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The Vocal Fries

The Vocal Fries
Linguistic Discrimination
Bilingual Education
Racialization
Latinx Racialization
Social Justice
Language and Gender
Laura Loomer
Critical Race Theory
Demystifying Language Project
San Quentin Rehabilitation Center
Donald Trump
Critical Linguistics
White Supremacy
Disgust
Linguistic Anthropology
Swearing
Inclusive Language
Bias Reduction
Uyghurs
Xenolinguistics

The monthly podcast about linguistic discrimination. Learn about how we judge other people's speech as a sneaky way to be racist, sexist, classist, etc. Carrie and Megan teach you how to stop being an accidental jerk. Support this podcast at www.patreon.com/vocalfriespod

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes151Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Vocal Fries

Latest Episodes

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We have a few things to say about Pinker.

• Part of the War on Science

• The Language Instinct

• Pinker on Race Realism

• Co-authored paper on overregularization

• The Open Letter to the LSA

• The article that Carrie was interviewed ... more

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Carrie and Megan talk with Adam Aleksic about his new book, Algospeak: How Social Media is Transforming the Future of Language.

• Bromism and ChatGPT

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Contact us:

• Threads us @vocalfriespod

• Bluesky us @vocal... more

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Carrie and Megan talk with Megan C. Reynolds, Dwell magazine editor, about her  book, Like: A History of the World's Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word.

• Putin and Russian

Support the show

Contact us:

• Threads us @vocalfriesp... more

Send us a text

Carrie and Megan talk with Paulette van der Voet and Martina Terrazzano, PhD students at the University of Umea, about their class called “Linguistics and the Eurovision Song Contest”.

• Top 20 Eurovision songs

• Malta and Estonia

S... more

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Recent Guests

Adam Aleksic
A linguist and content creator currently living in Manhattan.
Episode: Algospeak
Megan C. Reynolds
Editor at Dwell Magazine and author of 'Like, A History of the World's Most Hated and Misunderstood Word'
Dwell Magazine
Episode: A History of Like
Paulette van der Voet
PhD student at Language Teaching and Learning; combines Linguistics and Indigenous Studies
University of Umea
Episode: Serving Language Ideologies
Martina Terrazzano
PhD candidate in Linguistics and Gender Studies
University of Umea
Episode: Serving Language Ideologies
Lorna Gibb
Associate Professor of Creative Writing and Linguistics
University of Stirling
Episode: Rare Tongues
Dr. Emily M. Bender
Professor of Linguistics at the University of Washington and co-author of The AI Con
University of Washington
Episode: The AI Con
Dr. Alex Hanna
Director of Research at the Distributed AI Research Institute and co-author of The AI Con
Distributed AI Research Institute
Episode: The AI Con
Gabe Henry
Author of three books, including 'Eating Salad Drunk' and a humor collaboration with noted comedians.
Episode: Enough is Enuf
Dr. Gerald Roach
Lecturer in the Department of Languages and Cultures at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, focusing on power, the state, colonialism, and racism.
La Trobe University
Episode: Language Oppression in Tibet

Hosts

Megan Figueroa
Co-host, an expert in linguistics and its societal impacts, engaging with themes of language use and discrimination.
Carrie Gillan
Co-host, a linguist dedicated to exploring the intersections of language, culture, and identity, particularly in the realm of discrimination.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 277 ratings
  • Linguistics is fun

    Me: cool another linguistics podcast, I love those!

    Them: (a few episodes in) Schadenfreude is mean but ok if it’s “about a white dude”

    Me: oh right, it’s a podcast about linguistic discrimination!

    Byeeeeeee!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    jjiusbbbdhag
    United Statesa year ago
  • Tedious banter between two insufferable twits

    I’ve tried to listen to several episodes but couldn’t bear the consistently uninformed views that betray the hosts’ meager knowledge of history (just one example, in an episode about dialects, one of the hosts speculated that, since the founding of the U.S. was contemporaneous with the French Revolution, perhaps the “English only” movement in the U.S. was modeled after France’s insistence on a single uniform national language). I never managed to finish an episode and I can’t believe they’ve las... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    RbccaSuth
    United Statesa year ago
  • Makes my ears bleed

    Moronic drivel.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nellygoat
    United States3 years ago
  • Keeps my Love of Language Alive!

    I fell in love with linguistics in college in Inge Genee’s class at the University of Lethbridge (you should have her on the show!). I am now many years past college and that love has stuck with me and I get to keep learning thanks to Carrie and Megan. I love how accessible they make a very academic discipline and the way they force me to address my own biases and preconceptions.

    Thank you, Carrie and Megan! Please never stop!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Umm Isa
    United States3 years ago
  • Not really sure who this podcast is for…

    Many of the concepts are very basic intro linguistics concepts, but I don’t feel like they explain them thoroughly enough for someone who is unfamiliar with linguistics to understand. On the other hand, anyone who is already familiar with these concepts won’t find much groundbreaking material here.

    The first episode I listened to was about prescriptivism vs descriptivism. The hosts spent a long time covering how non-standard grammar was not “wrong” per se, but just different, from a different c... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Xbound24
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Some reviews express a divide among listeners, with certain individuals critiquing the hosts' perspectives as overly ideological or lacking in depth for broader audiences.
Listeners appreciate the podcast for its engaging and accessible discussions on complex topics related to linguistic discrimination.
Feedback indicates that the hosts provide insightful commentary while also challenging societal norms, making the content both informative and thought-provoking.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Algospeak
Q: Why did you want to write this book and why now?
Because as a linguist and content creator, I can't turn off my linguist brain and my content creator brain.
A History of Like
Q: How did 'like' become a target for so much hate?
It is primarily because 'like' has been associated with young women and girls for decades, and societal biases often deem their speech as less valid.
A History of Like
Q: Why did you want to write this book and why now?
Megan C. Reynolds shares that the idea was presented by her editor and upon reflection, she realized the topic is about how we communicate and the difficulties that arise in effective communication post-pandemic.
Serving Language Ideologies
Q: What does Eurovision tell us about European identities?
It reflects diverse interpretations of European identity, highlighting ongoing debates about who qualifies as truly European.
Serving Language Ideologies
Q: Why did you want to develop and teach this course? Why is Eurovision interesting?
We noticed interesting language dynamics while watching Eurovision together and saw an opportunity to analyze pop culture through linguistic frameworks.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Vocal Fries

What is The Vocal Fries about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Topics throughout various episodes regularly center on linguistic discrimination, exploring how language intersects with power, identity, and societal norms. The discussions often highlight contemporary issues regarding educational systems, media portrayal, and cultural significance, particularly against the backdrop of global movements addressing racism, sexism, and classism. Unique features of the content include analyses of linguistic phenomena, such as euphemisms created in response to censorship, and the exploration of different languages and dialects as conduits for cultural identity, alongside critiques of widely held misconceptions about language use. The format incorporates scholarly insights from experts that enrich the conversati... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Vocal Fries?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Vocal Fries:

1. Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
2. If Books Could Kill
3. Maintenance Phase
4. On the Media
5. Burnt Toast by Virginia Sole-Smith

How many episodes of The Vocal Fries are there?

The Vocal Fries launched 8 years ago and published 151 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Vocal Fries?

Recent guests on The Vocal Fries include:

1. Adam Aleksic
2. Megan C. Reynolds
3. Paulette van der Voet
4. Martina Terrazzano
5. Lorna Gibb
6. Dr. Emily M. Bender
7. Dr. Alex Hanna
8. Gabe Henry

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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