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Because Language - a podcast about linguistics, the science of language.

Daniel Midgley, Ben Ainslie, and Hedvig Skirgård
Linguistics
Language
Etymology
English Language
Grammar
Language Evolution
Communication
Tibet
Language Oppression
Linguistic Diversity
Sociolinguistics
Language Origins
Sign Languages
Cognitive Linguistics
Social Media
Algospeak
Language Change
Linguistic Communication
Prehistory
Manikacha

A podcast about linguistics, the science of language.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes100Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesEducationLanguage LearningScience

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Artwork for Because Language

Latest Episodes

How does it feel to be isolated from a language and a culture that could have been yours? There are many paths to language loss, but there are also many ways back. Language revitalisation is now happening for communities and individuals. We're talkin... more

YouTube

Translating Shakespeare takes a knowledge of language, culture, and poetry — both in English and in the target language. There are tradeoffs and pitfalls, but a skilled translator can bring Shakespeare closer to our age, not just to another language.... more

YouTube

Each letter in our Latin alphabet tells a story. But what about spaces? Or writing direction? Should we get rid of some letters, or could we even do with more? Here to answer all these questions is Dr Danny Bate, author of Why Q Needs U: A History of... more

YouTube

We created software that could generate human-like text output quickly and easily. Now we're dealing with the societal upheaval it's caused. What are the risks and rewards, and what can we learn about language from these large language models? Daniel... more

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Recent Guests

Daniel Hahn
Translator and author of If This Be Magic, The Unlikely Art of Shakespeare in Translation
Translator and author
Episode: 142: If This Be Magic (with Daniel Hahn)
Danny Bate
Linguist, host of A Language I Love Is, author of Why Q Needs U
Blink, Barnier Books / A Language I Love Is
Episode: 141: Why Q Needs U (with Danny Bate and Caitlin M. Green)
Christopher Summerfield
Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
Episode: 140: These Strange New Minds (with Christopher Summerfield and Caitlin Green)
Stephanie Mason
PhD, University of Western Australia magpie researcher
University of Western Australia
Episode: 139: Magpie Syntax (with Stephanie Mason)
Laura Pakenham
Author of Irish History and Culture Through Language, presenter on TG4
TG4, author of Irish History and Culture Through Language
Episode: 138: Pop-Up Gaeltacht (live with Laura Pakenham and friends)
Yngwie Nielsen
Researcher at Aarhus University, co-author on the discussed study
Aarhus University
Episode: 137: Are Trees Real? (with Yngwie Nielsen and Morten Christiansen)
Morten Christiansen
Researcher at Cornell University, co-author on the discussed study
Cornell University
Episode: 137: Are Trees Real? (with Yngwie Nielsen and Morten Christiansen)
Mary Walworth
Dr. at CNRS, language endangerment researcher
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Episode: 136: These Languages Are Anchors (with Mary Walworth)
Dan Parker
Linguist, author of Linguistic Illusions
Ohio State University
Episode: 135: Linguistic Illusions (with Dan Parker)

Hosts

Daniel Midgley
Host of the show
Hedvig Hurgard
Co-host and linguist / linguistics researcher participating in the discussion
Ben Ainsley
Educator and podcast host

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 328 ratings
  • Excellent!

    I’ve loved this podcast for a long time! So much fun

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    W Nelly
    United States9 months ago
  • Juvenile Nonsense

    I could barely make it through half an episode of this drivel. The host is embarrassingly uninformed and seems more worried about virtue signaling than actually understanding how language works.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    noname2771
    United Statesa year ago
  • I adore this podcast!

    I teach linguistics and recommend it to my students who also love it! The Patreon community is fantastic! This is my nerd tribe. 🤓

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AAMC544
    United States2 years ago
  • Quality production with pro level hosts at keeping the conversation engaging, without veering off into unrelated topics. They seamlessly transition between segments, creating a laid-back atmosphere: it feels like you're just hanging out with friends. As a non linguist, I appreciate how the hosts & guests break down complex topics in a way that is easy to grasp. They strike the perfect balance between informative & approachable, never coming across as condescending or preachy.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Kade
    2 years ago
  • Best Sci Coms on the Internet

    Now that I am out of college but pre-grad school, I found it hard to keep up with the state of the field. I felt as if y’all were heaven sent when I stumbled upon your podcast. Y’all are amazing science communicators, give real times updates on the latest science, and are overall hilarious. Also y’all have awesome politics. It’s like can we be friends?? Anyway, I feel like I just learn so much from y’all as a budding linguist, educator, and science communicator myself. As I like to tell my stude... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nati (nɑtɪ)
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Strong chemistry among hosts keeps discussions engaging and accessible.
The show is entertaining and informative for linguistics nerds and casual listeners alike.
Guests are experts who translate complex ideas into practical language learning and everyday use.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

142: If This Be Magic (with Daniel Hahn)
Q: What does a translator do beyond conveying meaning?
A translator preserves time, culture, rhythm, tone, and the experiential aspects of the original text, making deliberate choices about how to render meaning, sound, and stageability in another language.
140: These Strange New Minds (with Christopher Summerfield and Caitlin Green)
Q: Do you like AI?
Christopher Summerfield explains that attitudes toward AI vary and that liking AI in everyday life does not always align with how it's described in articles or research, emphasizing a nuanced view.
139: Magpie Syntax (with Stephanie Mason)
Q: Can magpies really be said to have language, or is it a system of calls with syntactic ordering?
The guests suggest that magpies display both a learned vocal repertoire and ordering rules that produce combinatorial sequences, which function similarly to syntax, even if meanings are not identical to human language.
134: True Colour (with Kory Stamper)
Q: What drew you to color as a lexicographic topic?
Kory explains that her fascination began with color definitions in dictionaries and grew as she saw how color terms are fought over and standardized in large reference works.
130: Back to the FTR (with Séan Roberts, Cole Robertson, and Annemarie Verkerk)
Q: Cole, could you tell us what you're into?
I have a fairly eclectic background and did a master's in cognitive and evolutionary anthropology.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Because Language

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

A lively linguistics podcast that translates scholarly language science into accessible, entertaining conversations. Episodes span topics like language evolution, AI and language, accents, writing systems, and the social dynamics of grammar, with a mix of interviews, debates, and audience participation. Frequent guests include researchers, authors, and educators who bring deep domain knowledge while keeping discussions approachable for curious listeners. A standout aspect is the balance between rigorous analysis and playful banter among three engaging hosts, plus occasional live or audience-driven segments that add energy and practical takeaways for language lovers, students, and professionals alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Because Language?

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How many listeners does Because Language get?

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What are the audience demographics for Because Language?

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How many subscribers and views does Because Language have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Because Language?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Because Language:

1. Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
2. Ologies with Alie Ward
3. The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast
4. Lexicon Valley
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of Because Language are there?

Because Language launched 15 years ago and published 100 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 Because Language?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Because Language?

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What guests have appeared on Because Language?

Recent guests on Because Language include:

1. Daniel Hahn
2. Danny Bate
3. Christopher Summerfield
4. Stephanie Mason
5. Laura Pakenham
6. Yngwie Nielsen
7. Morten Christiansen
8. Mary Walworth

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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