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PROGRAMME INFO |
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Michael Rosen presents Radio 4's open door on the world of words and the way we speak. Email: word.of.mouth@bbc.co.uk |
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LISTEN AGAIN |
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PRESENTER |
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"As a child, I was surrounded by people talking about words and language, my
parents and brother spoke several languages. What's more the house always
seemed to be full of people telling stories and jokes, many of which turned
on some word-play or other.
I've been writing poems and stories since I was sixteen and if that doesn't
sensitise you to how language is used then nothing will. So with all that,
to present Word of Mouth feels like being at home. I love it."
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PROGRAMME DETAILS |
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Fundamentalist
The word fundamentalist is frequently used in press reports describing the situation in the Middle East and often has a negative connotation. But where did this word come from? To find out Michael enlists the help of Malise Ruthven, author of the book Fundamentalism - The Search for Meaning.
What's in a name?
Could it be possible that the sound of your name is a factor in your attractiveness? New research by the linguist Amy Perfors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests this might be the case. Michael discusses her findings.
Curses!
The writer and poet Gwyneth Lewis describes curses in Canada, Spain, France and Wales and develops a linguistic theory for the sound of swearing.
All that Jazz
The jazz pianist and bandleader Count Basie was born 100 years ago on 21st August and to celebrate his birthday Word of Mouth talks jazz with singer Stacey Kent. The jazz world used to be a fertile breeding ground for new language (Hey man, after that train wreck I gotta do some woodsheding), but are jazz musicians still using the lingo today?
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