Language Games

Chris Ledgard mulls over the language and peculiarity of puzzles.

• 28 mins

Language Laws

Chris Ledgard looks at the laws surrounding language use, from libel to blasphemy.

• 28 mins

The Rise of the Political Soundbite

Chris Ledgard and guests discuss the art and efficacy of the political soundbite.

• 28 mins

Prime Suspects

Michael Rosen and top crime writers on the changing language of the police interview.

• 28 mins

Kids TV

Michael Rosen looks at children's television and its effects on language development.

• 28 mins

Baby Talk

Michael Rosen asks if baby talk benefits or hinders language development.

• 28 mins

Chimps and Language

Chimps communicate but, asks Michael Rosen, do their utterances mean they use language?

• 28 mins

Office Jargon

Michael Rosen and guests 'drill down' into the subject of office jargon.

• 28 mins

How accurate are scientific metaphors?

Is gravity really like a bowling ball on a sheet? Michael Rosen on scientific metaphors.

• 28 mins

Talking Terrorism

It's a word that can start a war. Michael Rosen explores the meaning of 'terrorist'.

• 28 mins

Creating Characters

Michael Rosen talks to writers about how character is created through language.

• 28 mins

Journalese

Michael Rosen on the necessary evil of journalistic cliché.

• 28 mins

Social Register

Do we change the way we speak according to the person we are speaking to?

• 28 mins

Scots

Michael Rosen goes to Glasgow to hear about the Scots language with Sanjeev Kohli.

• 28 mins

Time

Michael Rosen asks what time is and explores the words we use to talk about it.

• 28 mins

Words That Wound

Words can be abusive, cruel and cause offence. Which is worse: online or face-to-face?

• 28 mins

Reader, I Marinated Him - the language of food

Michael Rosen and guests debate the language of food, from Oliver's 'more' to cannibalism.

• 28 mins

Weighing Your Words

Chris Ledgard investigates three situations where precise use of words is crucial.

• 28 mins

Message in a Bottle

Chris Ledgard uncorks the subject of messages in a bottle.

• 28 mins

Newspeak

Chris Ledgard explores Orwell's dystopian vision of the future of language - Newspeak.

• 28 mins

How the Telephone Rewired Us

Chris Ledgard explores the impact of the telephone.

• 28 mins

The Online Me

Are we different online than in real life? Gemma Cairney asks Nick Grimshaw and friends.

• 28 mins

Talking About Cancer

The writer Graham Joyce with a personal take on the ways in which we talk about cancer.

• 28 mins

Is the Double Entendre in Rude Health?

Arthur Bostrom examines the origins, colourful history and new era of the double entendre.

• 28 mins

Speaking, Listening and the English GCSE

Chris Ledgard host a discussion on speaking and listening skills and the English GCSE.

• 28 mins

First Words: How do children develop language?

Michael Rosen on the first sounds and words that babies learn.

• 28 mins

Ebola: How should we talk about it?

Michael Rosen talks to Oxfam's media officer on how we should speak about Ebola.

• 28 mins

Why do we laugh?

Michael Rosen finds out why we laugh and why we cry, with neuroscientist Sophie Scott.

• 28 mins

How Is English Going to Change in the future?

Michael Rosen looks ahead, with the help of linguists Bas Aarts and Laura Wright.

• 28 mins

Philip Pullman and Michael Rosen talk about language and writing

Philip Pullman and Michael Rosen talk in depth about language and writing.

• 28 mins