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Why is English so weird?

Michael Rosen hears why our language is messy from linguist Arika Okrent. Why do we say 'I climbed' not 'I clomb'? Why is there a 'p' in 'receipt'? Why is 'of' spelled with a 'f'?

Why do we say 'I climbed' not 'I clomb'? Why is there a 'p' in 'receipt' and not in 'deceit'? Why is 'of' spelled with a 'f' when it sounds like a 'v'?

Michael Rosen hears why from American linguist Arika Okrent. Together they talk about the strangeness of English and who is to blame for the mess.

Produced by Eliza Lomas for ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Audio in Bristol.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Mon 19 Jul 2021 23:00

Broadcasts

  • Tue 13 Jul 2021 16:00
  • Mon 19 Jul 2021 23:00

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