106: Is a hotdog a sandwich? The problem with definitions

About this episode

This episode explores the complexities of defining words and the arguments surrounding what counts as a sandwich and other categories.

We asked you if a burrito was a sandwich, and you said 'no'. We asked you if ravioli was a sandwich and you said 'heck no'. We asked you if an ice cream sandwich was a sandwich and things...started to get a little murky. This isn't just a sandwich problem: you can also have similar arguments about what counts as a cup, a bird, a fish, furniture, art, and more! So wait...does any word mean anything anymore? Have we just broken language?? It's okay, linguistics has a solution! In this episode, your hosts Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne get enthusiastic about why deciding what's in and what's out of the definition of a word is so dang tricky, why people love to argue about it, and how prototype theory solves all the "is X a Y" arguments once and for all. Note that this episode originally aired as Bonus 9: Is X a sandwich? Solving the word-meaning argument once and for all. We’ve added an updated announcements section to the top and a few new things about prototypes and meaning to the end. We’re excited to share one of our favourite bonus episodes from Patreon with a broader audience, while at the same time giving everyone who works on the show a bit of a break. Click here for a…

People in this episode

Hosts: Gretchen McCulloch, Lauren Gawne

Topics covered

• definitions
• language
• prototype theory
• word meaning
• arguments about categories

Keywords

• hotdog
• sandwich
• burrito
• ravioli
• prototype theory
• language
• definitions

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Bonus 9: Is X a sandwich?

More episodes of Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics

• 116: Cross-cultural communication (in space!) · May 22, 2026 · 32 min
• 115: The long shadow of Daisy Bates with This Guy Sucked · April 17, 2026 · 1h 1m
• 114: Begonia, average coral, and sea pink - Defining colour terms with Kory Stamper · March 20, 2026 · 54 min
• 113: Why "it's a diglossia!" explains so many social dynamics · February 20, 2026 · 49 min
• 112: When language become-s(3SG) linguistic example-s(PL) · January 15, 2026 · 49 min
• 111: Whoa!! A surprise episode??? For me??!! · December 19, 2025 · 51 min