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Radio Omniglot

Simon Ager

Podcasts about languages and words

education language learning

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1:55

Adventures in Etymology – Entangled Perplexity

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/04/25

In this Adventure in Etymology we untangle the perplexing roots of the word perplexity. Perplexity [pəˈplɛksɪti / pəɹˈplɛksəti] is: The state or quality of being perplexed (puzzled, confused, bewildered) Something that perplexes. (information theory) A measure of how well a probability distribution or model predicts a sample. It comes from Middle English perplexite ([a state […]

en-GB

2:37

Omniglot News (19/04/26)

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/04/19

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Metaʼ (Mɨta’), an Eastern Grassfields language spoken in the North West Region of Cameroon. Romani Tatar (Romaní Tatarja), a Kipchak Turkic language spoken in northeast Bulgaria and southeast Romania. Kedang (tutuq nanang wela), a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken on Lembata Island in East Nusa […]

en-GB

2:22

Omniglot News (12/04/26)

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/04/12

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Razihi (Lahjah Rāziḥīt), a South Semitic language spoken in Razihi in the Sa’adah District in northwestern Yemen. Mbuʼ, a Southern Bantoid language spoken in the North West Region of Cameroon. Seimat, an Oceanic language spoken in the Ninigo Islands in Manus Province in […]

en-GB

1:55

Adventures in Etymology – Material Matters

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/04/11

This Adventure in Etymology uncovers the maternal and woody roots of the words material and matter. Meanings of material include: A basic matter from which the whole or the greater part of something physical is made. Fabric, which can be made into a garments, etc, especially, woven fabric. The elements, constituents or substance of which […]

en-GB

2:22

Omniglot News (05/04/26)

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/04/05

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Mwesen (M̄ēsēn), a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Vanua Lava Island in northern Vanuatu. Wuvulu-Aua, an Oceanic language spoken on Wuluvu and Aua islands in Manus Province of Papua New Guinea. New constructed script: Vsrc, an alternative way to write English inspired by […]

en-GB

3:28

Omniglot News (29/03/26)

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/03/29

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Liangmai (Lianglad), a Zemeic language spoken in Manipur and Nagaland in northeast India. Besermyan (бесерман көл), a Permic language spoken in northern Udmurtia in the Russian Federation. Mbe (M̀bè), a Southern Bantoid language spoken in southeastern Nigeria. Yipma (Yɨ’ayagaala), a Trans-New Guinea language […]

en-GB

2:19

Adventures in Etymology – Bloggery

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/03/28

In this Adventure in Etymology, we’re looking into bloggery and other blog-related words. As this week marks the 20th anniversary, or blogiversary of the Omniglot Blog, which I started on 26th March 2006, I thought I’d explore some blog-related words. Bloggery is the act or practice of writing a blog, or blogging The word blog […]

en-GB

2:31

Omniglot News (22/03/26)

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/03/22

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New adapted script: Asirilik (Асирилик), a way to write Tamazight with the Cyrillic alphabet devised by Xavier Merica New adapted script: Chukchi Latin Alphabet (Lyghorawetlhen Latinlhen Alfavit) – a way to write Chukchi with the Latin alphabet created by Dijacz. New language pages: Koshin (Kɔshin), a […]

en-GB

2:32

Adventures in Etymology – Holding It Together

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/03/21

In this Adventure in Etymology, we’re holding it together as we uncover the origins of the words content and content. As an adjective, content [kənˈtɛnt] means satisfied, pleased or contented, and as a noun, it can mean satisfaction, contentment or pleasure, or that which contents or satisfies. As a verb, to content means to give […]

en-GB

2:40

Omniglot News (15/03/26)

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/03/15

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New writing system: Quốc âm tân tự (國音新字), a syllabic script for Vietnamese based on strokes from chữ Hán and chữ Nôm characters devised during the 19th century. New language pages: Reyesano, a Tacanan language spoken in José Balivián Province in Beni Department in northern Bolivia. […]

en-GB

2:17

Adventures in Etymology – Flowing Floods

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/03/14

What links the word flood with words for flow, river and high tide? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology. Meanings of flood [flʌd] include: An overflow of a large amount of water (usually disastrous) from a lake or other body of water due to excessive rainfall or other input of water. A large […]

en-GB

2:38

Omniglot News (08/03/26)

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/03/08

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Rabha (ৰাভা), a Sal language spoken in Assam, West Bengal and Maghalaya in the northeast of India. Kenyang (Kɛ́nyāŋ), a Mamfe language spoken in the Manyu and Meme departments in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. Araona (alaōna), a Tacanan spoken in the La […]

en-GB

2:53

Adventures in Etymology – Harmonious Reason

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/03/07

Are the words harmony and reason connected? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology. Meanings of harmony [ˈhɑː.mə.ni] include: Agreement or accord. A pleasing combination of elements, or arrangement of sounds. Two or more notes played simultaneously to produce a chord. It comes from Middle English armonie (harmonious sounds, song, music, harmony), from Old […]

en-GB

2:24

Omniglot News (01/03/26)

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/03/01

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Jagham (Ejagham), an Ekoid language spoken in southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon. Bobongko, a Central Tivoid language spoken in the Menchum Department of the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Gaʼdang, a Northern Luzon language spoken in Luzon in the Philippines. Kemezung (Kɨmədzuŋ), an Eastern […]

en-GB

2:30

Adventures in Etymology – Flowing Rhythms

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/02/28

What does the word rhythm have to do with flowing? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology. Meanings of rhythm [ˈɹɪð.m̩] include: The variation of strong and weak elements (such as duration, accent) of sounds, notably in speech or music, over time; a beat or meter. A specifically defined pattern of such variation. A […]

en-GB

2:29

Omniglot News (22/02/26)

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/02/22

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New language pages: Ipulo, a Central Tivoid language spoken in the Southwest and Northwest regions of Cameroon. Isu, a Central Tivoid language spoken in the Menchum Department of the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Baraba Tatar (Парабачы), a variety of Siberia Tatar, a Turkic a language spoken […]

en-GB

2:28

Adventures in Etymology – Plain Planes

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/02/21

Are the words plain, plane and plan related? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology. Plain [pleɪn] as an adjective can mean: Simple, unaltered, ordinary, unsophisticated. Obvious, evident. Open, honest, candid. Unattractive Flat, level (rare, regional) It comes from Middle English pleyn (clear, unambiguous), from Anglo-Norman pleyn (plain), from Old French plain (plain [flat […]

en-GB

2:46

Omniglot News (15/02/26)

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/02/15

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New alphabet page: Berati, an alternative way to write Albanian used during the 19th century. New constructed script: Cartierian, which created by Michael Kohlman to write his constructed language of the same name. New language pages: Bumthang ( བུམ་ཐང་ཁ་), an Eastern Bodic language spoken mainly in […]

en-GB

2:02

Adventures in Etymology – Channelling Reeds

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/02/14

Are the words channel, canal and cane connected? Let find out in this Adventure in Etymology. Meanings of channel [ˈtʃænəl] as a noun include: The hollow bed of running waters. The navigable part of a river. A narrow body of water between two land masses. A specific radio frequency or band of frequencies used for […]

en-GB

2:44

Omniglot News (08/02/26)

Radio Omniglot ·

2026/02/08

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot. New alphabet; Vellara alphabet, an alternative alphabet for Albanian created during the 19th century. New alphabet: Veso Bey alphabet, an alphabet that was used to write Albanian in southern Albania in the 19th century. New language pages: Bekwarra (Ebekwara), a Bendi language spoken in Cross River […]

en-GB

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