PODCAST

Radio Omniglot

Simon Ager

Podcasts about languages and words

education language learning

All Episodes

2:51

Omniglot News (17/08/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/08/17

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New constructed script: Surat Binua, which was created by Reza Sumanda as a way to write Kendayan, a Land Dayak language spoken in Indonesia and Malaysia. New constructed script: Tenzu, which was created by Reza Sumanda as a way to write Indonesian, and inspired by the […]

en-GB

1:47

Celtic Pathways – Herons

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/08/16

In this episode we uncover the possible Celtic roots of words for heron in Romance languages. The Proto-Celtic word *korxsā / *korxsiyos means heron or crane [source], and possibly comes from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kreik- (to screech, creak), which is imitative in origin [source]. Descendants in the modern Celtic languages include: corr [kəuɾˠ] = (grey) heron, stork, […]

en-GB

3:06

Omniglot News (10/08/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/08/10

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New constructed script: Urup Bidayuh’, which was created by Reza Sumanda as a way to write Biatah (Bidayuh), a Land Dayak language spoken in West Kalimantan in Indonesia, and Sarawak in Malaysia. New language pages: Luang (Letri Lgona), a Timoric language spoken in the Leti and […]

en-GB

2:11

Adventures in Etymology – Feathers

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/08/09

In this Adventure in Etymology we investigate the word feather. A feather [ˈfɛð.ə(ɹ) / ˈfɛð.ɚ] is: A branching, hair-like structure that grows on the bodies of birds, used for flight, swimming, protection and display. Long hair on the lower legs of a dog or horse, especially a draft horse. [other meanings are available] It comes […]

en-GB

2:35

Omniglot News (03/08/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/08/03

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New constructed script: Urup Bakatiʼ, which was created by Reza Sumanda as a way to write Bakatiʼ, a Land Dayak language spoken in West Kalimantan in Indonesia. New language pages: Bakatiʼ, a Land Dayak language spoken in West Kalimantan in Indonesia. Koro (Kōrō), a North-Central Vanuatu […]

en-GB

2:11

Celtic Pathways – Sunwise

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/08/02

In this episode we unravel the Celtic roots the English word deiseal. Deiseal [ˈdjɛʃəl] refers to a motion towards the right, in the direction of the hands of a clock or of the apparent motion of the sun (in the Northern Hemisphere); a turning in this direction. It is also written deisal, deasil, deisul or […]

en-GB

2:31

Omniglot News (27/07/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/07/27

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New constructed script: Saramukhi, an alternative script for Indonesian and English created by Reza Sumanda and inspired by the Devanagari and Marchen scripts. New adapted script: Groeg (κροηκ), a way to write Welsh with the Greek alphabet devised by Xavier Merica. New language pages: Fwe (Chifwe), […]

en-GB

1:53

Adventures in Etymology – Discombobulation

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/07/26

In this Adventure in Etymology we investigate the word discombobulate. To discombobulate [ˌdɪs.kəmˈbɒb.jəˌleɪt] is: To throw into a state of confusion To befuddle or perplex. To upset or embarrass It was coined in the USA and first appeared in writing in around 1867 [source]. It is a fanciful mock-Latin term of a kind that was […]

en-GB

2:54

Omniglot News (20/07/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/07/20

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New phonetic script: Vniverall (Universal) Alphabet, which was created by Thomas Harriot in the 1580s as a way to write the Carolina Algonquian language. New constructed script: Ranting Mualang, which was created by Reza Sumanda as is a way to write Mualang, a Ibanic language spoken […]

en-GB

2:33

Celtic Pathways – Shovelling Oars

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/07/19

In this episode we uncover the Celtic roots of words for oar, to row and related things in Basque. The Proto-Celtic word *rāmyos means oar, spade or shovel and comes from the Proto-Indo-European *h₁reh₁- (to row) [source]. Descendants in the modern Celtic languages include: rámh [ɾˠɑːv] = oar in Irish ràmh [r̪ˠaːv] = oar, paddle […]

en-GB

2:34

Omniglot News (13/07/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/07/13

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Khom Thai, a descendent of the Old Khmer script used mainly to write religious texts in Pali, Sanskrit, Khmer, Thai and Lao. From: Wikimedia Commons, from the wellcome collection New constructed script: Hunter × Hunter Alphabet (ハンター文字), an alternative script for Japanese created […]

en-GB

1:52

Adventures in Etymology – Enumerating Numbers

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/07/12

In this Adventure in Etymology we untangle the roots of the word number. A number [ˈnɐmbə(ɹ) / ˈnʌ̟mbɚ(ɹ)] is: Quantity An abstract entity used to describe quantity. A numeral: a symbol for a non-negative integer. An element of one of several sets: natural numbers, integers, rational numbers, etc other meanings are available It comes from […]

en-GB

2:26

Omniglot News (06/07/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/07/06

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Talinga, a Northeast Bantu language spoken in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kobo (Kɨkobo) a Bantu language spoken in North Kivu Province in the northeast of the DRC. West Teke (Teke-Tsaayi), a Bantu language spoken in the south of the […]

en-GB

2:31

Celtic Pathways – Healing Medics

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/07/06

In this episode we discover the possible Celtic roots of words for doctor in some Germanic languages. The Proto-Celtic word *leigis means healer and either comes from Proto-Germaic *lēkiz (healing, medicine, healer), or directly from the Proto-Indo-European *h₂leg- (to care for) [source]. Descendants in the modern Celtic languages include: lia [l̠ʲiə] = healer, physician in […]

en-GB

2:42

Omniglot News (29/06/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/06/29

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Lai Tay, which was used to write Tai Yo, a Southwestern Tai langauge spoken in Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. New language pages: Central Kilimanjaro, a Northeast Bantu language spoken mainly in Kilimanjaro Region in the northeast of Tanzania. Tetela (Ɔtɛtɛla) a Bantu language […]

en-GB

1:59

Adventures in Etymology – Minions

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/06/28

In this Adventure in Etymology we unravel the roots of the word minion. A minion [ˈmɪnjən] is: A loyal servant of another, usually a more powerful being. A sycophantic follower. A small, yellow creature that appears in the Despicable Me and Minions films. It used to mean: A loved one; one highly esteemed and favoured. […]

en-GB

2:43

Omniglot News (22/06/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/06/22

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Leke (Chicken Scratch) Script, a script created in the 19th century to write Karen languages in Myanmar and Thailand. New adapted script: Kannada for Tamil (ಕನ಼್ ನ಼ಡ ಎೞುತ್ತುಮುಱೈ), a way to write Tamil with the Kannada script devised by Aahan Kotian. New language […]

en-GB

2:10

Celtic Pathways – Cumbersome Confluences

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/06/21

In this episode we disencumber the cumbersome and confluent Celtic roots of words like encumber. The Proto-Celtic word *kombereti means to bring together and comes from Proto-Celtic *kom- (with, together) and *bereti (to bear), from PIE *bʰéreti (to be carrying) [source]. Descendants in the modern Celtic languages include: cumar = ravine, channel, rut in Irish […]

en-GB

3:14

Omniglot News (15/06/25)

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/06/15

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Thirke Script, which was used in the 14th century in Kodagu in Karnataka, India. New language pages: Idaxo-Isuxa-Tiriki (Luidakho, Luisukha, Lutirichi), a Northwest Bantu language spoken mainly in Kakamega County in western Kenya. Baduy (Basa Baduy / Basa Sunda Kanékés’), a Sundanese-Baduy language […]

en-GB

2:12

Adventures in Etymology – Jots & Tittles

Radio Omniglot ·

2025/06/14

In this Adventure in Etymology we jot down a jot or two about jots (and tittles). A jot [ʤɒt / ʤɑt] is: The smallest letter or stroke of any writing; an iota. A small, or the smallest, amount of a thing; a bit, a whit. E.g. He didn’t care a jot for his work. A […]

en-GB

172 results

Radio Omniglot

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Science Talk

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Les dents et dodo

BFMTV

一起读书吧！

一起读书吧！

五分钟心理学

柠檬心理

Rock it - dein Raketenstart in den Tag

Hannes kann es