Language
The Pre-Panel with Nick Leggett and Catherine Robertson
Panellists Nick Leggett and Catherine Robertson tell us what they've been thinking. Audio
The Panel with Stephen Jacobi and Jo McCarroll (Part 1)
Panellists Stephen Jacobi and Jo McCarroll discuss the opening of Tranmission Gully, Louisa Wall's marriage equality legacy, and the boardroom jargon that drives us crazy. Audio
The Pre-Panel with Stephen Jacobi and Jo McCarroll
Panellists Stephen Jacobi and Jo McCarroll tell us what they've been thinking. Audio
Cultish: The linguistic tricks cults use
What really drives people towards cults is language, says linguist Amanda Montell. Her new book Cultish: the Language of Fanaticism explores the linguistic patterns that cults and cult-like brands… Audio
Ann Goldstein: bringing Elena Ferrante to the English-speaking world
Ann Goldstein has been translating the work of celebrated Italian author Elena Ferrante for close to two decades. However, Goldstein has never met or even spoken to the pseudonymous author, and is… Audio
What language skills do new entrants need?
Speech and Language Therapist Christian Wright talks with Lynn Freeman about the language skills new entrants need to have a successful start to school. Audio
Reformed characters: How China changed its characters
Book review Kingdom of Characters. Cultural historian Jing Tsu's tale of the evolution of the Chinese script is a surprisingly wild ride.
How globalisation is causing languages to die out
Language is considered humankind's greatest achievement. But all over the world many indigenous languages are racing towards extinction not because they are simply dying out, but because they are… Audio
Language and the Five Senses
Sociolinguist and Senior Lecturer at Massey University, Dr. Julia De Bres takes a look at sensory linguistics - exploring the connections between language and the five senses. Audio
The whakapapa of a story from imagination to understanding, laid out by Lyttelton poet Ben Brown
Ben Brown (Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Paoa) speaks about the power of imagination and its deep roots in te ao Māori at the 2021 WORD Christchurch Festival. Audio
The Pre-Panel with Heather Roy and Raf Manji
Panellists Heather Roy and Raf Manji share what they have been thinking. We talk to Wendy Shaw from the New Zealand Geographic Board about rules around apostrophes in place names. Audio
Researchers unearth hippo's communication secrets
Researchers have unearthed the secrets of how hippopotamuses communicate, and it can get pretty messy.
A team of European-based scientists discovered the hippos can recognise each others' voices.
… Audio
What works when tackling misinformation - report
Merriam-Webster's word of the year for 2021 was vaccine, but it could just as easily have been 'misinformation'. This nebulous thing has been front and centre since the dawn of the pandemic; most… Audio
Tom Pepinsky: what language do we think in?
Does the language we speak affect the way we think? The way we act, the way we behave? Can it explain variations in subsets of people? This might seem like an odd question, but it's one with… Audio
Multi-lingual school teacher learning his seventh language
Raised in a Maori speaking household in the Far North, Rewi Pene teaches at Te Wharekura o Arowhenua school in Invercargill, and is currently learning his seventh language. He joins Anna to chat about… Audio
Bosker! the peculiar story of New Zealand slang
What happened to all the jokers?, asks writer and columnist John Summers in North and South last year. And he has a point. When my dear-departed great-grandmother Georgie Morrissey was alive every man… Audio
Parenting gender-diverse kids
Socio-linguist, Julia de Bres joins us once again she's interested in how language is used to challenge or reproduce social inequalities and is currently doing a research project with parents of… Audio
Quote of the Year finalists released
The public can now vote for the best New Zealand quote of 2021.
Ten one liners have been finalised.
Competition organiser and Speech Writing specialist Heather Kavan from Massey University spoke to… Audio
Decline in NZ's Pacific speakers partly govt's fault - community leader
A Pacific community leader in New Zealand says the government must take some responsibility for the decline in the number of Pasifika language speakers across Aotearoa.
Mixed reactions to NZ's Pacific language survey
There are mixed reactions to New Zealand's plan to encourage more Pasifika to take part in its language survey launched this week across the country. Audio
