Word Wise

One of the first instances of the term "monster" is an association with Grendel in the epic Beowolf. Dr. Jim Kenrick, assistant professor of film, explains.

We don't have a lot of words from the Hebrew language because it reads from right to left. But there's one word that prevailed through time- hallelujah! Dr. Bill Bellinger, professor of Religion, explains.

Dr. Clay Butler, a senior lecturer in the English department, talks about metathesis, a process by which two sounds in a word are reveresed. In this episode, we take a look at "ask" and its earlier form "acs."

Talk about drama! Dr. John Thorburn, professor of Classics, takes us back to the roots of comedy and tragedy.

There have always been good intentions behind this phrase. Dr. Stan Denman, professor of Theatre, talks about how although the phrase has several stories of origin, they all meant good wishes for the actor.

One definition for violence comes from the Motion Picture Association of America. For their ratings, they once chose to define violence as it related to criminality. Dr. Jim Kendrick, assistant professor of Film and Digital Media, explains.

In Aristotle's Poetics, he establishes a structure in storytelling that applies to character and the plot. This still has applications today as Prof. Chris Hansen, associate professor of Film and Digital Media explains.

Muckraker was first used in a speech by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906. The term was popularized in the 1906 book The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. Kevin Tankersley, Journalism lecturer, shares more of the story.

This episode is devoted to the syntax of how we ask questions. Dr. Lydia Grebenyova, assistant professor of Linguistics, shows us the structure of an interrogative clause across many languages.

It was never meant to be an art term but it fits well. In the mid-1900s, avant-garde was used to describe those artists on the front line, the cutting edge work of the art world, and those who were ahead of the curve.

Few people realize that many of the foods we eat originated with the native civilizations of North and South America. For example, Europeans originally acquired tomatoes and chili peppers from the Aztecs.

Plagiarism originates from Greek and references copying someone else's work. Oddly, it was the Greeks and Romans themselves that seldom cited sources, and often borrowed freely from their predecessors. Their form of imitation was not only flattering, but also was not necessarily unethical. Dr. John Thorburn, associate Professor of Classics offers more.

Sometimes, specific situations call for specific words- like when you sneeze! Dr. Ann McGlashan, professor of German, is here to visit with us about the word gesundheit.

The word ecology comes from the Greek "oikos" for "household." Throughout the Old Testament, oikos began to mean a broader environment, often referencing the house of Israel or the house of God. Dr. Susan Bratton, professor of Environmental Science explains.

In the field of journalism and public relations, the role of the gatekeeper has changed a lot. Kevin Tankersley, lecturer in Journalism talks about gatekeepers and new media.

We know a playwright writes plays, but what exactly does a screenwriter do? Dr. Chris Hansen, assistant professor of Film and Digital Media offers some insight.

The word robot didn't come from the lab but from the stage! Dr. Adrienne Harris, assistant professor of Russian explains.

"Oscillate" can be an important word on hot summer days when everyone wants their fair share of the fan. Dr. John Thorburn, professor of Classics, tells the story.

You've probably seen this technique before without knowing it. Dr. Katie Edwards, assistant professor of Art History describes "trompe l'oeil."

Sometimes "sci fi" actually has a lot more "sci" than we think. Dr. Gerald Cleaver, associate professor of Physics, takes on "multiverse," a word used in astronomy, cosmology and philosophy.

You may have already seen "universal design" on HGTV. Michelle Brown, a senior lecturer in Interior Design, shows us how this design concept goes beyond mere accessibility.

Here is one word that encompasses thousands of words- narrative. Dr. Heidi Bostic, professor of French, explains the story.

Still remember those New Year's resolutions? An understanding of what a resolution really is can help you keep on track. Dr. Michael Frisch, professor of Psychology explains.

Who had the "face that launched a thousand ships?" You'll meet her in this episode with Dr. Brent Froberg, senior lecturer in Classics.

Our language abounds with environmental terms these days. Dr. Susan Bratton, professor of Environmental Science, gives us a history of 'stewardship' before it went green.

Basically, we're, like, whatever, if you know what I mean. Dr. Cassy Burleson, senior lecturer in journalism, shares research on words most Americans find overused or just plain annoying.

Before Hershey produced chocolate in Pennsylvania, the Aztec and the Mayan were making it in Central America. Dr. Andrew Scherer, assistant professor of Anthropology, gives some history behind the word chocolate and its original recipe.

You can have a second kolache just by asking for one! In this episode, Dr. Adrienne Harris, assistant professor of Russian, gives some background on kolaches, the popular Czech breakfast food.

Whether its broccoli or brownies, we?re always counting calories for one reason or another. But exactly what is it we?re counting? Dr. Luann Soliah, professor of Nutrition, explains what a calorie is as well as how a calorie may actually be much larger than you think.

Work on a movie continues long after the actors have gone home. Dr. Chris Hansen, assistant professor of Film and Digital Media, elaborates on the post production phase of filmmaking.

An old musical describes friendship as "a perfect blend-ship," and the popular TV show "Friends" also showed us some good examples. Dr. Michael Frisch, professor of Psychology, explains what friendship really entails.

"Beyond the pale" is an old expression used to describe behavior. Dr. Tom Offit, assistant professor of Socio-cultural Anthropology, tells the story of the origins of this phrase.

What's in? What's out? Who is deciding what's in fashion? Dr. Lorynn Divita explains the five stages of fashion cycle.

The addage used to be "man bites dog- that's news!" Prof. Bob Darden helps us understand more about what news is as well as what it isn't.

If you break this kind of law, it really isn't a law anymore! Physics professor Dr. Jeffrey Olafson explains.

Two definitions of evangelical are commonly used today. Dr. Bill Bellinger, professor of Religion, traces the path of the word from its root meaning, good news.

Aesthetics is based on a Greek word relating to sensory perception, but Dr. Lorynn Divita, associate professor of Fashion Merchandising, shows how aesthetics says not only what we like but also what we are like.

What do the movies Jaws, Cat-Women of the Moon, Dial M for Murder and The Polar Express all have in common? They were all produced for stereoscopic vision, which is a million dollar term for ?3-D.? Dr. Corey Carbonara, a professor of telecommunications, is here to tell us a little more that technique.

Dr. Frank Mathis, Professor of Mathematics takes us back to ancient Egypt and Greece to get to the origins of "rational" number.

Know anyone who has ever "run amuck?" Dr. Tom Offit, professor of Anthropology, tells the history of the phrase.

Dr. Jeff Olafson explains how "absolute zero" isn't merely a degree but is actually the coldest anything can be.

Caesar: man, salad, and hairstyle? Dr. Thorburn from the classics department explains.

Is fat really bad or are we just excessively scared of it? Dr. Suzy Weems, professor of nutrion and chair of Family and Consumer Sciences, clears the air on why this word has gotten such a bad rap lately.

Is church a place, an institution, or a group of people? Dr. Weaver from the religion department talks about what a church really is.

How actors can memorize long speeches is an amazing feat, but whether the speech is a monologue or a soliloquy depends on who is around. Dr. Stan Denman, Associate Professor of Theatre, offers some direction on the topic.

Where did you get that information? Does anyone know the identity of an anonymous source? Prof. Robert Darden explains how anonymous sources contribute to fair and unbiased reporting.

Even Shakespeare knew what this meant. The spelling may have changed, but the meaning of this word has had little variation explains Dr. James Kendrick, Assistant Professor of Film and Digital Media.

The popular song ?Don?t Worry, Be Happy? may have oversimplified this mental state, but happiness in life isn?t beyond our reach, as a psychologist explains. Dr. Michael Frisch, Professor of Psychology explains.

The creative process may involve great freedom and experimentation, but many terms from creative professions or activities have a technical definition. Dr. Lorynn Divita, assistant professor of Fashion Merchandising shares more on the term.

"High definition" has been used to describe a television picture for marketing purposes, but the term now has a very technical definition. Color fidelity is 10 times greater, horizontal dimension of the screen is one-third larger, and HDTV features six-channel sound. Visiting with us is Dr. Corey Carbonara, Professor of Film and Digital Media.