Language

Enter Linguist Geoff Nunberg on the epic Anglo-Saxon poem "Beowulf" -- which is considered to be the origin of English literature and which has been newly translated by poet Seamus Heaney.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg reflects on the decade of the suffix "thon" as in walkathon, bowlathon. . .etc.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on the dot com craze started by the Internet.

The Kansas board of Education decided recently to leave evolution out if its required curriculum. Linguist Geoff Nunberg examines how the language of the controversy has changed over the century.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg considers the puns in country music.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on slang.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg reviews the new edition of the venerable grammer book "The Elements of Style."

Linguist Geoff Nunberg considers the staying power of new words that enter the lexicon.

Film translator Henri Behar is one of the most sought-after subtitlers in the business. He's subtitled over 100 films, mostly from English to French, but also from French to English. He's subtitled films by Woody Allen, David Mamet, and Spike Lee. Recently he subtitled "Shakespeare in Love," and "Halloween 2." For over 10 years he's also served as moderator at the Cannes Festival press conferences. And he co-wrote the book "Hollywood on the Riviera: The Inside Story of the Cannes Film Festival." (William Morrow, 1992).

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg comments on the history of combing two words to create a new one. i.e. Swirl and Twist = Twirl.This is called a portmanteau. Today, they are common place, such infotainment, Reganomics, and Medicare.