language

Marth Barnette is the host of the public radio show and podcast, A Way with Words. Her latest book, Friends with Words, is a linguistic memoir. We learn about her lifelong passion for languages and her fascination with words.

The word "dude" is often associated with the '80s and '90s. But its origin is rooted much, much farther back in American history and it took a long and winding road to reach the coast of California.

The word fills an important gap in our language, but it was once stigmatized. The story of "y'all" also includes powerful cultural forces, from hip-hop to ideas of welcoming inclusivity.

Some people are changing the way they speak on TikTok and other social media platforms to bypass what they think are algorithm blocks. For some users, it's a fun game — but for others, self-censoring certain words is crucial to being able to share their lived experience and get views.

What was once another shortened way to call a friend "brother," the word "bruh" is now being used widely, especially by Gen Alpha kids, to address parents, express sadness, frustration, happiness and seemingly everything else under the sun.

The FCC has delayed implementing its multilingual emergency alerts system — making non-English speakers vulnerable during climate disasters.

The R-word was originally used as a medical term, but eventually became a word used to belittle people with cognitive disabilities. The word gradually fell out of use, but advocates like Hartman see a disturbing trend in its unchecked usage.

Speech pathologists offer parents real-world advice on how to incorporate a second language with their kids at home — and demystify a misconception about bilingualism.

What words will be buzzing about in the global health and development hive in the year ahead? Our experts have nominations for your consideration.

New terms — like LatinX — are often pushed by activists to promote a more equitable world. But linguist John McWhorter says trying to enforce new words to speed up social change tends to backfire.