Word of Mouth

Last Edited: 03-Oct-2019
A Global British Comedy Collaborative document. Edited by John Lucas
Broadcast source is BBC Radio Four unless otherwise indicated. Recordings are good unless otherwise indicated.
Original idea by Frank Delaney, programme started in 1992.
1997-1999 1999-2002 2002-2004 2005-2006 2007-2008

1997-1999
Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
18-Oct-1997
rpt
Snne01
In the Mood
Russell Davies
-
25-Oct-1997
rpt
Snne02
The Persistent Past
Russell Davies
-
01-Nov-1997
rpt
Snne03
Already, So Soon, My Life
Russell Davies
-
08-Nov-1997
rpt
Snne04
The Naming of Parts
Russell Davies
-
15-Nov-1997
rpt
Snne05
Did You Come Far?
Russell Davies
-
22-Nov-1997
rpt
Snne06
Can You Hear Me Mother?
Russell Davies
-
25-Dec-1997
Special
Word of Mouth’s Christmas Cracker
Russell Davies
-
06-Jan-1998
Snne01
A Fresh Start: The Words of 1998 – Language of Diplomacy
– Not in Front of the Children –Nursery Schools – Lonely Hearts
Russell Davies
29:13, 41087, S
13-Jan-1998
Snne02
Cast the Net and Sale Away: Greetings – Email – January Sales
– Swearing and Oaths -- Exits
Russell Davies
28:53, 40631, S
20-Jan-1998
Snne03
Sick as a Parrot: Sweet Brand Names – Post Match Interviews
– Gruntled, Couth, Shevelled – Full Monty
Russell Davies
28:54, 40652, S
27-Jan-1998
Snne04
Close Enough for Jazz: Private Languages – Knots and Ropes
– Yes, No Interlude – Jazz Terms
Michael Rosen, Russell Davies
29:03, 40854, S
03-Feb-1998
Snne05
The New Look
Russell Davies
-
10-Feb-1998
Snne06
As Time Goes By
Russell Davies

31-Mar-1998
Special
The People’s Lexicon
Russell Davies
-
09-Apr-1998
Snne01
It’s a Cert!
Michael Rosen
-
16-Apr-1998
Snne02
Unaccustomed As I Am…
Michael Rosen
-
23-Apr-1998
Snne03
Babel/Babble
Michael Rosen
-
30-Apr-1998
Snne04
Back Page KO
Michael Rosen
-
07-May-1998
Snne05
Language of the Medical Profession
Michael Rosen
-
14-May-1998
Snne06
The Way that You Say It
Michael Rosen
-
21-May-1998
Snne07
Say It with Flowers
Michael Rosen
-
06-Aug-1998?
09-Aug-1998
rpt?
Snne01
Summer Breeze
Michael Rosen
-
13-Aug-1998
Snne02
All the World’s a Stage
Michael Rosen
-
20-Aug-1998
Snne03
Ulla!
Michael Rosen
-
27-Aug-1998
Snne04
Song, Slang and Southend
Michael Rosen
-
03-Sep-1998
Snne05
Old McDonald
Michael Rosen
-
10-Sep-1998
Snne06
Werds R Us
Michael Rosen
-
17-Sep-1998
Snne07
Getting the Words Out
Michael Rosen
-
24-Sep-1998
Snne08
Mantras
Michael Rosen
-
01-Oct-1998
Snne09
The New Re-PUB-lic
Michael Rosen
-
08-Oct-1998
Snne10
Wol Wantok (One World Talk)
Michael Rosen
-

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
24-Dec-1998
Snne01
Word of Mouth’s Festive Phrasebook
Michael Rosen
-
31-Dec-1998
Snne02
-
Michael Rosen
-
07-Jan-1999
Snne03
Morsels of Execration
Michael Rosen
-
14-Jan-1999
Snne04
Running Dogs and Capitalist Lackeys
Michael Rosen
-
22-Jul-1999
Snne01
Past, Present and Fast Forwards
Michael Rosen
-
29-Jul-1999
Snne02
The Super Duper Ultra Edition
Michael Rosen
-
05-Aug-1999
Snne03
Organic
Michael Rosen
-
12-Aug-1999
Snne04
…And All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt
Michael Rosen
-
19-Aug-1999
Snne05
Backpackers GOOD, Tourists BAD
Michael Rosen
-
26-Aug-1999
Snne06
Eheu Fugaces!
Michael Rosen
-
02-Sep-1998
Snne07
-
Michael Rosen
-
09-Sep-1999
Snne08
Term Time Terminology?
Michael Rosen
-
16-Sep-1999
Snne09
Term Time Terminology?
Michael Rosen
-
23-Sep-1999
Snne10
A Real Gem
Michael Rosen
-
30-Sep-1999
Snne11
Every Time We Say Good-bye
Michael Rosen
-
07-Oct-1999
Snne12
Punch-Drunk
Michael Rosen
-

1999-2002
Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
23-Dec-1999
Snne01
Season’s Greetings
Michael Rosen
-
30-Dec-1999
Snne02
Spirit of the Dance
Michael Rosen
-
06-Jan-2000
Snne03
Making Ends Meet
Michael Rosen
-
13-Jan-2000
Snne04
Crowning Glory
Michael Rosen
-
09-Mar-2000
Snne01
A Bit of a Flutter
Michael Rosen
-
16-Mar-2000
Snne02
Brave New Words
Michael Rosen
-
23-Mar-2000
Snne03
Yo-Ho-Ho and a Bottle of Rum
Michael Rosen
-
30-Mar-2000
Snne04
Get Out and Get Under
Michael Rosen
-
06-Apr-2000
Snne05
Heavens Above
Michael Rosen
-
13-Apr-2000
Snne06
Proceeding in a Westerly Direction
Michael Rosen
-
20-Apr-2000
Snne07
Let Me See What I Can Do
Michael Rosen
-
27-Apr-2000
Snne08
Name that Tune
Michael Rosen
-
03-Aug-2000
Snne01
Gotta Ticket for the Clue-Train
Michael Rosen
-
10-Aug-2000
Snne02
Loving the Alien?
Michael Rosen
-
17-Aug-2000
Snne03
Now Here’s the Good News
Michael Rosen
-
24-Aug-2000
Snne04
Full of Flavour
Michael Rosen
-
31-Aug-2000
Snne05
Could You Possibly Pass Me the Salt?
Michael Rosen
-
07-Sep-2000
Snne06
The Bottle of Britain
Michael Rosen
-
14-Sep-2000
Snne07
What’s Cooking?
Michael Rosen
-
21-Sep-2000
Snne08
Chocks Away!
Michael Rosen
-
28-Sep-2000
Snne09
Crock of Gold
Michael Rosen
-
05-Oct-2000
Snne10
Going for Broke
Michael Rosen
-
14-Dec-2000
Snne01
Best Boys and Zip Pans
Michael Rosen
-
21-Dec-2000
Snne02
National Press in Slug-Fest
Michael Rosen
-
28-Dec-2000
Snne03
Seasonal Cheers
Michael Rosen
-
04-Jan-2001
Snne04
-
Michael Rosen
-
11-Jan-2001
Snne05
To Correct on Not To Correct
Michael Rosen
-
18-Jan-2001
Snne06
Faff, Banter and Bop
Michael Rosen
-
06-Jul-2001
Snne01
To Boldly Go
Michael Rosen
-
13-Jul-2001
Snne02
Rustling Leaves
Michael Rosen
-
20-Jul-2001
Snne03
No Pain No Gain
Michael Rosen
-
27-Jul-2001
Snne04
Putt Up or Shut Up
Michael Rosen
-
03-Aug-2001
Snne05
Words from on High
Michael Rosen
-
10-Aug-2001
Snne06
Classification Blues
Michael Rosen
-
17-Aug-2001
Snne07
Don’t Say It
Michael Rosen
-
24-Aug-2001
Snne08
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Paragraphs
Michael Rosen
-
31-Aug-2001
Snne09
In Care
Michael Rosen
-
07-Sep-2001
Snne10
Love, Death and a Large Fish
Michael Rosen
-
14-Sep-2001
Snne11
-
Michael Rosen
-
21-Sep-2001
Snne12
It’s a Wrap
Michael Rosen
-

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
07-Dec-2001
Snne01
No Offence! Operation Noel
Michael Rosen
Mark Berman
27:52, 6535, m
14-Dec-2001
Snne02
Whatever! – Cat Names
Michael Rosen
Julia Adamson
28:08, 6595, m
21-Dec-2001
Snne03
What’s Your Handle? -- Lingo of Panto --Stammering
Michael Rosen
Valetti Holt-Fente
27:37, 6476, m
28-Dec-2001
Snne04
Sitting on Sigmund – Hairdressing – Middle English
Michael Rosen
Mark Berman
27:44, 6503, m
04-Jan-2002
Snne05
A New Dawn – Language of Water – New Zealand English
Michael Rosen
Bela Bannerman
27:47, 6516, m
11-Jan-2002
Snne06
Pass It On – Heritage Industry – January words
Michael Rosen
Julia Adamson
27:41, 6489, m
18-Jan-2002
Snne07
Mouth Watering – Nicespeak – Theatre idioms
Michael Rosen
Mark Berman
28:00, 6564, m
25-Jan-2002
Snne08
How You Say? – Garbage – Stanley Unwin
Michael Rosen
Bela Bannerman
27:47, 6514, m
01-Feb-2002
Snne09
The Queen’s English – Australian English – Art Exhibitions
Michael Rosen
Simon Elmes
27:57. 6555, m

12-Apr-2002
Snne01
-
Michael Rosen
-
19-Apr-2002
Snne02
Bullseye – Talking with Foxes – Cable Language
Michael Rosen
Julia Adamson
28:11, 6609, m
26-Apr-2002
Snne03
Penguins and Yomping – Euphemisms – Resignations
Michael Rosen
Neil George
28:15, 6625, m
03-May-2002
Snne04
Bishop to C4 – Buddha – Legalese
Michael Rosen
Maria Burgess
27:57, 6554, m
10-May-2002
Snne05
Zoom – Americanisms – Proverbs
Michael Rosen
Neil George
27:34, 6465, m
17-May-2002
Snne06
Des Res (estate agents) – Shires – Tourist Boards
Michael Rosen
Marilyn Harris
27:54, 6540, m
24-May-2002
Snne07
Assessment Tools
Michael Rosen
-
31-May-2002
Snne08
The Axis of Evil
Michael Rosen
-
09-Aug-2002
Snne01
10th Anniversary Edition
Michael Rosen, (Frank Delaney et. al.)
Simon Elmes
27:56, 6548, m
16-Aug-2002
Snne02
Oh Yeah
Michael Rosen
-
23-Aug-2002
Snne03
Bronzed – Dead Metaphors – Enron
Michael Rosen
Mark Berman
27:44, 6503, m
30-Aug-2002
Snne04
Hungerford’s Burden – Experts – Naming Your Band
Michael Rosen
Laurence Grisell
27:30, 6447, m
06-Sep-2002
Snne05
Naming Autobiographies – Station Announcements – TUC conference
Michael Rosen
Laurence Grisell
27:54, 6542, m
13-Sep-2002
Snne06
Iain Duncan Smith – Promenade – Computerized Voice Systems – Podunk
Michael Rosen
Marilyn Harris
27:54, 6542, m
20-Sep-2002
Snne07
Political Slogans – Lying – Quite Ill – Schoolyard Language
Michael Rosen
Sarah-Jane Hall
27:50, 6527, m
27-Sep-2002
Snne08
Sabre Rattling – Small Furries -- Ecclesiastical Change
Michael Rosen
Anne-Marie Cole
27:49, 6523, m

2002-2004
Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
06-Dec-2002
Snne01
Winter Draws On – Fashion Talk – Homophones –
Alan Walker Reed (OK)
Michael Rosen
Sarah Johnson
28:00, 13132, S

13-Dec-2002
Snne02
-
Michael Rosen
-
20-Dec-2002
Snne03
Napoleonic Competition – Mobile talk – Football
commentary – Yule Decorations
Michael Rosen
Sarah Johnson
27:35, 12931, S
27-Dec-2002
Snne04
-
Michael Rosen
-
03-Jan-2003
Snne05
Curing colds – Rhotics – Creativity – Fish Names
Michael Rosen
Mark Berman
27:51, 13063, S
10-Jan-2003
Snne06
Driving test – Grammar Battleground – Queen’s English
Michael Rosen
Neil George
27:52, 13068, S
17-Jan-2003
Snne07
Language change (17th century vs. today) –
Basketball – libel and slander – Phrasal verbs
Michael Rosen
Julia Adamson
27:50, 13049, S
24-Jan-2003
Snne08
Let’s Make Up – OK redux – Middle England – French Mistranslations
Michael Rosen
Jane Wray
27:50, 13048, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
04-Apr-2003
Snne01
Stars, Bars and Blighty – Mild Swear Words but not in
Welsh – Finnish Silence
Michael Rosen
Alison Vernon-Smith
31:12, 14628, S
11-Apr-2003
Snne02
Le Sport Merveilleux (English for foreign footballers) –
Feminism – Poetry of War
Michael Rosen
Michael Namblin
27:45, 13013, S
18-Apr-2003
Snne03
A Bit of the Other: Spring Love – BBC English – Hippy talk
Michael Rosen
Simon Elmes
27:43, 13000, S
25-Apr-2003
Snne04
Bridal Talk – Anglo-American Confusions – Freedom
Michael Rosen
Michael Namblin
27:42, 12988, S
02-May-2003
Snne05
Flattery – May Day – Private Language/Idiolect --
Prepositions
Michael Rosen
Claire Chonker
27:32, 12901, S
09-May-2003
Snne06
Tea and Sandwiches – Common Obsolescent Phrases –
Bottom Trends
Michael Rosen
Marilyn Harris
27:42, 12987, S
16-May-2003
Snne07
Do Yer Know What I Mean? – Linguistic Bugbears –
“Nice” – Lie detectors/language
Michael Rosen
Jane Wray
27:55, 13088, S
23-May-2003
Snne08
You Say Tomato: Anglo-American Confusion – Art
Deco – Jazz Titles – Defective Verbs
Michael Rosen
Neil George
27:44, 13002, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
08-Aug-2003
Snne01
It’s All Going Swimmingly
Michael Rosen
-
15-Aug-2003
Snne02
Oxymoron – Wigs and merkins – Clean Language –
Ira Gershwin
Michael Rosen
Michael Namblin
27:37, 12946, S
22-Aug-2003
Snne03
It’s Not Cricket – Forbidden words – euro or euros
Michael Rosen
Tom Alban
27:40, 12974, S
29-Aug-2003
Snne04
Dog Days and Nights – Beatle Lyrics – Contested
Language – Shakespeare Glossary
Michael Rosen
Michael Namblin
27:45, 13009, S
05-Sep-2003
Snne05
Losing accents at school – American political
language – tranklement – Interpol – Movie ratings
Michael Rosen
Simon Elmes
27:37, 12950, S
12-Sep-2003
Snne06
Grammar / Molesworth – Spaniards in the Works –
architects and buildings
Michael Rosen
Maria Burgess
27:56, 13095, S
19-Sep-2003
Snne07
Viral attack: hacking language – clippings –
Coup d’etat – bed coverings
Michael Rosen
Maria Burgess
28:01, 13139, S
26-Sep-2003
Snne08
Come Together: Beatles competition – subtitles –
dressing room talks – military occupations
Michael Rosen
Paul Coperack
27:57, 13109, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
05-Dec-2003
Snne01
Back to Basics – Feet – political words – survey
of current English dialects
Michael Rosen
Tom Alban
27:48, 13038, S
12-Dec-2003
Snne02
What Is the Point? – naughty bits – Prime Ministers’
scripts – seasonal period foods/greetings
Michael Rosen
Neil George
27:58, 19665, S
19-Dec-2003
Snne03
Cats and Dogs: Rain words – Brummie – Patois
Michael Rosen
Paul Coperack
27:58, 19673, S
26-Dec-2003
Snne04
Epics – Speed Dating – Language of Youth – Whatever
Michael Rosen
Neil George
28:02, 19720, S
02-Jan-2004
Snne05
Armour – Icons – Adjectivitis – “We got him”
Michael Rosen
Tom Alban
28:03, 19733, S
09-Jan-2004
Snne06
Neologisms of Another Age – IQ tests – Ned culture –
Head and Heart
Michael Rosen
Jane Wray
28:14, 19856, S
16-Jan-2004
Snne07
Dude – DJ’s names – S.J. Perelman Centenary – Chocolate
Michael Rosen
Sarah-Jane Hall
27:50, 19577, S
23-Jan-2004
Snne08
Putdowns – Weaving – German borrowings from English –
Body idioms competition
Michael Rosen
Tom Alban
28:00, 19693, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
02-Apr-2004
Snne01
Diplomatic language – parts of speech (“Like” and
adverbialisation) – words of farewell – Alistair Cooke
Michael Rosen
Isobel Eaton
28:00, 26131, S
09-Apr-2004
Snne02
50th Anniversary of Rock around the Clock –
Describing Jesus – Public statements – Naming of Wars
Michael Rosen
Isobel Eaton
27:38, 25920, S
16-Apr-2004
Snne03
Wood words – Falconry – Dialects dying? – Police words
Michael Rosen
Isobel Eaton
, , S
23-Apr-2004
Snne04
I Don’t Know – Stargazing – British Film – African Names
Michael Rosen
Isobel Eaton
27:37, 25900, S
30-Apr-2004
Snne05
Move Over Darling – Sailing By – Medicospeak – Metrosexual
Michael Rosen
Isobel Eaton
27:50, 26108, S
07-May-2004
Snne06
Naming the Opposition: Insurgent – Abracadabra –
Alan Bennett at 70 – Surreal
Michael Rosen
Paul Dodson
27:55, 26181, S
14-May-2004
Snne07
Breakin’ Convention – Over Hill and Dale – Hinglish –
Funny Talk
Michael Rosen
Paul Dodson
27:50, 26103, S
21-May-2004
Snne08
Listener’s New Words – Going Nuclear – Curate’s Egg –
In the Moog
Michael Rosen
Paul Dodson
27:43, 25999, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
06-Aug-2004
Snne01
Photographers / Paparazzi – Recently Defunct Words
Contest – Tanorexic – Summer Songs – Surfers
Michael Rosen
Paul Dodson
27:53, 26146, S
13-Aug-2004
Snne02
The Agones (verbal legacy of the ancient games) –
Dead Words – Travel Guidebooks – Latin vs. vernacular vs.
local plant names
Michael Rosen
Isobel Eaton
27:50, 26099, S
20-Aug-2004
Snne03
Fundamentalism – What’s in a Name? – Curses! –
All that Jazz
Michael Rosen
Paul Dodson
27:48, 26074, S
27-Aug-2004
Snne04
Actresses – Timber! – Vulnerable – Bon Mot
Michael Rosen
Isobel Eaton
27:34, 25853, S
03-Sep-2004
Snne05
Wifi – Dismal Days – Deodorant – In the Glasshouse
Michael Rosen
Paul Dodson
27:50, 26103, S
10-Sep-2004
Snne06
Terror – Listener Questions – Jeremy Clarke – Pasta
Michael Rosen
Paul Dodson
27:54, 26161, S
17-Sep-2004
Snne07
Bereavement Words – Just the Job? – Gobbledygook –
Trouser Talk
Michael Rosen
Isobel Eaton
27:04, 25387, S
24-Sep-2004
Snne08
Going for Gold (Olympic Slogans) – In Memoriam –
Right! – Party Conference words
Michael Rosen
Isobel Eaton
27:53, 26143, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
03-Dec-2004
Snne01
Patois (with Jean Binta Breeze) – Music (with Marshall
Marcus) – Plain English (with John Lister) –
Bees (with Bee Wilson)
Michael Rosen
Paul Dodson
27:47, 26055, S
10-Dec-2004
Snne02
Nationalism – Napoli/Naples – The Passive Voice – Chav
Michael Rosen
Paul Dodson
27:49, 26082, S
17-Dec-2004
Snne03
Smittling – Lunch or Dinner – Scientific metaphors –
Bells – Competition
Michael Rosen
Frances Burns
27:32, 25822, S
24-Dec-2004
--
No programme
-
-
31-Dec-2004
Snne04
With Terry Jones, Michael Quinion, Lynda Mugglestone,
Miles Kington
Michael Rosen
Paul Dodson
27:56, 26194, S
07-Jan-2005
Snne05
Fitness terms, salt words, school mottos, used car dealers
Michael Rosen
Frances Burns
27:35, 25876, S
14-Jan-2005
Snne06
Ballroom dancing words, tabloids, more counting sheep,
snow sports
Michael Rosen
Frances Burns
27:41, 25955, S
21-Jan-2005
Snne07
Bullets and guns, management speak, haitch, counting
Michael Rosen
Frances Burns
27:50, 26100, S

2005-2006
Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
01-Apr-2005
Snne01
Superstitions and April Fool – Pet names – Human rights –
Greatest words
Michael Rosen
Sarah Davies
27:32, 25822, S
08-Apr-2005
Snne02
Eidophusicon – Election jargon – Cod/Codd – Dentistry –
Smugglers and wreckers – Found poetry
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:04, 26320, S
15-Apr-2005
Snne03
Drinking Beer – Johnson’s Dictionary 250th Anniversary –
Japanese – Punning
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:03, 26298, S
22-Apr-2005
Snne04
Found poetry – black slang dictionary – naming colours –
South Asian names
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:59, 26237, S
29-Apr-2005
Snne05
Election speeches in other languages – Awards Season –
Keep It or Bleep It – Proverbs in various languages –
Morris dancing
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:01, 26270, S
06-May-2005
Snne06
Holocaust – Gey peeli-wally – Punning signs –
scripted people
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:03, 26313, S
13-May-2005
Snne07
Soho: rhyming slang, immigrant words, bohemian lingo;
Private Eye; Tin Pan Alley; musicians’ slang and group
names; tee shirts
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:03, 26299, S
20-May-2005
Snne08
Globish – the value of vowels – text message poetry –
keep it or bleep it – bird watchers – found poetry finale –
consecutive two-letter words
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:59, 26240, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
05-Aug-2005
Snne01
When words fail us – malapropisms – summer novelty hits from
the Continent – WOMBAC – language of electronic gaming
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
27:50, 26110, S
12-Aug-2005
Snne02
Food words and phrases
Matt Harvey
Miles Ward
27:42, 25974, S
19-Aug-2005
Snne03
Political speech writers – WOMBAC – food writers revisited –
bananas and banana words –
evolution of politically correct phrases
Michael Rosen
Miles Ward
27:50, 26095, S
26-Aug-2005
Snne04
Romany words – hobos – Coronation Street – Arab –
job interviews
Michael Rosen
Miles Ward
27:46, 26036, S
02-Sep-2005
Snne05
“Mate” in Australian Parliament – WOMBAC – Cornish
language– synaesthesia– “A” for ox
Michael Rosen
Sally Heaven and Toby Field
27:55, 26180, S
09-Sep-2005
Snne06
Paleontological nomenclature – book review words –
why the Blues are blue – Talkaoke
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
27:51, 26117, S
16-Sep-2005
Snne07
Bumper stickers – Psychotherapy – Skydiving
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:04, 26318, S
23-Sep-2005
Snne08
Language of Breaking up – digests of books – weather
forecasting – Adding words from other languages –
WOMBAC winners
Michael Rosen
Miles Ward
27:29, 25769, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
02-Dec-2005
Snne01
Iran elections – Islamic words – American words: Sport
vs. war – eBay listings – aphorisms
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:02, 26295, S
09-Dec-2005
Snne02
David Cameron’s language – the Outer Banks – aphorisms –
John Lennon’s words
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:56, 26198, S
16-Dec-2005
Snne03
Theatrical Words – Pantomime – Stage Names Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:02, 26293, S
23-Dec-2005
Snne04
Talking to Father Christmas – Naming of Toys –
Conversations with Angels – Cracker jokes
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:03, 26300, S
30-Dec-2005
Snne05
Great Word of Mouth New Year Pub Quiz
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:49, 26088, S
06-Dec-2005
Snne06
Special Equestrian Edition
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:00, 26255, S
13-Dec-2005
Snne07
Sir Min(g/z)is Campbell, bingo lingo, buzzword bingo, Offlish,
Empress of the Style Invitational
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:46, 26046, S
20-Dec-2005
Snne08
Language personalities – BSL – the smallest language –
words for sadness
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:07, 26363, S
27-Dec-2005
Snne09
Language of computers –British National Corpus and
100 million words – talking computers – dictionaraoke –
aphorism winner
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:10, 26410, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
04-Apr-2006
Snne01
Blogging – Keyboard characters – Like a Hole in the Head –
Football overseas
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
28:12, 26451, S
11-Apr-2006
Snne02
Poker and Bridge – Crossword setters and pseudonyms –
King James Bible – updating religious language
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
28:02, 26292, S
18-Apr-2006
Snne03
Bluetooth words – Centenary of San Francisco Earthquake –
Kenning and advertising – songwriters and suburbia
Matt Harvey
Mark Smalley
28:15, 26486, S
25-Apr-2006
Snne04
Trademarks – Welsh national database of terms – Public
announcements and stressed prepositions
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
28:00, 26258, S
02-May-2006
Snne05
Trade unions – Rock music journalism – Comedy
catch phrases
Michael Rosen
Sally Heaven and Tony Field
28:02, 26294, S
09-May-2006
Snne06
Limericks for every word – sound effects in comics –
talking to aliens – talking to teenagers
Michael Rosen
Sally Heaven and Tony Field
28:11, 26424, S
16-May-2006
Snne07
Examinations – Libraries – Language of rows –
Onomatiophobia
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:05, 26340, S
23-May-2006
Snne08
Naming things after people – Hand gestures – fizzy
drinks – Simile Contest
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:03, 26312, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
08-Aug-2006
Snne01
Ceasefire – Spanglish and Franglais – Language of opinion
polls – Etymology unknown
Matt Harvey
Peter Everett
28:02, 26287, S
15-Aug-2006
Snne02
Preserving linguistic purity – Holiday postcards – Classic
chat-up lines
Matt Harvey
Peter Everett
28:04, 26318, S
22-Aug-2006
Snne03
Tamper – Funniest accent in Britain – Auctioneers – Animal
noises in other languages
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:01, 26282, S
29-Aug-2006
Snne04
Fitness – Writers into adjectives – Computer telling jokes –
Etymology unknown – goolie-chit
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:42, 25978, S
05-Sep-2006
Snne05
Organic – oozlebart – squinting and Australian accent –
a new national anthem
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:09, 26402, S
12-Sep-2006
Snne06
Deadline – Nicknames on the Docks – Function creep on
mobile – Tony Blair’s language
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:03, 26302, S
19-Sep-2006
Snne07
London Fashion Week
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:05, 26329, S
26-Sep-2006
Snne08
Bung – prison slang – death euphemism –
new national anthem
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:51, 26113, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
05-Dec-2006
Snne01
Hinglish – Polonium – There Ought to be a Name for It –
Biomedical terms
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
27:46, 26046, S
12-Dec-2006
Snne02
Diamonds – Burkini – Body words – Offensive language
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
27:45, 26028, S
19-Dec-2006
Snne03
Step relations – Whitewash – Hanukkah – Perfume names
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
27:20, 25641, S
26-Dec-2006
Snne04
Down at the dump – Board games – Couch potato –
Scouting centenary – singular plural
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
27:21, 25658, S
02-Jan-2007
Snne05
Word of the year – political words
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:56, 26197, S
09-Jan-2007
Snne06
WW I recordings of Alois Brandl – backslang –
square dance calling
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:36, 25880, S
16-Jan-2007
Snne07
Chimera – blend-words – nifty tags –
voice training and the belly
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:48, 26075, S
23-Jan-2007
Snne08
Radio DJs – glossalalia – There Ought to be a Name for It
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:50, 26100, S

2007-2008
Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
10-Apr-2007
Snne01
Language of war – 21st century proverbs – English as a second
language – origin of Easter – eggcorns
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
27:48, 26068, S
17-Apr-2007
Snne02
Subatomic physics – depression – proverbs – helping people
with speech disorders
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
27:43, 25990, S
24-Apr-2007
Snne03
Edu babble – elocution teachers – proverbs – snappy church slogans John Lloyd
Jolian Jenkins
27:58, 26229, S
01-May-2007
Snne04
Verbifying – cremains – Word of the Day – Jane Austen’s Latinate words –
Pun-off competition
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:43, 25998, S
08-May-2007
Snne05
Circus words – being persuasive – portrait photographers – proverbs Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:48, 26073, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
07-Aug-2007
Snne01
Teenspeak – speaking with children
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
27:43, 25995, S
13-Aug-2007
19-Sep-2007
rpt
Snne02
Words and power – religious and philosophic words in politics
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
27:30, 25789, S
21-Aug-2007
01-Jan-2007
Snne03
Stickability – New Words – Football chants
John Lloyd
Chris Ledgard
27:56, 26190, S
28-Aug-2007
Snne04
Carnival – language of meditation – stuttering and cluttering –
legal language
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
28:10, 26419, S
04-Sep-2007
Snne05
Bilingualism – rugby and cricket microphones on the pitch
Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
28:12, 26447, S
11-Sep-2007
Snne06
Meme – typewriters – Spanglish
Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:52, 26139, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
20-Nov-2007
Snne01
Gaelic television -- words leaving the language -- SEO --
country music
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:42, 25974, S
27-Nov-2007
Snne02
Neologisms and the OED -- brand names -- inventing a
language -- book titles
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:42, 25983, S
04-Dec-2007
Snne03
Playground rhymes
Michael Rosen
Mark Smalley
27:59, 26239, S
11-Dec-2007
Snne04
Primary school literacy -- Dictionary of Slang --
military operation names
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:43, 25998, S
18-Dec-2007
Snne05
Belgium's Word Wars
Michael Rosen
Simon Elmes
27:47, 26055, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
01-Apr-2008
snne01
Bad language
Michael Rosen
Jolyon Jenkins
27:40, 25951, S
08-Apr-2008
snne02
Euphemisms, Malapropisms, Doctor Word -- may vs. might,
Aphasia
Michael Rosen
Jolyon Jenkins
27:33, 25831, S
15-Apr-2008
snne03
Romany, uncomfortable words, accents in Pop music,
changes in meaning
Peggy Reynolds
Beth O'Dea
27:30, 25795, S
22-Apr-2008
snne04
Nicknames, Given Names
John Lloyd
Chris Ledgard
27:46, 26040, S
29-Apr-2008
snne05
Speech bubbles, cartoons, graphic novels, Dr Word
Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:55, 26173, S
06-May-2008
snne06
Life and Death, forensic linguistics, aviation
Michael Rosen
Sally Heaven
27:55, 26183, S
13-May-2008
snne07
China -- teaching Mandarin in the UK, other languages,
Dr Word
Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:55, 26181, S
20-May-2008
snne08
John Jamieson and the Scots Language
Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:57, 26314, S

Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
05-Aug-2008 snne01
Standups Taking Abuse -- Terms of Abuse in 11 countries --
Prime Minister's Questions -- Shakespeare's Insults --
Apologies -- Dr Word
Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:38, 25922, S
12-Aug-2008 snne02
Vocal pitch and men's and women's voices -- Dr Word Peggy Reynolds
Jolyon Jenkins
27:51, 26112, S
19-Aug-2008 snne03
Language guardians -- blogs -- French words and phrases
we are misusing -- Dr Word
Peggy Reynolds
Chris Ledgard
27:58, 26224, S
26-Aug-2008 snne04
Whistling language -- global warming -- Foreign Accent Syndrome Michael Rosen
Beth O'Dea
26:40, 25001, S
02-Sep-2008
snne05

"um"  and "er" -- Dr Word
Michael Rosen
Beth O'Dea
27:44, 26007, S
09-Sep-2008 snne06
Medical communications, pain Michael Rosen
Sarah Langham
27:58, 26223, S
16-Sep-2008 snne07
selling, money, credit crunch Michael Rosen
Sarah Langham
27:34, 25849, S
25-Nov-2008 snne01 Animal communication Michael Rosen
Beatrice Fenton
27:36, 25885, S
02-Dec-2008 snne02 When speech breaks down
Michael Rosen
Isobel Eaton
27:52, 26129, S
09-Dec-2008 snne03 Conversation
Michael Rosen
Beatrice Fenton
27:48, 26077, S
16-Dec-2008 snne04 learning and speaking more than one language
Michael Rosen
Isobel Eaton
27:59, 26242, S
23-Dec-2008 snne05 place names
Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:35, 25870, S
30-Dec-2008 snne06 Pirates' language
Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:54, 26169, S
06-Jan-2009 snne07 Importing Words into and Exporting words from English
Michael Rosen
Beatrice Fenton
27:42, 25983, S
13-Jan-2009 snne08 Bad language and football, footballers teaching foreign languages,
rap preserving the Berber language
Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:53, 26155, S

2009
Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
07-Apr-2009 1
Spelling Michael Rosen
Jolyon Jenkins

28:03, 26300, S
14-Apr-2009 2
Storytelling Michael Rosen
Jolyon Jenkins

27:58, 26235, S
21-Apr-2009 3
Latin makes a comeback, the word "like", literacy on radio Michael Rosen
John Byrne

27:59, 26248, S
28-Apr-2009 4 A map of Portsmouth using the vernacular, British Museum map
of dialects, the Northumbrian burr
Michael Rosen
John Byrne

27:46, 26041, S
05-May-2009 5 Snark - being snide on the Internet Michael Rosen
Beth O'Dea

27:45, 26025, S
12-May-2009 6 Theatre of the Mind - Elizabethan Theatre, Radio Drama Michael Rosen
Beatrice Fenton

27:58, 26229, S
14-Jul-2009 1 Music Chris Ledgard
Beth O'Dea
27:32, 25824, S
21-Jul-2009 2
hypnosis, brainwashing and the recruiting language of cults
Chris Ledgard
Beatrice Fenton

28:01, 26276, S
28-Jul-2009 3
we really are different in different languages
Chris Ledgard
Beth O'Dea
27:35, 25860, S
04-Aug-2009 4
Giving a presentation'
Chris Ledgard
Jolyon Jenkins

27:58, 26222, S
11-Aug-2009 5 The dentist's chair, the taxi rear seat, the hairdresser's salon
Chris Ledgard
John Byrne

27:40, 25950, S
18-Aug-2009 6 The Plain English Campaign
Chris Ledgard
John Byrne

27:45, 26017, S
17-Nov-2009 1 the rise and fall of the language that became
synonymous with communism

Michael Rosen
Sarah Jane Hall

28:08, 26390, S
24-Nov-2009 2 coded language
Michael Rosen
Beatrice Fenton

27:30, 25786, S
01-Dec-2009 3 whether English is one language or a thousand
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:50, 26107, S
08-Dec-2009 4 consultants who will teach you how to speak more clearly
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:38, 25920, S
15-Dec-2009 5 George Orwell's rules for writing about politics
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:49, 26083, S
22-Dec-2009 6 why jokes are funny Michael Rosen
Peter Everett
27:47, 26052, S
29-Dec-2009 7 silence Michael Rosen
Mark Harrison
27:52, 26129, S
05-Jan-2010 8 invented and constructed languages Michael Rosen
Jolyon Jenkins

28:04, 26325, S
12-Jan-2010 9 lying Michael Rosen
Jolyon Jenkins

27:56, 26192, S
23-Mar-2010 1 apologies Michael Rosen
Jolyon Jenkins

27:53, 26151, S
30-Mar-2010 2 style guides and word power
Michael Rosen
Jolyon Jenkins

28:00, 26260, S
06-Apr-2010 3 the language of the natural world
Michael Rosen
Paul Dodgson

27:51, 26120, S
13-Apr-2010 4 voiceoverland
Chris Ledgard
Sarah Langham

28:00, 26251, S
20-Apr-2010 5 the Chinese and English languages
Chris Ledgard
Beth O'Dea

27:50, 26095, S
27-Apr-2010 6 language used by and about disabled people
Michael Rosen
Beth O'Dea

27:55, 26183, S
04-May-2010 7 flavour and taste
Michael Rosen
Jack Rampling

27:43, 25990, S
17-May-2010 8 the language of football
Michael Rosen
Beatrice Fenton

27:29, 25775, S
20-Jul-2010 1 ways in which deaf people communicate
Chris Ledgard
Beth O'Dea

27:59, 26238, S
27-Jul-2010 2 the world of the inner monologue
Chris Ledgard
Miles Warde

27:48, 26075, S
03-Aug-2010 3 the rise in popularity of storytelling
Chris Ledgard
Paul Dodgson

27:57, 26218, S
10-Aug-2010 4 the value of dumbing down
Chris Ledgard
Miles Warde

27:37, 25899, S
17-Aug-2010 5 Body Language
Chris Ledgard
Beatrice Fenton

27:29, 25771, S
24-Aug-2010 6 the search for translators for London 2012
Chris Ledgard
Miles Warde

27:51, 26117, S
31-Aug-2010 7 maintaining global linguistic diversity
Chris Ledgard
Paul Dodgson

27:50, 26102, S
07-Sep-2010 8 Voices for Posterity
Chris Ledgard
Beatrice Fenton

27:28, 25762, S
21-Dec-2010 1 the first history of English exhibition at the British Library
Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:52, 26140, S
28-Dec-2010 2 the language of travel and tourism
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett

27:51, 26113, S
04-Jan-2011 3 the last fifty years of the song-lyric
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett

27:43, 26000, S
11-Jan-2011 4 the microphone
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett

27:54, 26160, S
18-Jan-2011 5 Approval -- Disapproval
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett

27:57, 26219, S
25-Jan-2011 6 the sub-editor
Michael Rosen
Peter Everett

27:53, 26143, S

2011
Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
22-Mar-2011 1 ESOL English language classes Michael Rosen
Beth O'Dea
27:53, 26143, S
29-Mar-2011 2 Language Endangerment Conference Michael Rosen
Beatrice Fenton
27:51, 26116, S
05-Apr-2011 3 language and sport Michael Rosen
John Byrne
27:45, 26026, S
12-Apr-2011 4 politeness Michael Rosen
Beth O'Dea
27:40, 25952, S
19-Apr-2011 5 Academic English Chris Ledgard 27:58, 26235, S
26-Apr-2011 6 Speakers' Corner Chris Ledgard
Beatrice Fenton
27:41, 25957, S
03-May-2011 7 the art of the interview Michael Rosen
John Byrne
27:50, 26097, S
10-May-2011 8 the mysterious art of shorthand Michael Rosen
Luke Hollands
27:28, 25764, S
19-Jul-2011 1 Students are no longer choosing to study
modern foreign languages
Chris Ledgard
Beth O'Dea
27:23, 25632, S
26-Jul-2011 2 Surnames Chris Ledgard
Beth O'Dea
27:37, 25839, S
02-Aug-2011 3 Les Barker, a Mancunian who's fallen in love
with the Welsh language
Chris Ledgard
John Byrne
27:34, 25797, S
09-Aug-2011 4 talking newspapers Chris Ledgard
John Byrne
27:41, 25904, S
16-Aug-2011 5 Voice Recognition Chris Ledgard
Beth O'Dea
27:17, 25543, S
23-Aug-2011 6 Counting Word Incidences Chris Ledgard
Beth O'Dea
27:45, 25970, S
30-Aug-2011 7 English As a Lingua Franca Chris Ledgard 27:24, 25645, S
07-Sep-2011 8 Being overheard Chris Ledgard 27:35, 25816, S
20-Dec-2011 1 Bonds and Bailouts -
the language of the financial markets
Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:50, 26045, S
27-Dec-2011 2 But I've Got a Degree! Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:45, 25965, S
03-Jan-2012 3 Comparing the way we bring up children
and train dogs
Michael Rosen
Beth O'Dea
28:00, 26201, S
10-Jan-2012 4 Stories from other cultures Michael Rosen
Beth O'Dea
28:00, 26198, S
17-Jan-2012 5 Public speaking, show and tell Michael Rosen
Toby Field
27:20, 25574, S
24-Jan-2012 6 Teens and TV, literally Michael Rosen
Toby Field
27:26, 25675, S
20-Mar-2012 1 a load of nonsense Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:51, 26067, S
27-Mar-2012 2 Textspeak Michael Rosen
Beth O'Dea
27:43, 25944, S
03-Apr-2012 3 The Queen's Speech Michael Rosen
Beth O'Dea
27:20, 25578, S
10-Apr-2012 4 Academic stand-up and cognitive development Chris Ledgard
John Byrne
27:46, 25988, S
17-Apr-2012 5 how trademark law can control the language
of the games
Chris Ledgard
John Byrne
27:33, 25780, S
24-Apr-2012 6 Losing Your Parents' Language Michael Rosen
Beth O'Dea
27:58, 26170, S
01-May-2012 7 Interpreting Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:33, 25788, S
08-May-2012 8 Chugger Chat Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:52, 26073, S
17-Jul-2012 1 Asking the Right Question Chris Ledgard
Producer: Polly Procter
27:48, 26016, S
24-Jul-2012 2 Talking a Good Game Chris Ledgard
Producer: Toby Field
24:28, 22908, S
31-Jul-2012 3 The Language of Carers Chris Ledgard
Producer: John Byrne
27:42, 25931, S
07-Aug-2012 4 Brussels - A Language Story Chris Ledgard 27:47, 26003, S
14-Aug-2012 5 Preaching Chris Ledgard
Beth O'Dea
27:33, 25789, S
21-Aug-2012 6 listening to speech through noise Chris Ledgard
John Byrne
27:39, 25878, S
28-Aug-2012 7 Reading aloud Chris Ledgard 27:46, 25986, S
04-Sep-2012 8 Conflict Resolution Chris Ledgard
Beth O'Dea
27:58, 26166, S
18-Dec-2012 1 Under the Influence Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:51, 26064, S
25-Dec-2012 2 the giving and receiving of compliments Chris Ledgard
John Byrne
27:33, 25779, S
01-Jan-2013 3 Stenography Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:50, 26053, S
08-Jan-2013 4 The language of bereavement and grief Michael Rosen
John Byrne
27:37, 25843, S
15-Jan-2013 5 Autism and Learning Difficulties Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:53, 26092, S
22-Jan-2013 6 Audio Books Michael Rosen
John Byrne
27:24, 25753, S

  2013
Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
19-Mar-2013 1 The University of Babel Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:55, 26148, S
26-Mar-2013 2 The Persuaders Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:52, 26101, S
02-Apr-2013 3 Speaking to Yourself Michael Rosen
Sally Heaven and Sarah Langan
27:41, 25988, S
09-Apr-2013
4
Language in India; politics and passion Chris Ledgard 27:50, 26077, S
16-Apr-2013
5
Language and Politics in India Chris Ledgard 27:53, 26161, S
23-Apr-2013
6
Instructions Instructions
Presenter: Michael Rosen
Producer: Perminder Khatkar
27:31, 25786, S
30-Apr-2013
7
Accents Will Happen
Presenter: Michael Rosen
Producer: Perminder Khatkar
27:32, 25802, S
07-May-2013
8
Names
Presenter: Michael Rosen
Producer: Melvin Rickarby
27:31, 25774, S
14-May-2013
9
English and German Michael Rosen
Chris Ledgard
27:52, 26104, S
16-Jul-2013
1
How do you talk to an alien?
Chris Ledgard 27:37, 25850, S
23-Jul-2013
2
Babel Chris Ledgard 27:27, 25689, S
30-Jul-2013
3
D is for Dictionary Chris Ledgard
Producer: Sarah Langan
27:49, 26030, S
06-Aug-2013
4
Misophonia, Mondegreens and Miscommunication
Chris Ledgard
Producer: Sarah Langan
27:43, 25948, S
13-Aug-2013
5
Fashion
Chris Ledgard
Producer: Sarah Langan
28:03, 26247, S
20-Aug-2013
6
Language Games
Chris Ledgard
Producer: Melvin Rickarby
27:51, 26068, S
27-Aug-2013
7
Language Laws
Chris Ledgard
Producer: Melvin Rickarby
27:55, 26120, S
03-Sep-2013
8
The Rise of the Political Soundbite
Chris Ledgard
Producer: James Cook
27:54, 26116, S
17-Dec-2013
1
Prime Suspects
Michael Rosen
Producer: Alasdair Cross
27:38, 25863, S
24-Dec-2013

no programme


30-Dec-2013
2
Kids TV
Michael Rosen
Producers: Milly Chowles and Sarah Langan
27:24, 25648, S
31-Dec-2013
3
Baby Talk
Michael Rosen
Sarah Langan
27:41, 25910, S

2014
Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
07-Jan-2014
4
Chimps and Language
Michael Rosen
Producer: Mark Smalley
27:39, 25877, S
14-Jan-2014
5
Office Jargon
Michael Rosen
Sarah Langan
27:59, 26190, S
21-Jan-2014
6
How accurate are scientific metaphors?
Michael Rosen
Producer: James Cook
28:00, 26198, S
28-Jan-2014
7
Talking Terrorism
Michael Rosen
Producer: Alasdair Cross
27:36, 25828, S
01-Apr-2014
1
Creating Characters
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:44, 25953, S
08-Apr-2014
2
Journalese
Michael Rosen
Producer: Maggie Ayre
27:36, 25837, S
15-Apr-2014
3
Social Register
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:57, 26163, S
22-Apr-2014
4
Scots
Michael Rosen
Producer: Maggie Ayre
27:47, 26000, S
29-Apr-2014
5
Time
Michael Rosen
Producer: Perminder Khatkar
27:35, 25812, S
06-May-2014
6
podcast
Words That Wound
Michael Rosen
Producer: Perminder Khatkar
27:09, 25472, S
13-May-2014
7
podcast
Reader, I Marinated Him - the language of food
Michael Rosen
Producer: Tim Dee
27:39, 25936, S
15-Jul-2014
1
podcast
Weighing Your Words
Chris Ledgard 27:14, 25539, S
22-Jul-2014
2
podcast
Message in a Bottle
Chris Ledgard
Produced by Stephen Garner
27:41, 25915, S
29-Jul-2014
3
podcast
Newspeak
Chris Ledgard
produced by Isobel Eaton
27:54, 26107, S
05-Aug-2014
4
How the Telephone Rewired Us
Chris Ledgard
Produced by Stephen Garner
27:28, 25706, S
12-Aug-2014
5
The Online Me
Gemma Cairney
Producer Milly Chowles
27:21, 25600, S
19-Aug-2014
6
Talking About Cancer
Graham Joyce
Producer Beth O'Dea
27:29, 25724, S
26-Aug-2014
7
Is the Double Entendre in Rude Health?
Arthur Bostrom
Produced by Stephen Garner
27:42, 25922, S
02-Sep-2014
8
Speaking, Listening and the English GCSE
Chris Ledgard
Producer Beth O'Dea
27:48, 26080, S
16-Dec-2014
1
podcast
First Words: How do children develop language?
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:18, 25606, S
23-Dec-2014
2
podcast
Ebola: How should we talk about it?
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:11, 25492, S
30-Dec-2014
3
podcast
Why do we laugh?
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:42, 25977, S

2015
Date
Episode
Title
Cast
Parameters
06-Jan-2015
4
podcast
How Is English Going to Change in the future?
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:26, 25723, S
13-Jan-2015
5
podcast
Philip Pullman and Michael Rosen talk about language
and writing
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:51, 26127, S
20-Jan-2015
6
podcast
Are you really Somali? Using language to determine
country of origin
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:21, 25655, S
27-Jan-2015
7
podcast
Prof Tanya Byron on the language parents use to talk
to their children
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:38, 25917, S
07-Apr-2015
1
podcast
Landscape Language
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:33, 25837, S
14-Apr-2015
2
podcast
The Pedant
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:42, 25976, S
21-Apr-2015
3
podcast
A Language Without Words
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:21, 25658, S
28-Apr-2015
4
podcast
Naming Family Relationships - Step, Half or 'Blended'?
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:50, 26105, S
05-May-2015
5
podcast
Colour Words
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:12, 25506, S
12-May-2015
6
podcastt
Young Women as Linguistic Innovators
Michael Rosen
Producer: Mary Ward-Lowery
27:12, 25515, S
19-May-2015
7
podcast
Food Connections Festival
Michael Rosen
Producer: Mary Ward-Lowery
27:18, 26141, S
26-May-2015
8
podcast
Non-Verbal Communication
Michael Rosen
Producer: Mary Ward-Lowery
27:09, 26003, S
15-Sep-2015
1
podcast
Number Words
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:08, 25452, S
22-Sep-2015
2
podcast
Reading: Print v eBooks
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:51, 26108, S
29-Sep-2015
3
podcast
Romance and Romanticism
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:41, 25951, S
06-Oct-2015
4
podcast
Inventing Brand Names
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:50, 26091, S
13-Oct-2015
5
podcast
The Alphabet
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:37, 25891, S
20-Oct-2015
6
podcast
Gorilla gorilla gorilla: Latin names for animals and plants
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:45, 26008, S
27-Oct-2015
7
podcast
Language Evolution: A Gene for Language?
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Mary Ward-Lowery
27:44, 25998, S

2016
Date
Episode
Title
Cast
Parameters
19-Jan-2016
1
Slang
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:33, 25780, S
26-Jan-2016
2
How Shakespeare Spoke
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Mair Bosworth
27:50, 26036, S
02-Feb-2016
3
The Top 20 Words in English
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer:
27:35, 25809, S
09-Feb-2016
4
Taking Turns in Conversation
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:09, 25408, S
16-Feb-2016
5
Mouthpiece: Turning the Spoken Word into Songs
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:50, 26043, S
23-Feb-2016
6
Talking or texting?
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:33, 25775, S
01-Mar-2016
7
Tip of the Tongue
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Melvin Rickarby
27:34, 25792, S
05-Apr-2016
1
Steven Pinker on Language
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:48, 26019, S
12-Apr-2016
2
House Names
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:52, 26072, S
19-Apr-2016
3
Metaphors for the Past: From Dinosaurs to
Victorian Values
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:26, 25672, S
26-Apr-2016
4
PR - How Not To Do It
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:52, 26079, S
03-May-2016
5
Roald Dahl's Language
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:52, 26078, S
10-May-2016
6
Snuck and Sung: Irregular Verbs
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:43, 25935, S
17-May-2016
7
Andrew Graham-Dixon on the naming of art movements
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:27, 25681, S
24-May-2016
8
Punctuation
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:46, 25990, S
06-Sep-2016
1
Break Ups and Brexit
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Kirsty McQuire
27:43, 25942, S
13-Sep-2016
2
Lost Words and Secret Connections
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Kirsty McQuire
27:39, 25872, S
20-Sep-2016
3
Directions -- North South East and West
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
28:00, 26202, S
27-Sep-2016
4
Small Talk
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Mair Bosworth
27:35, 25810, S
04-Oct-2016
5
Snotrils and Jumpolines: Kids' Invented Words
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Mair Bosworth
27:46, 25987, S
11-Oct-2016
6
Reading: The Science and the Pleasure
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:32, 25772, S
18-Oct-2016
7
Susie Dent on Language
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:24, 25648, S

2017
Date Episode Title Cast Parameters
31-Jan-2017
1
Words Roadshow in Birmingham
Michael Rosen, Esther Asprey
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:27, 25680, S
07-Feb-2017
2
Pet or Pest? The revealing words we use about animals
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:37, 25838, S
14-Feb-2017
3
Intonation: The Music of Speaking
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:48, 26015, S
21-Feb-2017
4
Emoji: The Future of Language?
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Mair Bosworth
27:54, 26119, S
28-Feb-2017
5
Like, Totally Awesome: The Americanisation of English
Michael Rosen, Matthew Engel,
Lynne Murphy
Producer: Mair Bosworth
27:56, 26139, S
11-Apr-2017
1
Frenchified: The Influence of French on English
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
26:52, 25134, S
18-Apr-2017
2
How Countries Got Their Names
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:04, 25333, S
25-Apr-2017
3
Jacqueline Wilson talks to Michael Rosen about language
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:58, 26245, S
02-May-2017
4
Cucks, snowflakes and virtue signalling: the new US
political lexicon
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:20, 25586, S
09-May-2017
5
The Postbag Edition
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Sarah Addezio
27:34, 25870, S
16-May-2017
6
Game On: The Language of Video Games
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Sarah Addezio
27:41, 25904, S
23-May-2017
7
David Walliams Special
Michael Rosen, David Walliams
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:52, 26077, S
12-Sep-2017
1
Eat My Words: How to Describe Food Flavours
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:49, 26103, S
19-Sep-2017
2
Malorie Blackman on Language
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:49, 26090, S
26-Sep-2017
3
Are we all speaking football?
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Sally Heaven
27:37, 25845, S
03-Oct-2017
4
Autism and Communication
Michael Rosen
Producer: Sally Heaven
27:33, 25778, S
10-Oct-2017
5
Wild Words
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Mair Bosworth
27:25, 25653, S
17-Oct-2017
6
Language and Our Genes with Dr Steve Jones
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Sally Heaven
27:19, 25569, S
24-Oct-2017
7
Pub Names
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Mair Bosworth
27:29, 25714, S
16-Jan-2018
1
Hello! Is it me you're looking for? - The art of greetings
Michael Rosen, David Walliams
Producer: Beth O'Dea

27:54, 26179, S
23-Jan-2018
2
Michael Gets Voice Training
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea

27:48, 26075, S
30-Jan-2018
3
Best wishes, kind regards or none of the above?
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Sally Heaven

27:29, 25788, S
06-Feb-2018
4
Naming Diseases
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Sarah Addezio

27:34, 25860, S
13-Feb-2018
5
Language and Gender Identity
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Mair Bosworth

27:37, 25902, S
20-Feb-2018
6
Haggard Hawks
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Mair Bosworth

27:45, 26036, S
10-Apr-2018
1
Words Apart
Michael Rosen
Producer: James Cook and Beth O'Dea
27:33, 25843, S
17-Apr-2018
2
Not My Type
Michael Rosen
Producer: Rebecca Ripley
27:44, 26017, S
24-Apr-2018
3
Naming Emotions
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:46, 26045, S
01-May-2018
4
Me, Myself & AI
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Eliza Lomas & Sally Heaven
27:36, 25830, S
08-May-2018
5
The Words That Saved Me
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Sally Heaven
27:51, 26056, S
15-May-2018
6
How to talk like a Samaritan
Michael Rosen
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:44, 26016, S
22-May-2018 7
Shop Names
Michael Rosen, Laura Wright
Producer: Beth O'Dea
27:50, 26038, S