Nicknames: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd call each other by names other than their given names as they discuss nicknames.

Listener feedback (2:22)

Eke-names, mascots, and a shout-out to a former student (5:18)

Music bumper from “Grapes” by Evan Stone. (17:34)

Monikers–deliberately chosen or applied names (18:23)

Song: “Familar Names, Familiar Games” by Doug McLeod (22:50)

Rude word of the week: your worst nickname (27:05)

Music bumper from “Melancolica” by Mauricio Cuburu. (30:12)

Nicknames–conferred on us often without our consent, and frequently expressive of relationships (30:59)

Music courtesy of The Podsafe Music Network

Theme music by Kick the Cat

time: 40:10

size: 36.8 Mb

rating: PG (The president of the United States called his former chief of staff a rude nickname–and we cite it!)

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“Inside” Language: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd speak as clearly and openly as they can about “insider” language–normal words that outsiders cannot understand.

Our show is introduced this week by the man called Anne from Israel, known to Word Nerds Forum members as RabiAkiva. (0:01)

We encourage you once again to check out Charles Hodgson’s book Carnal Knowledge, a wonderful dictionary containing words and expressions for parts of the human body. (2:46)

A MyChingo message from Jason in West Australia (4:51)

Howard and Dave use their interest in road cycling to talk about jargon, lingo, and other forms of insider language. (6:35)

A greeting from the Reduced Shakespeare Company podcast (18:37)

Acronyms, abbreviations, and other forms of “inside-the-beltway” jargon (19:15)

Song: “Inside Joke” by Little Thom (25:41)

Rude word of the week: “wheelsucker” (30:13)

Music bumper from “The Corner of Sacco and Vanzetti” by Shibboleth. (33:33)

The inside jargon of the world of con-men, circus workers, and magicians: ballyhoo, patter, and cant (34:30)

Music courtesy of The Podsafe Music Network

Theme music by Kick the Cat

time: 40:38

size: 37.3 Mb

rating: PG-13 (Our song has some hilarious references to procreation and uses a couple of naughty words.)

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Synonyms: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd discuss, chat, and talk about a plethora, a bundle, a whole bunch of ideas about synonyms.

Austin Tichenor of the Reduced Shakespeare Company left us an audio comment via our MyChingo button. (1:55)

It was Dave’s turn to travel to German-speaking Europe this past month. (3:04)

The inspiration for this show was our recent experience trying to express fine differences in meaning in a second language. Synonyms yield these subtle distinctions. (4:42)

Music bumper from “Just Looking” by The Jerrys (13:29)

Regional variations in sets of synonyms, and their applications (14:14)

Song: “The Same One” by Little Mack Simmons (19:18)

Rude word of the week: “dullard” (23:54)

Music bumper from “Necessary Rain” by Emile Westergaard. (26:58)

Age and experience and the ability to make subtler distinctions (27:30)

Music courtesy of The Podsafe Music Network and IODA Promonet

Theme music by Kick the Cat

time: 34:02

size: 31.2 Mb

rating: PG (Only a tiny, mild bit of borderline rudeness in our audio feedback.)

Download “The Same One” (mp3)
from “The PM+Simmons Collection 1971-1982″
by Little Mack Simmons
Electro-Fi Records

• Buy at iTunes Music Store
• Buy at Rhapsody
• Buy at Napster

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Abridgment: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd leave out all the unimportant parts as they talk about abridgment. We feature the masters of abridgment, the Reduced Shakespeare Company.

We’ve been away. While we were gone, the Nerd Number died. But now you can leave an audio message with our MyChingo button. (1:52)

Definitions of “abridge,” plus some related words (4:16)

Music bumper from “Trifle 3″ by Fuzzy Logic (10:16)

In April, Dave interviewed the RSC (that’s the Reduced Shakespeare Company, not that “Royal” bunch). (10:58)

Song: “Left Out” by A Void (19:28)

Rude word of the week: “half-assed” (22:53)

Music bumper from “Make Me Understand” by Matt Thorpe. (25:21)

Intentions and functions of abridgment (26:13)

Music courtesy of The Podsafe Music Network

Theme music by Kick the Cat

time: 32:54

size: 30.2 Mb

rating: PG (Our Rude Word is about as rude as we get this week.)

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Expletives, both rude and non-rude: Howard Shepherd and Dave Shepherd have a rollicking good time, filling out the time of the show by talking about expletives. (NOTE: This show contains some of the rudest language we have every explicated on The Word Nerds. Not work-, school-, or family-safe!)

This week’s show will have a forum thread in the Rude Words category, since it deals with really rude language. Please bring us your favorite expletives (both rude and non-rude). (3:02)

This show was inspired by an email suggestion from a listener. Thanks to Katherine Pennavaria. (3:40)

Defining “expletive”; grammatical categories of expletives (4:45)

Music bumper from “Baja Taxi” by Brain Buckit (12:20)

Attributive expletives and infixes: filling out words and sentences with rude words, both for rhythmic effect and for shock value (13:06)

Song: “C’est la F**king Vie” by Ginny Clee (24:10)

Rude word of the week: “f**king” (as an attributive expletive) (28:34)

Music bumper from Essence by Evan Stone. (31:59)

Curses, extended curses, and interjections (32:23)

Music courtesy of The Podsafe Music Network

Theme music by Kick the Cat

time: 42:28

size: 38.9 Mb

rating: R (The last two-thirds of the show is about very rude language. Our lovely featured song is not one you want to play at work.)

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