The Allusionist

- Location: London, United Kingdom
- http://theallusionist.org
- http://helenzaltzman.com
Series

- From: The Allusionist
- Updated: Dec 14, 2017

27 Pieces
Small adventures in language with Helen Zaltzman. Visit http://theallusionist.org
- From: The Allusionist
- Updated: Oct 21, 2020
Pieces
Charles Dickens wrote about the plight of the impoverished and destitute members of British society. So how come his name is a synonym for rosy-che...
- Added: Dec 14, 2017
- Length: 24:22
There's a word that has become shorthand for 'the war on Christmas' with a side of 'political correctness gone mad': Winterval.
It began in Novemb...
- Added: Dec 14, 2017
- Length: 11:08
Breaking up is hard to do, and it's hard to put into appropriate words. Comedian Rosie Wilby seeks a better term for 'ex', and family law barrister...
- Added: Mar 06, 2016
- Length: 18:28
The 2016 US election isn't going away anytime soon, so let's seek refuge in etymology. Consider the linguistically appropriate age of a senator, an...
- Added: Feb 25, 2016
- Length: 36:05
You're looking for your perfect partner, but dating sites keep matching you with duds. So what do you do? Conduct an elaborate linguistic experimen...
- Added: Feb 06, 2016
- Length: 41:57
Your online dating profile is the latest spin on a 300-year-old tradition of advertising yourself in order to find a spouse, a sexual partner, or s...
- Added: Feb 03, 2016
- Length: 41:08
CONTENT WARNING: Be wary of listening to this episode around young children, as there may be life spoilers. Historian Greg Jenner traces the origin...
Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio
- Added: Dec 14, 2015
- Length: 25:35
- Purchases: 1
There’s a language which is said to be the smallest language in the world. It has around 123 words, five vowels, nine consonants, and apparently yo...
Bought by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
- Added: Dec 14, 2015
- Length: 20:24
- Purchases: 1
It's cathartic; it's a useful historical record; and it might help you behave better on public transport. Neil Katcher and Dave Nadelberg from Mort...
- Added: Dec 14, 2015
- Length: 18:58
Phoebe Judge and Lauren Spohrer from the podcast Criminal stop by to talk about the linguistic challenges of crime reporting. They also share their...
- Added: Nov 02, 2015
- Length: 23:05