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# Episode Title Description People Date
1 Giving compliments in Hebrew There are many ways to be polite. Hebrew manners are very different than English ones to say the least. In today's episode we will learn what is and isn't appropriate to say in different circumstances. Esther Yadgar, Alicia Vergara 19 Apr 2024
2 J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Philologist A talk by Professor Simon Horobin on Tolkien's long-standing career and interest in philology as part of the Tolkien 50th Commemoration seminar series. Simon Horobin 11 Dec 2023
3 Creative Commons Chapter One: frayer -- פראייר In this chapter we will talk about the word that means "someone who was slightly conned". We'll talk about the origin of the word, how to use it and when. Esther Yadgar, Alicia Vergara 04 Jul 2022
4 Creative Commons Why do we need people to translate when we have machine translation? Some people ask why they should bother learning a language when there are online apps and websites which can translate quickly and accurately. Matthew Reynolds, Eleni Philippou, Yousif M. Qasmiyeh, Adriana X Jacobs 01 May 2020
5 How do metaphors shape our world? We tend to think of metaphors as poetic language, but we actually use them all the time in our everyday speech. But how do metaphors in different languages work? And can the metaphors we use affect our thinking? Katrin Kohl, Jeannette Littlemore, Lera Boroditsky, Zoltán Kövecses 03 Apr 2020
6 Why should we read translated texts? This episode explores what we lose or gain when we read a translated book. Are we missing something by reading the English translation and not the original language version? And what can the translation process tell us about how languages work? Jane Hiddleston, Laura Lonsdale 16 Mar 2020
7 How 'foreign' are 'foreign languages'? Many people think foreign languages are alien to us, unless of course we've spent years studying them. But is this really the case? Or can we actually understand some words in a different language – even if we've never studied that language before? Martin Maiden, Sandra Kotzor, Chiara Cappellaro, Ikuya Aizawa 18 Feb 2020
8 Cuneiform Discoveries from Ancient Babylon In ancient Iraq, scribes used cuneiform (wedge-shaped) script to write hundreds of thousands of texts in the Sumerian and Akkadian languages on clay tablets. Frances Reynolds 10 Dec 2019
9 ‘Arriving before us’: seeing, ingenuity and imagination in Dante: Simon Gilson's Inaugural lecture During his inaugural lecture, Professor Gilson will show how ideas about vision and cognate faculties such as the wits and the imagination are central to Dante’s masterpiece, the Commedia. Simon Gilson 22 Oct 2019
10 The Age-Eclipsing Effects of Environment and Input on L2 Attainment in Instructional Contexts This seminar explores some myths about L2 attainment in instructional contexts, drawing on evidence from a five-year longitudinal study conducted in Switzerland and carried out by the speakers themselves. Simone E Pfenninger, David Singleton 20 Nov 2018
11 Causal models of developmental disorders In studies in psychology and education it is essential to think clearly about causal mechanisms. In this seminar Professor Hulme will outline the use of path diagrams as tools for representing, reasoning about, and testing causal models. Charles Hulme 07 Nov 2018
12 Old Norse Eleanor Parker, Lecturer in Medieval English Literature, Brasenose College, Oxford, gives the fifth and final talk in the Tolkien: The Maker of Middle Earth lecture series. This lecture focuses on Tolkien and old norse. Eleanor Parker 31 Oct 2018
13 Old English Mark Atherton, Senior Lecturer in English, Regent's Park College, Oxford, gives the fourth talk in the Tolkien: The Maker of Middle Earth lecture series. This lecture focuses on Tolkien and old english. Mark Atherton 31 Oct 2018
14 Teaching the Codex 13: 2017 Summary Teresa Webber (Cambridge) gives closing remarks at the 2017 Teaching the Codex Colloquium. Teresa Webber 28 Aug 2018
15 Teaching the Codex 12: Continental and Anglophone Approaches 2 Marigold Norbye speaks at the 2017 Teaching the Codex colloquium about learning palaeography at the École des chartes. Marigold Norbye 28 Aug 2018
16 Teaching the Codex 11: Continental and Anglophone Approaches 1 Daniel Sawyer (Oxford) speaks at the 2017 Teaching the Codex Colloquium about the teaching of palaeography and codicology in Oxford’s Faculty of English. Daniel Sawyer 28 Aug 2018
17 Teaching the Codex 10: Manuscripts and Outreach 4 Pauline Souleau (Oxford) speaks at the 2017 Teaching the Codex Colloquium about the Manuscript Outreach Network and the Wadham-Luton Access Project. Pauline Souleau 28 Aug 2018
18 Teaching the Codex 9: Manuscripts and Outreach 3 Anna Boeles Rowland (Oxford) speaks at the 2017 Teaching the Codex Colloquium about the Manuscript Outreach Network. Introduction by Pauline Souleau (Oxford). Anna Boeles Rowland, Pauline Souleau 28 Aug 2018
19 Teaching the Codex 8: Manuscripts and Outreach 2 Sian Witherden (Oxford) speaks at the 2017 Teaching the Codex Colloquium about palaeography and undergraduate engagement. Introduction by Pauline Souleau (Oxford). Sian Witherden, Pauline Souleau 28 Aug 2018
20 Teaching the Codex 7: Manuscripts and Outreach 1 Sarah Laseke (Leiden, Oxford) speaks at the 2017 Teaching the Codex Colloquium about a public engagement approach to teaching palaeography. Introduction by Pauline Souleau (Oxford). Sarah Laseke, Pauline Souleau 28 Aug 2018
21 Literacy and foundation learning in multilingual India Dr Sonali Nag, Oxford Departmant of Education, gives a talk for the public seminar series hosted by the department's Families, Effecrive Learning and Literacy Research Group Dr Sonali Nag 25 Jan 2018
22 Stability and change in developmental language disorders Professor Professor Courtenay Norbury, University College London, gives a talk for the public seminar series hosted by the Department of Education's Applied Linguistics Research Group. Courtenay Norbury 11 Dec 2017
23 M. NourbeSe Philip on the haunting of history M. NourbeSe Philip reads from She Tries Her Tongue, Her Silence Softly Breaks (1988) and Zong! (2008) as she describes her poetic development. M NourbeSe Philip, Marina Warner, Matthew Reynolds, Elleke Boehmer 25 Aug 2017
24 Teaching the Codex 3: 2016 Summary David d'Avray (UCL) gives closing remarks at the 2016 Teaching the Codex Colloquium. David D'avray 14 Jul 2017
25 Teaching the Codex 2: Material and Digital Henrike Lähnemann (Oxford) gives a talk at the 2016 Teaching the Codex Colloquium. Henrike Lähnemann 12 Jul 2017
26 Teaching the Codex 1: Codicology Daniel Wakelin (Oxford) gives a talk at the 2016 Teaching the Codex Colloquium. Daniel Wakelin 12 Jul 2017
27 Language, Mobility and Belonging A new episode of of in our spare time, this time looking at the social aspects of language. Aled Walker, Rosemary Hall, Nancy Hawker, Leonie Schulte 20 Mar 2017
28 Creative Commons How Quantum Theory Can Help Understanding Natural Language In the Quantum Group, we contribute to the field of natural language processing by using methods from mathematics and quantum theory to show how information flows between words in a sentence to give us the meaning of the sentence as a whole. Maaike Zwart 07 Mar 2017
29 Language, Crisis, and Affect The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network hosted a talk ‘Language, crisis and affect: Muted emotions in Heinrich von Kleist’s Michael Kohlhaas’ with Dr Tobias Heinrich (University of Oxford). Tobias Heinrich 28 Feb 2017
30 Creative Commons Cultural and historical implications of non-destructive analyses on mesoamerican codices Davide Domenici discusses cultural and historical implications of non-destructive analyses on mesoamerican codices. Davide Domenici 11 Jul 2016
31 How English Became English A Book at Lunchtime discussion looking at the English language and how it is developing with Simon Horobin, Faramerz Dabhoiwala, Martin Wynne, Philip Durkin and Susie Dent. Simon Horobin, Faramerz Dabhoiwala, Martin Wynne, Philip Durkin 06 May 2016
32 Creative Commons Text in the Social Sciences Session 4: Topic Modeling Félix Krawatzek and Andy Eggers discuss methods to analyse large bodies of text in more systematic and reliable ways. Félix Krawatzek, Andy Eggers 18 Apr 2016
33 Translational Equaliberty: Language as Cosmopolitan Right in the Europe of Migrations (Keynote address) Emily Apter speaks about the right to a cosmopolitan citizenship, showing how questions of language and translation have acquired political urgency in the context of the global refugee crisis. Emily Apter 05 Apr 2016
34 Intercultural Literary Practices Laura Lonsdale (Queen's College, Oxford): 'Barbarisms: Multilingualism and Modernity in Narratives of the Spanish- speaking World’. Respondent: Jane Hiddleston (French/Oxford) Laura Lonsdale, Jane Hiddeston 09 Nov 2015
35 Creative Commons A Chaste Maid in Cheapside: Thomas Middleton This lecture discusses comedy, fertility, and all those illegitimate children in this play about sex, economics and meat. Emma Smith 27 Oct 2015
36 Creative Commons The Alchemist: Ben Jonson Written in the context of plague in London, The Alchemist’s plot and language are deeply concerned with speed and speculation. Emma Smith 27 Oct 2015
37 Creative Commons Dr Faustus: Christopher Marlowe My lecture on this infernal play discusses Elizabethan religion, the revisions to the play, and whether we should think about James Bond in its final minutes. Emma Smith 26 Oct 2015
38 'Artificial Intelligence' part 2 - How to create machines that learn Professor Nando de Freitas explains that understanding how our brains work has helped us create machines that learn, and how these learning machines can be put to completing different tasks. Nando de Freitas 19 May 2015
39 Education, language and the social brain A public seminar from the Department of Education, given by Dr Neil Mercer, University of Cambridge. Neil Mercer 02 Mar 2015
40 Ways of speaking, ways of knowing A discussion of the ethnolinguistic identity of the Inugguit based on 12 months of fieldwork in NW Greenland. Anthropology Departmental Seminar by Stephen Leonard of the University of Oxford (14 November 2014) Stephen Leonard 29 Jan 2015
41 Creative Commons OCCT event - The Creativity of Criticism part four Short presentation by Dr Martyn Harry (Music) followed by discussion. Martyn Harry 19 Dec 2014
42 English language policy and educational planning: Issues and concerns in Asian contexts A public seminar from the Department of Education, delivered by Dr Roger Barnard. Roger Barnard 01 Dec 2014
43 Heritage Speaker Bilingualism: Input Issues in Grammatical Outcomes Professor Jason Rothman presents a survey of experimental research examining the grammatical knowledge and performances of heritage speaker bilinguals, most of which demonstrate that as a group they differ significantly from monolingual counterparts. Jason Rothman 28 Feb 2014
44 Round Table: The Future of Comparative Criticism Matthew Reynolds, Laura Marcus, Mohamed-Salah Omri and Terence Cave on the futures of comparative criticism; followed by discussion. Matthew Reynolds, Laura Marcus, Mohamed-Salah Omri, Terence Cave 22 Oct 2013
45 Creative Commons The Oxford English Dictionary: From Victorian venture to the digital age endeavour Fiona McPherson, Senior Editor, Oxford English Dictionary, explores the OED's journey through the last century, from paper to screen, and how the digital age ensures that the OED remains as relevant as ever. Fiona McPherson 30 Sep 2013
46 Creative Commons Language and Medieval literature. The President of St John's College, Professor Margaret Snowling, in conversation with Dr Carolyne Larrington, Supernumerary Fellow in English at St John's. They discuss Carolyne's interest in medieval English literature. Dr Carolyne Larrington 23 Aug 2013
47 Creative Commons Dyslexia, Language and Learning to Read Eminent psychologist and President of St John's, Professor Margaret Snowling talks about her research for the Founder's Lecture 2013. Margaret Snowling 23 May 2013
48 Creative Commons The Merchant of Venice. ePub version of text The Merchant of Venice. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 20 Nov 2012
49 Creative Commons The Merchant of Venice This lecture on The Merchant of Venice discusses the ways the play's personal relationships are shaped by models of financial transaction, using the casket scenes as a central example. Emma Smith 20 Nov 2012
50 Creative Commons The Taming of the Shrew. ePub version of text THE Taming of the Shrew. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 09 Nov 2012
51 Creative Commons Taming of the Shrew Emma Smith uses evidence of early reception and from more recent productions to discuss the question of whether Katherine is tamed at the end of the play. Emma Smith 09 Nov 2012
52 Creative Commons A Midsommer Nights Dreame. ePub version of text A MIDSOMMER Nights Dreame. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 05 Nov 2012
53 Creative Commons A Midsummer Night's Dream This lecture on A Midsummer Night's Dream uses modern and early modern understandings of dreams to uncover a play less concerned with marriage and more with sexual desire. Emma Smith 05 Nov 2012
54 Creative Commons Language and History Prof. Simon Horobin examines how the English language has changed over time, addressing such vexed questions as whether Jane Austen could spell, the fate of the apostrophe and whether people who 'literally' explode with anger are corrupting the language. Simon Horobin 30 Oct 2012
55 Creative Commons Much adoe about Nothing. ePub version of text Much adoe about Nothing. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 30 Oct 2012
56 Creative Commons Much Ado About Nothing Emma Smith asks why the characters are so quick to believe the self-proclaimed villain Don John, drawing on gender and performance criticism to think about male bonding, the genre of comedy, and the impulses of modern performance. Emma Smith 30 Oct 2012
57 Creative Commons The tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke. ePub version of text The tragedie of HAMLET, Prince of Denmarke. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 23 Oct 2012
58 Creative Commons Hamlet The fact that father and son share the same name in Hamlet is used to investigate the play's nostalgia, drawing on biographical criticism and the religious and political history of early modern England. Emma Smith 23 Oct 2012
59 Creative Commons As you Like it. ePub version of text As you Like it. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 23 Oct 2012
60 Creative Commons As You Like It Asking 'what happens in As You Like It', this lecture considers the play's dramatic structure and its ambiguous use of pastoral, drawing on performance history, genre theory, and eco-critical approaches. Emma Smith 23 Oct 2012
61 Creative Commons Hard words, best words words in use, writing the inventory of english English, as its vocabulary confirms, is constantly on the move - both words and meaning act as witnesses to time and change, revealing the diverse pathways of contact and conflict with other nations, as well as changes in culture and identity. Lynda Mugglestone 09 Oct 2012
62 The causes of Specific Language Impairment Professor Dorothy Bishop gives a talk for the RALLI (Raising Awareness of Language Learning Impairments) Campaign on Language Impairments. Dorothy Bishop 23 Jul 2012
63 When Should We Be Worried About Late Talkers? Professor Dorothy Bishop gives a talk for the RALLI (Raising Awareness of Language Learning Impairments) Campaign. Dorothy Bishop 23 Jul 2012
64 Varieties of Language Impairment in Children Professor Dorothy Bishop gives a talk on the different types of language impairment in children. Dorothy Bishop 23 Jul 2012
65 Specific Language Impairment and Developmental Dyslexia: Syndromes, Memes and Illusions Professor Dorothy Bishop gives the keynote presentation at the 2012 British Psychological Society Annual Conference. Dorothy Bishop 23 Jul 2012
66 Creative Commons Metaphor and Synesthesia: Some Considerations on Expressive Blending April Pierce, DPhil Researcher at St Anne's College, Oxford, gives a talk on Metaphor and Synesthesia, a neurological condition. April Pierce 26 Apr 2012
67 Creative Commons The Tragedie Of King Lear. ePub version of text THE TRAGEDIE OF KING LEAR. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 22 Feb 2012
68 Creative Commons King Lear Showing how generations of critics - and Shakespeare himself - have rewritten the ending of King Lear, this sixteenth Approaching Shakespeare lecture engages with the question of tragedy and why it gives pleasure. Emma Smith 22 Feb 2012
69 Creative Commons The life and death of King Iohn. ePub version of text The life and death of King Iohn. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 10 Feb 2012
70 Creative Commons King John At the heart of King John is the death of his rival Arthur: this fifteenth lecture in the Approaching Shakespeare series looks at the ways history and legitimacy are complicated in this plotline. Emma Smith 10 Feb 2012
71 Creative Commons Pericles, Prince of Tyre Pericles has been on the margins of the Shakespearean canon: this fourteenth lecture in the Approaching Shakespeare series shows some of its self-conscious artistry and contemporary popularity. Emma Smith 01 Feb 2012
72 Creative Commons The Tragedy of Richard the Third: with the Landing of Earle Richmond, and the Battell at Bosworth Field. ePub version of text The Tragedy of Richard the Third: with the Landing of Earle Richmond, and the Battell at Bosworth Field. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 25 Jan 2012
73 Creative Commons Richard III In this thirteenth lecture in the Approaching Shakespeare series the focus is on the inevitability of the ending of Richard III: does the play endorse Richmond's final victory? Emma Smith 25 Jan 2012
74 Creative Commons The Comedie of Errors. ePub version of text The Comedie of Errors. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 23 Jan 2012
75 Creative Commons The Comedy of Errors Lecture 12 in the Approaching Shakespeare series asks how seriously we can take the farcical exploits of Comedy of Errors, drawing out the play's serious concerns with identity and selfhood. Emma Smith 23 Jan 2012
76 Creative Commons History of English Pronunciation Do we really know what Chaucer's poetry sounded like? Professor Simon Horobin introduces evidence that gives us an insight into the history of English pronunciation and explores what it tells us about how and why changes in language take place. Simon Horobin 30 Nov 2011
77 Creative Commons The First Part of Henry the Fourth, with the Life and Death of Henry Sirnamed Hot-spvrre. ePub version of text The First Part of Henry the Fourth, with the Life and Death of HENRY Sirnamed HOT-SPVRRE. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 16 Nov 2011
78 Creative Commons Henry IV part 1 Like generations of theatre-goers, this lecture concentrates on the (large) figure of Sir John Falstaff and investigates his role in Henry IV part 1. Lecture 11 in the Approaching Shakespeare series. Emma Smith 16 Nov 2011
79 Creative Commons The Tempest. ePub version of text THE TEMPEST. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 14 Nov 2011
80 Creative Commons The Tempest That the character of Prospero is a Shakespearean self-portrait is a common reading of The Tempest: this tenth Approaching Shakespeare lecture asks whether that is a useful reading of the play. Emma Smith 14 Nov 2011
81 Creative Commons The Tragedie Of Anthonie, and Cleopatra. ePub version of text THE TRAGEDIE OF Anthonie, and Cleopatra. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 10 Nov 2011
82 Creative Commons Antony and Cleopatra What kind of tragedy is this play, with its two central figures rather than a singular hero? The ninth lecture in the Approaching Shakespeare series tries to find out. Emma Smith 10 Nov 2011
83 Creative Commons Shakespeare and the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) Professor Charlotte Brewer introduces the methodology behind the creation of the OED and how current activity to update the Dictionary may reveal new evidence about Shakespeare's impact on the English Language. Charlotte Brewer 08 Nov 2011
84 Creative Commons The life and death of King Richard the Second. ePub version of text The life and death of King Richard the Second. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 01 Nov 2011
85 Creative Commons Richard II Lecture eight in the Approaching Shakespeare series asks the question that structures Richard II: does the play suggest Henry Bolingbroke's overthrow of the king was justified? Emma Smith 01 Nov 2011
86 Creative Commons English and Gender Professor Deborah Cameron explores some of the key theories surrounding the use of language by women and men. Are we really so different? Deborah Cameron 21 Oct 2011
87 Creative Commons Introduction to the MSt in English Language Professor Deborah Cameron introduces the new Master's course in English Language offered by the University of Oxford. Deborah Cameron 21 Oct 2011
88 Creative Commons Twelfe Night, Or what you will. ePub version of text Twelfe Night, Or what you will. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 20 Oct 2011
89 Creative Commons Twelfth Night The seventh Approaching Shakespeare lecture takes a minor character in Twelfth Night - Antonio - and uses his presence to open up questions of sexuality, desire and the nature of romantic comedy. Emma Smith 20 Oct 2011
90 Creative Commons The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus. ePub version of text The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 19 Oct 2011
91 Creative Commons Titus Andronicus Focusing in detail on one particular scene, and on critical responses to it, this sixth Approaching Shakespeare lecture on Titus Andronicus deals with violence, rhetoric, and the nature of dramatic sensationalism. Emma Smith 19 Oct 2011
92 4. Metaphor and Art James Grant, Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Oxford, discusses the use of metaphor to describe music and other artworks. James Grant 04 Jul 2011
93 3. Speaking in Metaphor James Grant, Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Oxford, discusses the question of how we succeed in communicating to others with metaphor. He also examines the question of whether all metaphors can be paraphrased. James Grant 04 Jul 2011
94 2. How Metaphors Mean James Grant, Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Oxford, discusses different theories about what gives metaphors the special meaning or content they have. James Grant 04 Jul 2011
95 1. What Metaphors Mean James Grant, Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Oxford, introduces some of the key concepts in discussions of metaphor in the philosophy of language. James Grant 04 Jul 2011
96 Creative Commons The Winters Tale. ePub version of text The Winter's Tale. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 09 Nov 2010
97 Creative Commons The Winter's Tale How we can make sense of a play that veers from tragedy to comedy and stretches credulity in its conclusion? That's the topic for this fifth Approaching Shakespeare lecture on The Winter's Tale. Emma Smith 09 Nov 2010
98 Creative Commons The Tragedie Of Macbeth. ePub version of text THE TRAGEDIE OF MACBETH. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 02 Nov 2010
99 Creative Commons Macbeth In this fourth Approaching Shakespeare lecture the question is one of agency: who or what makes happen the things that happen in Macbeth? Emma Smith 02 Nov 2010
100 Creative Commons Measvre, For Measure. ePub version of text MEASVRE, For Measure. / Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. William Shakespeare 27 Oct 2010