
Apple Podcasts
#164
United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts
#203
Canada/Science
Apple Podcasts
#165
Australia/Science
Apple Podcasts
#48
Finland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#79
India/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

114: Begonia, average coral, and sea pink - Defining colour terms with Kory Stamper
Q: What sparked the color research for True Color?
The discovery that historical dictionaries contained rich but inconsistent color entries, like Begonia and Sea Pink, and the chance to trace these through archives and outside consultants motivated a full exploration for a modern, readable account.
114: Begonia, average coral, and sea pink - Defining colour terms with Kory Stamper
Q: Kory, how did you get into lexicography?
Her path began with an accidental job at Merriam-Webster, which evolved through blogging about dictionary work and a long-standing interest in how words are defined, leading to her books and current color research.
110: The history of the history of Indo-European - Interview with Danny Bate
Q: Can you talk to us a little bit about what those two hypotheses are and how we did some of that figuring out?
Danny explains the Anatolian hypothesis and the Step hypothesis regarding the origins of Proto-Indo-European, highlighting the role of genetics and archaeology in recent years.
110: The history of the history of Indo-European - Interview with Danny Bate
Q: How did you get into linguistics?
Dr. Danny Bate shares that his interest developed organically due to a love for history and modern languages, leading him to study historical syntax.
108: Highs and lows of tone in Babanki - Interview with Pius Akumbu
Q: How is it working on a language where you can consult your own intuitions?
Very helpful but should not be wholly relied upon; data from the community is essential.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Lingthusiasm

What is Lingthusiasm about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Linguistics-focused discussions mix accessible explanations of language with interviews and debates about terminology, terminology sourcing, and how language shapes everyday life. Recent episodes span color terminology and lexicography, cross-cultural communication in fiction, diglossia, data in linguistic research, and the social dynamics of language on platforms like TikTok. The show often threads historical context, contemporary reading, and thoughtful critique of colonial archives, with two enthusiastic hosts making complex ideas approachable. It's notable for blending rigorous analysis with a warm, curious vibe and for inviting guests who are practitioners, researchers, or writers connected to linguistics and language culture.

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How many listeners does Lingthusiasm get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Lingthusiasm?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Lingthusiasm:

1. The Allusionist
2. Let's Learn Everything!
3. Lexicon Valley
4. The History of English Podcast
5. Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

How many episodes of Lingthusiasm are there?

Lingthusiasm launched 10 years ago and published 117 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Lingthusiasm?

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What guests have appeared on Lingthusiasm?

Recent guests on Lingthusiasm include:

1. Claire Aubin
2. Kory Stamper
3. Danny Bate
4. Pius Akumbu
5. Adam Aleksic
6. Gretchen McCulloch
7. Dr. Hanna-Máret Outakoski
8. Emily M. Bender

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