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How a Language Debate Could Land You in Jail

Season 6 Episode 5 | 10m 43s

In a court of law, your fate can be determined by how a judge interprets a word or sentence... but should judges be acting as armchair linguists?

Aired: 05/25/26
Extras
Watch • 8:16
Otherwords
This Speech Quirk Is Nearly Universal
Baby talk, once criticized, may help babies learn language, recent studies suggest.
Episode: S6 E8 | 8:16
Watch • 7:15
Otherwords
Can the Government Control How We Speak?
These organizations are trying to control how language is used.
Episode: S6 E7 | 7:15
Watch • 10:02
Otherwords
The English Language Has a Smelly Problem
Why do we have fewest number of words for SMELLS?
Episode: S6 E6 | 10:02
Watch • 8:56
Otherwords
Why Every Generation Uses This One Slang Word
One slang word remains the undisputed king for over 100 years.
Episode: S6 E4 | 8:56
Watch • 9:49
Otherwords
The Linguistics of Time Are Totally Mind Bending
The way your language describes time might actually change how you experience it.
Episode: S6 E3 | 9:49
Watch • 10:11
Otherwords
Why "a Lie" is Hard to Define
Figuring out what exactly counts as a lie is not as easy as it seems...
Episode: S6 E2 | 10:11
Watch • 7:58
Otherwords
Why Linguists Love What's Happening with K-Pop
Linguists are tracking how K-Pop is shaping language around the world.
Episode: S6 E1 | 7:58
Watch • 9:13
Otherwords
The Hidden Linguistic Messages in Brand Names
There are a lot of hidden & surprising messages behind brand names.
Episode: S5 E10 | 9:13
Watch • 9:19
Otherwords
Punctuation's Weird Backstory
How did we get from written words scrunched together without any spaces or symbols to punctuation?
Episode: S5 E9 | 9:19
Watch • 7:03
Otherwords
Popular Word Origins That Are Totally Wrong
What are folk etymologies?
Episode: S5 E8 | 7:03
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Watch • 8:16
Otherwords
This Speech Quirk Is Nearly Universal
Baby talk, once criticized, may help babies learn language, recent studies suggest.
Episode: S6 E8 | 8:16
Watch • 7:15
Otherwords
Can the Government Control How We Speak?
These organizations are trying to control how language is used.
Episode: S6 E7 | 7:15
Watch • 10:02
Otherwords
The English Language Has a Smelly Problem
Why do we have fewest number of words for SMELLS?
Episode: S6 E6 | 10:02
Watch • 8:56
Otherwords
Why Every Generation Uses This One Slang Word
One slang word remains the undisputed king for over 100 years.
Episode: S6 E4 | 8:56
Watch • 9:49
Otherwords
The Linguistics of Time Are Totally Mind Bending
The way your language describes time might actually change how you experience it.
Episode: S6 E3 | 9:49
Watch • 10:11
Otherwords
Why "a Lie" is Hard to Define
Figuring out what exactly counts as a lie is not as easy as it seems...
Episode: S6 E2 | 10:11
Watch • 7:58
Otherwords
Why Linguists Love What's Happening with K-Pop
Linguists are tracking how K-Pop is shaping language around the world.
Episode: S6 E1 | 7:58
Watch • 9:13
Otherwords
The Hidden Linguistic Messages in Brand Names
There are a lot of hidden & surprising messages behind brand names.
Episode: S5 E10 | 9:13
Watch • 9:19
Otherwords
Punctuation's Weird Backstory
How did we get from written words scrunched together without any spaces or symbols to punctuation?
Episode: S5 E9 | 9:19
Watch • 7:03
Otherwords
Popular Word Origins That Are Totally Wrong
What are folk etymologies?
Episode: S5 E8 | 7:03