EPISODE · Jan 17, 2024 · 15 MIN
BONUS: Literally, the Grammar-Nerdiest Conversation You'll Ever Hear, with Dr. Valerie Fridland
from Lead Balloon - Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Communications Stories · host Dusty Weis
Sociolinguist Dr. Valerie Fridland says we need to relax about the changing nature of language. In her book, "Like, Literally Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English," she notes that language has always evolved. Every generation adds its own spin, and the English language is almost unrecognizable from what was spoken centuries ago. And for the most part, we agree. But Dusty thinks there's a *figurative* line in the sand that should never be crossed: the corruption of the word "literally" in modern English. We talked to Dr. Fridland for episode 43 of this podcast, where she gave us a brief history of how slang evolves, and why it’s a bad idea for brands to try and co-opt it. And she was so informative and wonderful and fun to talk to. But, in this clip that we didn’t have a place for in the episode, Dusty still had to press her about her stance on the word “literally.” Is Dusty just being a stick-in-the-mud? Or do we need to hold the line on "literally?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What this episode covers
Sociolinguist Dr. Valerie Fridland says we need to relax about the changing nature of language. In her book, "Like, Literally Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English," she notes that language has always evolved. Every generation adds its own spin, and the English language is almost unrecognizable from what was spoken centuries ago. And for the most part, we agree. But Dusty thinks there's a *figurative* line in the sand that should never be crossed: the corruption of the word "literally" in modern English. We talked to Dr. Fridland for episode 43 of this podcast, where she gave us a brief history of how slang evolves, and why it’s a bad idea for brands to try and co-opt it. And she was so informative and wonderful and fun to talk to. But, in this clip that we didn’t have a place for in the episode, Dusty still had to press her about her stance on the word “literally.” Is Dusty just being a stick-in-the-mud? Or do we need to hold the line on "literally?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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BONUS: Literally, the Grammar-Nerdiest Conversation You'll Ever Hear, with Dr. Valerie Fridland
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