English Language

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg comments on how the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal has reminded us over the age-old debate over semantics. What is an inappropriate relationship? Can you have sex and still technically be a virgin?

Linguist Geoff Nunberg talks about the new knowledge fad. He says terms that include the word knowledge, like "knowledge workers" and "knowledge assets" are sweeping corporate and academic America.

Language critic Geoffrey Nunberg talks about the accuracy of automatic grammar checkers included with computer word processing programs like Microsoft Word.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg comments on a California ballot initiative that would create "English-only" classrooms.

Linguist Geoff Nunberf adds his thoughts about the linguistic legacy left by popular TV sitcoms.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg comments on the recent new interpretations the words "heritage" and "tradition."

Linguist Geoff Nunberg comments on the how dictionaries have chosen to define words considered to be offensive or derogatory to groups of people.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg comments on the popularity of e-mail. Noting that in this "age of banter" e-mail suits us well.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg considers how Yiddish words have entered the everyday speech of even non-Jews.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on the uses of suffixes to create new words.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg considers the words we use to describe "unsanctioned amorous relations" and the difficulty of using more straight forward language.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on the controversies of the 1950s over the grammar of commercials.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on the word "cult."

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg comments on efforts to preserve the French Language.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on nouns to verbs.

Language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg comments on interjections in modern slang.
Description (Program)

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg comments on the word millennium. He worries that during the next century, will anyone be able to spell it right. A look on the web showed the word misspelled 30-percent of the time. Nunberg offers his solution to the coming orthographic crisis.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on the origins of the word "paparazzo."

Chess master Garry Kasparov may have lost to Deep Blue, but linguist Geoff Nunberg says there are some areas where humans will beat computers -- at least for now.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg wonders if present day warning signs will be comprehensible to future generations.