The Allusionist

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Small adventures in language by Helen Zaltzman from Answer Me This . Visit theallusionist.org .

Series

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3 Pieces

festive episodes of The Allusionist

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27 Pieces

Small adventures in language with Helen Zaltzman. Visit http://theallusionist.org


Pieces

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Brunch. What does it actually mean?

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: May 21, 2015
  • Length: 12:39
  • Purchases: 1
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On the eve of the 2015 General Election in the UK, take a jaunt through the etymology of election-related words.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: May 06, 2015
  • Length: 09:01
  • Purchases: 1
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Forget words for a moment; look at the spaces between the words.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Apr 23, 2015
  • Length: 10:21
  • Purchases: 1
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Cryptic crosswords: delightful brain exercise, or the infernal taunting of the incomprehensible?

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Apr 10, 2015
  • Length: 16:28
  • Purchases: 1
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You'd think you could trust dictionaries, but it turns out, they are riddled with LIES.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Mar 26, 2015
  • Length: 15:26
  • Purchases: 1
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Those words on museum walls that you can't be bothered to read? They're more important than you think...

Bought by WABE and PRX Remix


  • Added: Mar 12, 2015
  • Length: 15:14
  • Purchases: 2
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Every week since September 1989, a radio station in Finland has broadcast a weekly news bulletin...in Latin.

Bought by KALW and PRX Remix


  • Added: Feb 26, 2015
  • Length: 12:12
  • Purchases: 2
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Remember when 'viral' used to only mean something bad, IE something that would make you ill or destroy your computer?

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Jan 28, 2015
  • Length: 15:05
  • Purchases: 1
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There are many synonyms for 'underwear'. There are many synonyms for the body parts you keep in your underwear. But there's only one word for 'bra'...

  • Added: Jan 15, 2015
  • Length: 13:31
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In late 2014, China announced it was to ban puns. Helen Zaltzman wishes she could ban puns in her own family.

  • Added: Jan 15, 2015
  • Length: 16:21