Other cultures name themselves differently.
Our names aren't normal. The structure of + + is not how much of the world does it. Other cultures squeeze in extra information such as tribal names, ancestral villages,…
Where did your surname come from?
Our last names reveal the lives of our ancestors. Though it's not always obvious, they can tell us where they lived, what they did, what others thought of them, and…
Why a Language Map of the World is Impossible
Map Men attempt to use basic graphic software to chart global linguistics. They explore how national borders, colonialism, and political identity complicate the classification of languages, dialects, and official status.…
The People’s Recorder Podcast: Revitalizing the Oneida Language and Preserving Their History Native: Historians Do Stand-Up
In 1977, Charlie Hill became the first Native comedian to perform on a national TV broadcast – a groundbreaking performance in television and cultural history. “It was a huge…
Rob Words: Before the Roman alphabet, English was written out using runes
Rob explores how runes were used in the distant past, how they've been abused by groups like the Nazis, and how they could be used in the future.
Rob Words: The hidden logic behind keyboard symbols
Did you know #, &, @, § and ¶ are all made up of letters? In fact, they each represent specific words. In this video, I'll explain where these little…
Your body parts have mad literal meanings.
In this video, we take a tour of the body and discover the surprising true meanings of our names for body parts. Find out why some words are ancient, some…
COLOUR WORDS: The astounding origins of “blue”, “black”, “orange”, “red” & other colors
Prepare to be amazed by the surprising origins of the English words for colours (or colors for our American friends).
Where the $ symbol actually comes from
Why is the $ sign an S? What does 'dollar' even mean? In this video, I answer both of those questions, while also explaining what the British pound is a…
Why French sounds so unlike other Romance languages
Sound changes left French unlike Latin, Italian, Spanish or Romanian.