100 episodes

A Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) talking about the words in the English language that fascinate them most at the moment, looking at their histories and origins and trying to piece together just how they got to where they are today.

This is a podcast for anyone interested in etymology (the study of words and their origins/history). If you've ever found yourself happier after discovering some bizarre bit of trivia about a word that you hadn't even given a second thought to (such as how the word 'trivia' relates to its Latin components meaning "three roads"), this might just be the podcast for you.

Lexitecture Ryan Paulsen and Amy Hanlon

    • Education
    • 4.8 • 12 Ratings

A Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) talking about the words in the English language that fascinate them most at the moment, looking at their histories and origins and trying to piece together just how they got to where they are today.

This is a podcast for anyone interested in etymology (the study of words and their origins/history). If you've ever found yourself happier after discovering some bizarre bit of trivia about a word that you hadn't even given a second thought to (such as how the word 'trivia' relates to its Latin components meaning "three roads"), this might just be the podcast for you.

    Episode 130: Object Between

    Episode 130: Object Between

    In this episode, Amy explores the space "between", while Ryan is trying to figure out a connection between an "object" and the action itself.
    Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each normal, increasingly infrequent episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and talking about words, word origins, or just random bits of head-scratching language trivia, this may be the show for you!
    Please subscribe to us on Spotify, Google Play Music, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts!
     
    Find us on Facebook, or on Twitter, or on Reddit, or join our Word Nerd HQ Facebook group!
     
    Also, if you enjoy what we do, please give us a great rating wherever you can - it's a huge help in letting other people know we're worth listening to.
     
    Finally, to support the podcasting work we do, please consider becoming a Patreon sponsor at www.patreon.com/lexitecture
     
    Thanks!
     
    PS - a note from Ryan: apologies to our wonderful listeners this episode - I'd been battling a wicked cough and general illness for several weeks and was only just getting over it to the point where I could make it through an episode, but I was pretty much constantly struggling to tamp down coughing fits every few minutes, hence my quite short segment and also my probably very annoying-to-listen-to somewhat pause-ridden speech pattern. I'm getting better, though, so that's good!

    • 1 hr 1 min
    Fine Film

    Fine Film

    In this episode, Amy keeps a thin lid on things with "film", while Ryan is trying to figure out why there are so many different ways to be "fine".
    For the record, the book is Synonyms Discriminated and it's by the Rev. Charles John Smith. It was written, like many other books, in 1871.
    Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each normal, increasingly infrequent episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and talking about words, word origins, or just random bits of head-scratching language trivia, this may be the show for you!
    Please subscribe to us on Spotify, Google Play Music, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts!
     
    Find us on Facebook, or on Twitter, or on Reddit, or join our Word Nerd HQ Facebook group!
     
    Also, if you enjoy what we do, please give us a great rating wherever you can - it's a huge help in letting other people know we're worth listening to.
     
    Finally, to support the podcasting work we do, please consider becoming a Patreon sponsor at www.patreon.com/lexitecture
     
    Thanks!

    • 49 min
    Taskmaster Handicap

    Taskmaster Handicap

    In this episode, Amy keeps everything on track as the "taskmaster", while Ryan is trying to weigh how much cheese a duck costs with "handicap".
    For those interested (which should be literally 100% of the listening audience), here is Carrot In A Box.
    For those interested (which should be literally 100% of the listening audience), here is where you can find Taskmaster on YouTube.
    Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each normal, increasingly infrequent episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and talking about words, word origins, or just random bits of head-scratching language trivia, this may be the show for you!
    Please subscribe to us on Spotify, Google Play Music, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts!
     
    Find us on Facebook, or on Twitter, or on Reddit, or join our Word Nerd HQ Facebook group!
     
    Also, if you enjoy what we do, please give us a great rating wherever you can - it's a huge help in letting other people know we're worth listening to.
     
    Finally, to support the podcasting work we do, please consider becoming a Patreon sponsor at www.patreon.com/lexitecture
     
    Thanks!

    • 53 min
    Episode 127: Pitch Harmony

    Episode 127: Pitch Harmony

    In this episode, Amy keeps it all together with "harmony", while Ryan is considering sticky angles with "pitch", that he never knew in the first place.
    Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each normal, increasingly infrequent episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and talking about words, word origins, or just random bits of head-scratching language trivia, this may be the show for you!
    Please subscribe to us on Spotify, Google Play Music, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts!
     
    Find us on Facebook, or on Twitter, or on Reddit, or join our Word Nerd HQ Facebook group!
     
    Also, if you enjoy what we do, please give us a great rating wherever you can - it's a huge help in letting other people know we're worth listening to.
     
    Finally, to support the podcasting work we do, please consider becoming a Patreon sponsor at www.patreon.com/lexitecture
     
    Thanks!

    • 1 hr 7 min
    Episode 126: Not Long Ago, with Erin

    Episode 126: Not Long Ago, with Erin

    In this episode, Amy is joined by a very special guest for a live, in-person and totally Canadian-less episode, featuring long-time listener and avid academic Word Nerd, Erin Bell!
    Erin is currently pursuing a Masters degree in linguistics at Trinity College, Dublin, and just happened to be in bonnie Scotland, where schedules and stars aligned to have her and Amy meet up to record an episode where they got to talk about Erin's studies, focused on American English idioms, and in particular, the fantastical four opening words: Once Upon A Time!
    Huge thanks to Erin, not only for taking time out of her studies and schedule to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with our show, but also for her years of listening, Patreon patronage, and general showboostery!
    Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each normal, increasingly infrequent episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and talking about words, word origins, or just random bits of head-scratching language trivia, this may be the show for you!
    Please subscribe to us on Spotify, Google Play Music, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts!
     
    Find us on Facebook, or on Twitter, or on Reddit, or join our Word Nerd HQ Facebook group!
     
    Also, if you enjoy what we do, please give us a great rating wherever you can - it's a huge help in letting other people know we're worth listening to.
     
    Finally, to support the podcasting work we do, please consider becoming a Patreon sponsor at www.patreon.com/lexitecture
     
    Thanks!

    • 1 hr
    Episode 125: Forget Flag

    Episode 125: Forget Flag

    In this episode, Amy rails against a Glastonbury tradition with "flag", while Ryan is remembering all kinds of things about "forget", that he never knew in the first place.
    Lexitecture is a podcast about etymology (the linguistics study of the origin and history of words). In each normal, increasingly infrequent episode, a Canadian (Ryan) and a Scot (Amy) each present their current favourite word and talk about its origins, current use, and try to puzzle out how it may have gone from A to B. If you love thinking and talking about words, word origins, or just random bits of head-scratching language trivia, this may be the show for you!
    Please subscribe to us on Spotify, Google Play Music, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts or wherever you get your podcasts!
     
    Find us on Facebook, or on Twitter, or on Reddit, or join our Word Nerd HQ Facebook group!
     
    Also, if you enjoy what we do, please give us a great rating wherever you can - it's a huge help in letting other people know we're worth listening to.
     
    Finally, to support the podcasting work we do, please consider becoming a Patreon sponsor at www.patreon.com/lexitecture
     
    Thanks!

    • 52 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
12 Ratings

12 Ratings

juslowe ,

Simple. Educational. Deep-rooted.

I’ve just started getting into etymology and this podcasts is really interesting and enjoyable. Simple to understand, and very well explained when I don’t understand.

AvenSarah ,

Charming and informative

Lovely conversational but focussed meanderings through two often surprisingly interesting etymologies every episode. Well-researched but not over-produced.

GinaJohnson ,

In-depth History Great Value

Sharing real life stories that tie into a thorough history of words. The hosts work beautifully together and deliver huge value in educating you on not only the meaning, also the use of words.

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