Donate

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

Connections

Connections: Understanding how language evolves

WXXI News | By Evan Dawson,

Megan Mack

Published February 21, 2019 at 3:08 PM EST

We discuss how language evolves, and how seemingly innocuous words or phrases can take on entirely new meanings. We also discuss how to recognize words or language that used to mean one thing, but now mean another.

Our guests:

Maya Abtahian, assistant professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Rochester
Jeff Spevak, writer, and arts and culture contributor for WXXI News

Tags

Connections language

Evan Dawson

Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.

See stories by Evan Dawson

Megan Mack

Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.

See stories by Megan Mack

Connections with Evan Dawson

Connections is our daily, live talk show. It airs live weekdays, noon-2 p.m., and re-airs at 9 and 10 p.m. You can also find us wherever you find your podcasts.

Join us with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255), email, Facebook or Twitter.

Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

For transcripts, please email our Move to Include team with the day, subject, and start time (noon or 1 pm) of the episode for a transcript.

Connections: Understanding how language evolves

Connections with Evan Dawson

Public media is possible thanks to your support