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Linguistics HQ

Linguistics HQ

By: Dr Rebecca Mitchell
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Are you curious about how languages work? Have you ever wondered, for example, why humans speak and animals don’t, or why there are so many different languages? Maybe at some point you’ve asked yourself why some people start a sentence in one language and finish it in another, or whether women really do talk more than men, or who invented the alphabet, or where we get new words from. Perhaps you want to know why the language you’re learning has masculine and feminine words, or you’ve heard rumours of languages that consist entirely of whistling! And where do designer dogs fit into all this?!

Well, you’ve come to the right place, because the Linguistics HQ podcast will answer all of these questions and many more! We’ll explore every aspect of the science of language, starting with the basics, from how languages are structured to how we can use our knowledge of linguistics to discover exciting things and even make our world a better place. Whatever sort of language enthusiast you are, Linguistics HQ has got something for you. I’m Dr Rebecca Mitchell and I’m a lecturer, teacher and public speaker, and I’m on a mission to make the science of language everyone’s business. So hit subscribe and let’s get thinking, talking and learning about linguistics!

www.linguisticshq.co.uk

Dr Rebecca Mitchell 2025
Education Language Learning
Episodes
  • When humans first had the last word: an introduction to the origins of language
    Nov 26 2025

    Have you ever wondered where language actually comes from? Why did humans develop language in a way that other species didn't? And are bow-wow, ding-dong and poo-poo bona fide academic theories? Season 1 will go out with a bang as this episode attempts to answer one of the biggest questions in linguistics! Linguistics HQ will then go into a brief period of hibernation, but it will be back on Wednesday 6th January with a new season all about sociolinguistics, so see you then!

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    28 mins
  • Between the lines: an introduction to pragmatics
    Nov 12 2025

    Why do we say 'I’ll think about it' when we’ve already decided? What's the difference between 'thanks' and 'thanks'? Could a misplaced emoji start a war? And are you stuck for ways to celebrate National Linguistics Day? In this episode, we unwrap the hidden messages in everyday talk — where words are just the beginning and context is everything. Tune in to learn about pragmatics and ways to get #NationalLinguisticsDay trending!

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    18 mins
  • Meaning business: an introduction to semantics
    Oct 29 2025

    Have you been mixing your metaphors recently? Are you reticent or reluctant? How can you reanalyse a crayfish? And which deadly device is lurking in your office? This episode looks at semantics, including what makes up meaning, how meaning changes over time, and how AI handles it (obviously not as well as we do!).

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    17 mins
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