Linguistics Behind the Scenes
Episode Descriptions
Episode 1: How has Star Wars changed the English language?
Christina and Dominic examine the linguistic legacy of Star Wars in this first episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes!
- How has Star Wars influenced modern language use?
- What does it mean to be a "finance Jedi"?
- How can linguistics measure the rise of Star Wars terms?
Embark on a journey across the universe of linguistics as the hosts explore how words from a galaxy far, far away have made their way into everyday English.
Full episode transcript available here:
Full article available to read for free here:
“The impact of Star Wars on the English language: Star Wars-derived words and constructions in present-day English corpora” by Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer. https://doi.org/10.1515/lingvan-2023-0029.
Try out the popular free text analysis software AntConc for yourself:
https://www.laurenceanthony.net/software/antconc/
Episode 2: Does English have an infinite number of words for drunkenness?
Christina and Dominic raise a glass to drunkonyms in this intoxicating episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes!
- Why do the English have hundreds of words for drunkenness?
- Can you really say “I was utterly gazeboed” and still be understood?
- What does linguistics reveal about our most creative intoxication expressions?
Enjoy this cocktail of linguistic knowledge as the hosts explore the staggering number of words for being drunk in the English language. Cheers to language!
Full episode transcript available here:
Full article available to read for free here:
“I’m gonna get totally and utterly X-ed.” Constructing drunkenness. By Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer and Peter Uhrig. https://doi.org/10.1515/gcla-2023-0007
Watch Michael McIntyre’s comedy routine about posh words for being drunk here:
Episode 3: How can we keep Holocaust survivors’ voices alive?
Christina and Dominic explore language, history, and technology in this episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes!
- How can we digitally preserve Holocaust survivor testimonies for future generations?
- What are the challenges of translating deeply personal historical memories?
- Why do subtitles and dubbing change the way we experience language?
Gather around as the hosts discuss how linguistics and modern technology help keep the past alive.
Full episode transcript available here:
Learn more about Holocaust survivor Abba Naor:
http://www.edu.lediz.lmu.de/wordpress/abba-naor-en/
Have a virtual conversation with Abba Naor in English:
https://studio.intheroom.global/preview/01HY1060FTNX41VF6B7ZWAR52J
Video tutorial on how to interact with Abba Naor’s interactive digital testimony:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuqqKT0J5Fo
Learn more about the making of the video chatbot:
- LeDiT – Learning with digital testimonies: Holocaust education 2.0. By Antonia Friebel and Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socimp.2024.100078
- Subtitling Abba Naor’s interactive digital testimony in English: Linguistic considerations underlying the translation process. By Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer, Julie Winter and Antonia Friebel. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-45924-6_3 .
Material for teachers on how to use the video chatbot in English/history classes by Antonia Friebel and Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer (some parts in German):
- Getting to know Abba Naor. Skill: Asking questions in English. https://syncandshare.lrz.de/getlink/fiFamCP6WSQn2B66APCvDj/Interaktives%20digitales%20Zeugnis_Impuls%20f%C3%BCr%20das%20Fach%20Englisch.docx .
- Abba Naors Zeugnis im fächerübergreifenden bilingualen Geschichtsunterricht. https://syncandshare.lrz.de/open/MkpqUmNpVzF1ZWlKcVl5d2lQZXpt/Zur%20Vertiefung/Zur%20Vertiefung_Interaktives%20digitales%20Zeugnis%20zu%20Abba%20Naor%20f%C3%BCr%20den%20bilingualen%20Unterricht.docx?filelink_id=fiD3zbEPbMmnYiEvvUwoMM
Episode 4: How difficult are comic strips and cartoons?
BAM! POW! WHAM! Dominic and Christina paint a picture of the colorful world of comic books and illustrate their linguistic quirks.
- How did comics evolve from being stigmatized to celebrated?
- Why do Japanese manga read in the "opposite" direction?
- How do different languages represent onomatopoeia?
- Are comics really easier to read than other texts?
From Spider-Man to Tintin, from Batman to Asterix, tune in for an action-packed analysis of comics across cultures!
Full episode transcript available here:
Full article available to read for free here (in German): “Comicsprache – leichte Sprache?” by Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer.
https://doi.org/10.60687/2025-0035
Mentioned in this episode:
https://xkcd.com/ (nerdy comic strips)
https://joscha.com/nichtlustig (German cartoons)
https://www.der-flix.de/flix (German comics)
https://www.erika-fuchs.de/en/ (comics museum)
https://www.gamescom.global/en
Episode 5: Should we name prehistoric skeletons?
What's in a name? Christina and Dominic dig into the fascinating world of names – past and present.
- Did early humans have language and names, and how can we ever know?
- Why are prehistoric human remains often given numbers instead of names?
- What’s the story behind the names of famous finds like Lucy and Ötzi the Iceman?
- Can linguists and archaeologists work together to create respectful names for prehistoric people?
From Shakespeare to skeletons, from surnames to science, join the hosts as they explore how names shape identity – even for those who lived thousands of years ago.
Full episode transcript available here:
Full articles available to read for free here (in German):
- Ötzi und Hauna: Ein linguistisches Modell zur Namengebung bei ur- und frühgeschichtlichen Menschenfunden. By Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer, Philipp W. Stockhammer and Kerstin P. Hofmann. https://doi.org/10.33675/BNF/2024/1-2/4
- Sollen wir den Knochen einen Namen geben? Und wenn ja, welchen? (De)Personalisierung und Objektifizierung prähistorischer Menschen. By Kerstin Hofmann, Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer and Philipp W. Stockhammer. https://doi.org/10.11588/propylaeum.1092.
Episode 6: When does the day end and the night begin?
Time flies… but how do we talk about it? Dominic and Christina work around the clock in this timely episode to explore temporal terms in different languages.
- Have digital clocks changed the way we talk about time?
- Why do Germans say “half seven” when they mean 6:30?
- Why do the Japanese have “morning rice” for breakfast and the Germans have “evening bread” for dinner?
From ancient calendars to the modern days of the week, from the time “before midday” to late-night Mediterranean dinners, this episode chronicles expressions of time and their cultural origins.
It’s about time! Don’t be late for this edition of Linguistics Behind the Scenes!
Full episode transcript available here:
Full article available to read for free here (in German):
“Abend ward, bald kommt die Nacht…” Die Korrelation von Tages- und Uhrzeiten im deutsch-englischen Vergleich. By Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer and Jenny Arendholz. https://doi.org/10.60687/2025-0056
Episode 7: Can we learn through video games?
Level up your linguistics! Dominic and Christina explore the intersection of video games and language.
- What’s the meaning behind Pikachu’s name?
- How can video games be educational?
- Are players more motivated to rescue a person or to save treasure when learning difficult words?
From portmanteau Pokémon to Indiana Jones-inspired learning, this episode explores how games and language go hand in hand.
Press play and join us on another episode of Linguistics Behind the Scenes!
Full episode transcript available here:
Play “Bridge of Knowledge” on Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.LMU_LRZ.bridgevr
Play on the iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bridge-of-knowledge-vr/id1552164117
More info about “Bridge of Knowledge”: www.bridgevr.de
Full article available to read for free here:
“Influence of narrative settings on learning success in Virtual Reality games: A case study with Bridge of Knowledge VR". By Katharina Jahn, Markus Suren, Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer & Günter Daniel Rey. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2025.1550004.
Episode 8: What does your accent say about you?
Lost in pronunciation? Christina and Dominic explore the quirks of accents, fluency, and identity in language learning.
- What does your accent say about who you are?
- Is perfect pronunciation worth chasing?
- How do tricky English sounds like TH and R trip up learners around the world?
From rhotic R’s and intrusive R’s to dialect leveling, accommodation, and the secret life of weak forms, this episode explores how we speak, why we speak that way, and what it all says about us.
Listen in and join us on Linguistics Behind the Scenes!
Full episode transcript available here:
Full article available to read for free here:
“Do you say /ka:/ or /ka:r/?” What future teachers should learn about English phonetics, phonology and pronunciation. By Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer. https://monarch.qucosa.de/landing-page/https%3A%2F%2Fmonarch.qucosa.de%2Fapi%2Fqucosa%253A97159%2Fmets%2F/
Episode 9: How do comics come to life on the big screen?
Christina and Dominic tackle the tangled world of compound words – from the monster nouns of German to the cake-based contradictions of English (listen and see!).
- Why are some German words so incredibly long?
- Why do some English compounds get hyphens, others spaces, and some nothing at all?
- Is English spelling total chaos, or is there a method to the madness?
From Mark Twain’s complaints about German to a surprisingly elegant rule of thumb for English spelling, this episode sheds light on the quirkier aspects of written language.
Full episode transcript available here:
Video tutorial “How to spell English compounds in 3 simple steps” [3:36 min]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTg1cyDwHbQ&t=2s
CompSpell website with online spelling tool and information about the simple compound spelling strategy: www.compounds.gwi.uni-muenchen.de
Mentioned in this episode:
Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer (2018): English compounds and their spelling. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Episode 10: Why do we check in at the check-in but check out at the checkout?
Christina and Dominic tackle the tangled world of compound words – from the monster nouns of German to the cake-based contradictions of English (listen and see!).
- Why are some German words so incredibly long?
- Why do some English compounds get hyphens, others spaces, and some nothing at all?
- Is English spelling total chaos, or is there a method to the madness?
From Mark Twain’s complaints about German to a surprisingly elegant rule of thumb for English spelling, this episode sheds light on the quirkier aspects of written language.
Full episode transcript available here:
Video tutorial “How to spell English compounds in 3 simple steps” [3:36 min]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTg1cyDwHbQ&t=2s
CompSpell website with online spelling tool and information about the simple compound spelling strategy: www.compounds.gwi.uni-muenchen.de
Mentioned in this episode:
Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer (2018): English compounds and their spelling. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Episode 11: How can you translate the magic of fairy tales?
Once upon a time, Christina and Dominic embarked on a linguistic adventure through the enchanted world of fairy tales to explore the rich history, dark origins, and global legacy of the Brothers Grimm – and what it means to translate their magical style. In this whimsical episode, Christina and Dominic wander deep into the woods of Grimms’ Fairy Tales to talk about the linguistic magic that brings them to life.
- Who really wrote the most famous fairy tales?
- How do we translate a story and still keep its essence?
- Why are the original versions a little… darker than we remember?
- How can we measure the quality of a translation?
From enchanted animals and pumpkin carriages to UNESCO recognition and n-gram analysis, this episode blends folklore, philology, and a bit of fairy dust.
Full episode transcript available here:
Article mentioned in this episode:
Sanchez-Stockhammer, Christina. 2020. The potential of multi-word units as measures of fairy-tale style in Schneewittchen (Snow-White) and its English translations. In Ludwig Fesenmeier & Iva Novakova (eds.), Phraséologie et stylistique de la langue littéraire/Phraseology and stylistics of literary language, 305–327. Berlin: Peter Lang.
Episode 12: What do mocktails, mules, and grammar have in common?
Grab a cocktail (or mocktail) and join Christina and Dominic for a spirited discussion on hybridity – in language, biology, culture, and beyond. From mules to dronkeys, creoles to hybrid cars, this episode explores what happens when things mix, blend, and blur the boundaries.
- Why is English like a linguistic cocktail?
- Can you really “borrow” words if you never give them back?
- Is “dislike” a Germanic-Romance Frankenstein?
- Why is “brunch” so linguistically satisfying?
With portmanteaus, pidgins, and even the infamous German “ß”, this episode celebrates the beautiful messiness of language – where nothing is truly “pure,” and things become richer through mixing.
Full episode transcript available here:
Full article available to read for free here:
Hybridization in language. By Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-21846-0_9
Episode 13: Can we predict the future of English?
Welcome, time travelers, to a tour through the evolution of the English language! Christina and Dominic chat about the quirks of linguistic prediction, and the weird and wonderful ways language changes right under our noses.
- Who’s at the origin of linguistic change?
- How is American English sneaking into other dialects?
- Will "fewer" finally lose to "less"?
- Can we forecast language like the weather?
From glottal stops to German “Handys” and English “earworms,” this episode explores digital slang and global English influences, and ventures into the question how linguists test their predictions – not with crystal balls, but using data, probabilities, and a whole lot of curiosity.
Full episode transcript available here:
Full article available to read for free here:
Can we predict linguistic change? An introduction. By Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer. https://varieng.helsinki.fi/series/volumes/16/introduction.html.
Read more about the topic in the freely available online volume Can we predict linguistic change? Edited by Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer. https://varieng.helsinki.fi/series/volumes/16/.
Mentioned in this episode:
- Tom Scott: The language sounds that could exist, but don't. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uZam0ubq-Y.
- Ig Nobel prizes: https://improbable.com/ig/about-the-ig-nobel-prizes/.
Episode 14: Is English full of lonely words?
In this brilliantly nerdy episode, Christina and Dominic explore those English words that seem to stand all on their own, with no linguistic parents or children in sight. But wait—are they really that isolated? Discover unexpected word families and the hidden building blocks of language. Learn why “annual” sounds fancier than “yearly,” why mnemonics are your best friend, and how to decode big, scary words like “misinterpretation”.
- Would you wear a ballgown or a costume to a “fancy dress” party?
- Is “understand” really about standing under something?
- What are the best tricks for learning vocabulary in a foreign language?
Dominic and Christina compare English and German words like “Handschuh” (hand-shoe = glove) and “Armbanduhr” (bracelet-clock = watch) and conclude that if you know where to look, words can reveal a whole hidden network of meaning.
Full episode transcript available here:
Read the complete book for free here:
Consociation and Dissociation: An Empirical Study of Word-Family Integration in English and German. By Christina Sanchez. www.doi.org/10.24053/9783823373841.
Mentioned in this episode:
“How anyone (including YOU) can read German” by RobWords (Rob Watts). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebSZrHmsI4.
Remembering the Kanji by James W. Heisig. https://hep.ph.liv.ac.uk/~payne/sgfSigmaThing/James%20W.%20Heisig%20-%20Remembering%20Kanji%204%BA%20Edition%20-%20Vol%201.pdf.
Episode 15: Do you say thank you to a robot?
In this human-meets-machine episode, Christina and Dominic explore the curious intersection of linguistics and AI—with special focus on how people talk to robots. They explore the history of chatbots from ELIZA to ChatGPT, and unveil findings from a new study on human-robot interaction using a robotic arm.
- How does generative AI like ChatGPT work?
- Why is a “Wizard of Oz” study possibly not what you think it is?
- What happens if humans and robots build IKEA shelves together?
- Do we use more commands with robots than with other humans?
Along the way, they reveal that people often say “thank you” to robots – almost like to humans.
This episode is packed with linguistic insights, surprising data, a dose of ethics, and more pop culture trivia than you might expect from a robotics paper.
Full episode transcript available here:
Full article available to read for free here:
"Another bit. Upwards. Okay, stop." Do we talk differently to humans and robots when assembling a shelf together? by Sasha Genevieve Coelho, Sascha Kaden, Marina Beccard, Florian Röhrbein and Christina Sanchez-Stockhammer. https://doi.org/10.1145/3743049.3748536
Films and series recommended in this episode:
- The Imitation Game. 2014. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/
- My Fair Lady. 1964. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058385/
- The Theory of Everything. 2014. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980516/
- The Wizard of Oz. 1939. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/
- How It’s Made. www.youtube.com/@HowItsmade8
- Die Sendung mit der Maus. Lach- und Sachgeschichten. www.youtube.com/@diemaus
- I’m Your Man. (Ich bin dein Mensch.) 2021. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13087796/
Also mentioned in this episode:
- R.U.R. Science fiction play by Czech writer Karel Čapek. 1920.
- The Mechanical Turk. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_Turk.
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Techno song by DJ Marusha. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohfSJC44oe8
- John R. Searle. 1976. A Classification of Illocutionary Acts 1. Language in Society 5(1). 1-23.