Why is it harder to talk if we don’t move our hands? Even when we’re talking on the phone we feel the need to gesture to aid communication. A new book offers a look at the relatively new field of gesture studies. And: Ever wonder why we describe the American flag as “red, white, and blue?” Why not “blue, white, and red?” Plus, everyone should have a hellbox for tossing their discards! But where exactly would you find one? Also: a tall glass of water, since dirt was young, since King Hatchet was a hammer, since Hector was a pup, a brain teaser about multiple letters, sold down the river, an alliterative drinking game, upper-case vs. lower-case, why we say red, white, and blue and not blue, white, and red, and how to pronounce pecan. http://waywordradio.org

Tall Drink of Water (Full Episode)

If you like to use emojis, you have some 3800 to choose from—and the organization that approves them is about to announce even more. But do we really need a purple splatter emoji? Or one that looks like Sasquatch? Plus: If you’re retired, you may jokingly call yourself a “geezer.” In the UK, though, the term is downright derogatory. Also, why good eggs make much better company than bad apples. And how to pronounce macabre, the difference between mass nouns and count nouns, an Italian phrase about foolishness, alight from the front, Japanese pager slang, a brain teaser for bookworms, vermilion, crimson, carmine, and cochineal, and You thought like Nelly. http://waywordradio.org

Good Egg, Bad Apple (Full Episode)

How do social media algorithms shape the way we communicate? A new book argues that the competition for clicks is changing the way we speak and write, from the so-called “YouTube accent” to the surprising evolution of the word preppy. Also: A Massachusetts woman complains that a digital highway sign that says Use Ya Blinkah is well-intentioned, but goes too far in making fun of the local dialect. Plus, if you’re puzzling over something--no problem. Just use your Clyde! Also, squatcho and squatchee, wuzzle and fuzzle, juke and jook, gnurr and oosse, the millennial pause and the Gen Z shake, eye dialect, an adverbial brain teaser, the Coanda effect, how to ask for rooiboos tea, and a clever neologism that means “dread.” http://waywordradio.org

Cat Bristle (Full Episode)

Why would some Spanish speakers use adaptations of certain English words when perfectly good Spanish words for the same thing already exists? Plus, handy terms in a dictionary of the Sussex dialect from 150 years ago: Back then, a “dezzick” was “a day’s work” and “January butter” was another term for “mud.” And: You can’t judge a book by its cover, but the outer sides of its pages may impress you. A new trend in publishing features colorful patterns and images that look gorgeous when the book is closed. These decorations are called spredges, from the words “sprayed” and “edges.” Also: brass tacks, beevers, a punning puzzle for cinephiles, shmutzing, lonche, go chalk, archaic names for ladybugs, close-toe vs. close-toed vs. closed-toe, denominalization, mucksig, and God Almighty’s cow. http://waywordradio.org

Brass Tacks (Full Episode)

The Hawaiian word “aloha” is both a greeting and a goodbye, as well as a profound acknowledgement of the oneness with all living things. Plus, what’s a “lemur ball”? That’s the cute little cuddle formed when several of these ring-tailed primates cozy up to each other. A new book will leave you marveling over the mysteries of lemurs, wombats, and other creatures. And: If you’re exhausted after a long day, and you get tired of saying you’re tired, you can always say you’re “forswunk.” Also, sweating buckets, sudar como un pollo, a game featuring imaginary national anthems, fair to middling, sirop de poteau, Se cree la mamá de Tarzán, dilly-dally, cackermander, jassum, swink, skunked, and a 5-year-old’s hilarious misunderstanding. http://waywordradio.org

Big as a Breadbox (Full Episode)

„Flüstern aus Ebonwood“ ist eine deutschsprachige Ballade im Nordic-Folk-Stil. Demo-Version mit atmosphärischer Spoken-Word-Strophe, getragen von Gitarren, Panflöten und subtilen Klangtexturen. Thematisch kreist das Lied um das Erwachen eines magischen Waldes und die Einladung an das Träumerkind, sich dem Zauber zu öffnen.

Entstanden im Oktober 2025.

Private listening only. Licensing inquiries (e.g. for film, podcast, game) welcome via: echoesofebonwood@gmail.com

Flüstern aus Ebonwood

„Ingwerlicht“ ist eine deutschsprachige Ballade im Nordic-Cinematic-Stil. Demo-Version mit gesprochenem Intro und Outro, getragen von geheimnisvollen Klangtexturen, rhythmischer Wärme und poetischer Bildsprache. Thematisch kreist das Lied um magische Heilung, innere Kraft und die Erinnerung an das, was glüht.

Entstanden im September 2025.

Private listening only. Licensing inquiries (e.g. for film, podcast, game) welcome via: echoesofebonwood@gmail.com

Ingwerlicht

Does language acquisition correspond with being ambidextrous? A woman notices her polyglot husband takes notes with his right hand for certain languages, then switches to his left for other ones. And: What's the difference between an orchard and a grove? Is it correct to speak of an apple grove or an orange orchard? Also, some fun slang from Newfoundland: Sit too long on a hard seat, and your badonkadonk will wind up “dunch.” Plus: duckish, woo-woo, a puzzle about werewolves, waxing eloquent about whiskey, muldoon, names coined by famous authors, huerta and horticulture, zerbert, and a hundred feet of chow line. http://waywordradio.org

Chow Line (Full Episode)

Whippoorwills, bob whites, and chickadees. How do we decide the names of birds and what to call their calls? Plus, the last syllables of Arkansas and Kansas are pronounced differently, but they come from the same etymological root. And: What’s the best word to describe your relationship with someone who’s less than a friend but closer than an acquaintance. Is that person one of your friendlies? Also, knobbly monster, cuate, to have one’s bum in the butter, the meaning of confirming, Kelly days, a quiz about common bonds, to have a goat’s mouth, antidisestablishmentarianism, and a Tex-Mex casserole dish. Make no bones about it! http://waywordradio.org

No Bones (Full Episode)

A sumptuous new collection of poems about specific photographs shows how the moment in time captured by camera can inspire a verbal work of art as well. Also, why do we say that a quarterback got sacked? Plus, If you’re planning to vacation at a textile-free resort, you probably don’t have to pack much. Non-textile means “clothing-optional”—or even “clothing-free”! Also, the phrase turned off cold, a puzzle about funny irregular plurals, finifugal, got the bots, leveling, Weltschmerz, chiffarobe, and words of encouragement from Hong Kong English. Add oil! http://waywordradio.org

Drop in the Bucket (Full Episode)

Echoes of Ebonwood – founded by Claudia Lüno, composer and songwriter. Cinematic ambient & fantasy soundscapes. Born in Germany, rooted in Umbria, reaching Vancouver. Business operations and licensing: echoesofebonwood@gmail.com

A Way with Words is a fun and funny public radio program about language examined through history, culture, and family. Its mission is to change the way you think about language. The program is heard by broadcast and podcast across the United States and around the world by more than a quarter-million listeners each week. It's produced by Wayword, Inc., a nonprofit whose mission is to promote lifelong learning, better human communication, and the value of a thing well-said or well-written. Call or write with your language questions at any time: (877) 929-9673 (toll-free in the US and Canada) or just email us: words@waywordradio.org.

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