The Owlish Folk

In this short owl pellet, Dave digs into the origin of the word 'like', its various uses, and whether the way that (often) young speakers use 'like' is really inappropriate or even particularly modern. Dave mentions two films during the episode: Free Solo (2018) Easy Rider (1969) You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Podcoin, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on...

In this episode, Amanda and Dave celebrate Bloomsday, a day dedicated to James Joyce and one of his most famous books, Ulysses. You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Podcoin, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on iTunes! Check out our website.

Hoot hoot! It's The Owlish Folk's one year podcasting anniversary! In this episode, Amanda and Dave reminisce about the past year, discuss why they started the podcast, and share favourite opening words and episodes. Also, they are outrageously thankful to the listeners! You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Podcoin, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram,...

In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss which is correct: football or soccer. If you are American, you'll say "soccer." If you are from most places in the world, it's "football." If you listen to this episode, you may be surprised by the answer! You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Podcoin, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk....

In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss why English-speakers use "good, better, best" and not "good, gooder, goodest." They also talk about "bad, worse, worst" and the linguistic concept of suppletion. You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Podcoin, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a...

In this episode, Amanda and Dave talk about the tricky sentences called "Garden Path Sentences." These sentences are grammatically correct, but seem not to be at first. Some examples talked about in the episode are: 1. The old man the boat. 2. The horse raced past the barn fell. 3. The complex houses married and single soldiers and their families. 4. The prime number few. 5. The man who hunts ducks out on weekends. 6. Until the police arrest the drug dealers control the street. 7. Fat...

In this episode, Amanda and Dave talk about sentences that are often made up of one, or a few, repeating words. Ridiculous as they are hilarious, they are actually grammatically correct! Some examples talked about in the episode are: 1. Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. 2. James, while John had had "had", had had "had had"; "had had" had had a better effect on the teacher. 3. A ship-shipping ship ships shipping-ships. 4. Police police Police police police...

In this owlet episode, Amanda and Dave talk about the interesting concept of Escher sentences, also known as "comparative illusions." Some examples talked about in the episode are: 1. "More people have been to Russia than I have." 2. "More people have been to Berlin than I have." 3. "..More people have analyzed it than I have..." 4. "More phones have games on them than this one." 5. "In Michigan and Minnesota, more people found Mr Bush's ads negative than they did Mr Kerry's." You...

In this episode, Amanda and Dave determine if there is a relationship between musical keys and door keys. Other musical words are discussed, and Amanda tries to stump Dave during a quiz! You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Podcoin, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on...

In this episode, Amanda and Dave talk about words related to body parts or organs. Unique words for common body parts and/or organs are discussed. There's also a pop quiz at the end! You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Podcoin, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on...

In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss the question of how to pluralize "computer mouse": is it mice or is it mouses? They also discuss the sometimes unexpected origins of other words related to modern technology, including software, blog, code, Bluetooth, computer, and file. You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, Podcoin, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook,...

In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss the difference between promises and resolutions. They also discuss the origin and meaning of the song "Auld Lang Syne" and of the Swedish concept of the "year walk" called "Årsgång ." As stated in the episode, here are the lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne": Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne. CHORUS For auld lang syne, my jo, For auld lang syne. We'll tak a cup o' kindness...

In this episode, Amanda and Dave have the first of many discussions entitled the "Interview Series" wherein a guest comes to The Owlish Folk! For this episode, they have a guest discuss the negative and positive traditions of Christmas, as well as the significance of the liturgical calendar, Pagan origins, the Medieval and Victorian atmospheres during Christmas, and modern interpretations and symbolism. You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please...

In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss some interesting words related to Christmas. You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on iTunes!

In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss the many different kinds of contronyms: words which have two opposite meanings. They discuss the three kinds of contronyms and give many examples. You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on iTunes!

In this episode, Amanda and Dave have a dialogue about the controversy of splitting infinitives; is it acceptable, or is it a crime? Other grammar myths and common misused words and phrases are discussed. You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous...

In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss the history of the letter "Q." They also discuss why "Q" and "U" do, and do not, go together. As mentioned in the episode, here is the Greek letter koppa: Ϙ. More information about the Greek adoption of the Phoenecian alphabet can be found here: https://archive.is/20120628161421/http://www.tlg.uci.edu/~opoudjis/unicode/nonattic.html#selection-237.0-237.23 You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe...

In this owlet, Amanda and Dave discuss words or terms coined by Shakespeare, Tolkien, Dawkins, Carroll, and others. Some words discussed are: attercop, tween, robot, chortle, yahoo, google, meme, and alligator. You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a...

Happy Halloween! In this holiday episode, Amanda and Dave discuss Halloween movies and holiday-themed words that are associated with the titles. They also share their favorite Halloween movies! You can contact the show with questions or comments at theowlishfolk@gmail.com. Please subscribe to the show via iTunes, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @theowlishfolk. If you enjoy the show, please give us a generous review on...

In this episode, Amanda and Dave discuss where new words come from. They also discuss James Joyce and the words he created, as well as literary devices he utilized to create new words. As mentioned in the episode, here are where the portmanteau words appear in Joyce's Finnegans Wake: -unhappitents (FW 258.22) n. Sad or unhappy dwellers or inhabitants. -selfthought (FW 147.9) n. Instructed by one’s self or self-taught through one’s own study, thinking, or thought. -Absintheminded (FW 464.17)...