Word of Mouth

Ever wondered where all our squiggles and dots of modern punctuation come from? Author of On The Mark Florence Hazrat gives us a witty and fascinating insight into how punctuation began and has evolved through the centuries, continuing to adapt and change as our methods of writing and communicating become increasingly short and pithy as we do so much online. Produced in partnership with the Open University by Maggie Ayre for BBC Audio Bristol

Rob Drummond, Professor of Sociolinguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University, talks to Michael about the ways people talk in Greater Manchester. They discuss which areas are seen as more 'Lancashire' or more 'Manc' in their speech, and what is known as the 'happy vowel.' Plus they dissect the accents of celebrities such as the Gallagher Brothers, Gary Neville and Sara Cox.Rob's project can be found here: https://explore.manchestervoices.org/Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally Heaven, in partnership with the Open University

The 'Manosphere' is a group of loosely affiliated mainly young males who have developed a specialised vocabulary to discuss women online in a negative and hostile way. Some of the vocabulary is a response to feminism which some men claim is diminishing their role in society. For other men a failure to attract women has given rise to phrases such as Chad and Stacey and a belief in the 80/20 theory - that 80% of women are attracted to just 20% of men who are Alpha males or Chads. Acronyms such as AWALT (All women are like that) and MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way) are also used for the purpose of internet dialogue. Dr Jessica Aiston of Queen Mary University in London is one of several linguistic researchers who submitted evidence to the UK Parliament call for research into online misogyny. She tells Michael Rosen what that research has shown her and explains some of the terms used.How did terms like “down the rabbit hole” and “gaslighting” enter the English language? How do other languages adapt expressions like these? Find out in an interactive guide with The Open University’s experts. Visit the BBC Radio 4Word of Mouth page and follow the links to The Open University.Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Maggie Ayre, in partnership with the Open University. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz

Michael Rosen talks to criminal defence barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind about the legal language of Crown Court cases in England and Wales. From the grandeur of the courtroom and stock phrases like "with respect to my learned friend" to the more colloquial directness of talking to a defendant. How do barristers build persuasive arguments when talking to a jury, or when discussing legal matters with the judge? Do weak arguments hide behind elaborate language? Do the best barristers use more stripped back language? And how do they deliver their words? The tone, the pace, the performance. Produced in partnership with The Open University for BBC Audio Bristol by Becky Ripley. Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz