Rephonic
Artwork for Because Language

Because Language - a podcast about linguistics, the science of language.

Daniel Midgley, Ben Ainslie, and Hedvig Skirgård
Linguistics
Language
Grammar
Language Origins
Prehistory
Misinformation
Communication
Cultural Evolution
Subject-Verb Agreement
Social Media Polls
Education
Etymology
Trans-Inclusive Language
Lexicography
Neanderthals
Homo Erectus
Social Interaction
Linguistic Diversity
Gender Identity
Cognitive Linguistics

A podcast about linguistics, the science of language.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes100Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesEducationLanguage LearningScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Because Language

Latest Episodes

You know the story. The language you speak doesn't determine your savings. If your language has a future tense, there's no impact on the way you see or describe the future. Language and perception are separate.

Well, maybe it's time to revisit this... more

YouTube

We've asked linguists about how language began, but what would an evolutionary biologist tell you? Prof Madeleine Beekman says it's part of a complex web of body, brain, and community, and at the heart of it is (perhaps surprisingly) childcare. Madel... more

YouTube

Among so many great word games, crosswords still reign supreme. How have they survived — and even expanded — in our digital age? What goes into a good puzzle, and will computer techniques take over? Daniel chats with author Natan Last about his book ... more

YouTube

The "Oh" show was an experimental linguistics performance lecture. It happened in June 2025 at Creative Time HQ in New York City. Actors, musicians, and audience came together (with at least one linguist!) to act out dialogues from conversational ana... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Lexicon Valley
Lexicon ValleyLexicon Valley
The Allusionist
The AllusionistHelen Zaltzman
Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess ZafarrisWords Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris

Recent Guests

Dr. Séan Roberts
Researcher focused on linguistics and perception.
Cardiff University
Episode: 130: Back to the FTR (with Séan Roberts, Cole Robertson, and Annemarie Verkerk)
Dr. Cole Robertson
Expert in linguistics and large language models.
Radboud University and Emory University
Episode: 130: Back to the FTR (with Séan Roberts, Cole Robertson, and Annemarie Verkerk)
Madeleine Beekman
Professor Emerita at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
Episode: 129: They Started It: Children and Language Evolution (with Madeleine Beekman)
Natan Last
Crossword constructor and author
The New Yorker and The New York Times
Episode: 128: Across the Universe (with Natan Last)
Maia Chao
Visual artist focused on linguistics and performance
Episode: 127: Oh (with Maia Chao, Kelly Wright, and Caitlin Green)
Martha Barnette
Linguist and co-host of A Way With Words
A Way With Words
Episode: 125: Friends With Words (live with Martha Barnette and friends)
Adam Aleksic
Linguist, science communicator, and author of Algospeak
Episode: 124: Algospeak (with Adam Aleksic)
Karen Yin
Author of The Conscious Style Guide
Episode: 123: Conscious Language (with Karen Yin)
Professor Stephen Levinson
Emeritus Director of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics and author of 'The Interaction Engine'
Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics
Episode: 122: The Interaction Engine (with Stephen Levinson)

Hosts

Daniel Midgley
Host and co-host of the discussions on a wide array of linguistic topics, providing humor and insightful commentary.
Ben Ainsley
Co-host known for his comedic approach and accessibility in discussing complex language topics.
Hedvig Hüregard
Co-host with a strong background in linguistics, bringing intelligent and quirky insights to the show.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 316 ratings
  • Excellent!

    I’ve loved this podcast for a long time! So much fun

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    W Nelly
    United States21 days ago
  • Juvenile Nonsense

    I could barely make it through half an episode of this drivel. The host is embarrassingly uninformed and seems more worried about virtue signaling than actually understanding how language works.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    noname2771
    United States6 months ago
  • I adore this podcast!

    I teach linguistics and recommend it to my students who also love it! The Patreon community is fantastic! This is my nerd tribe. 🤓

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AAMC544
    United Statesa year ago
  • Quality production with pro level hosts at keeping the conversation engaging, without veering off into unrelated topics. They seamlessly transition between segments, creating a laid-back atmosphere: it feels like you're just hanging out with friends. As a non linguist, I appreciate how the hosts & guests break down complex topics in a way that is easy to grasp. They strike the perfect balance between informative & approachable, never coming across as condescending or preachy.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Kade
    a year ago
  • Best Sci Coms on the Internet

    Now that I am out of college but pre-grad school, I found it hard to keep up with the state of the field. I felt as if y’all were heaven sent when I stumbled upon your podcast. Y’all are amazing science communicators, give real times updates on the latest science, and are overall hilarious. Also y’all have awesome politics. It’s like can we be friends?? Anyway, I feel like I just learn so much from y’all as a budding linguist, educator, and science communicator myself. As I like to tell my stude... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nati (nɑtɪ)
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the engaging and informative discussions that balance humor with academic content.
Some critics feel it has become too niche or US-centric over time, potentially alienating diverse linguistic experiences.
The podcast is highly recommended for its approachable take on complex linguistic concepts and its relevance to social issues.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

130: Back to the FTR (with Séan Roberts, Cole Robertson, and Annemarie Verkerk)
Q: Cole, could you tell us what you're into?
I have a fairly eclectic background and did a master's in cognitive and evolutionary anthropology.
130: Back to the FTR (with Séan Roberts, Cole Robertson, and Annemarie Verkerk)
Q: Séan, could you tell us a little about what you've been doing?
I'm really interested in methods, particularly statistical methods and sort of big data stuff.
124: Algospeak (with Adam Aleksic)
Q: What can we learn about the algorithm? What have you learned about these methods that you need to adhere to if you want your material to be shown at all?
You have to do edutainment. There's no other way to spread your message as content seeks entertainment to go viral.
123: Conscious Language (with Karen Yin)
Q: Have you ever had a time when you disagreed with someone on some point?
Yes, it happens all the time, and I may or may not point it out depending on the situation.
121: Learning from LLMs (with Adele Goldberg)
Q: How do large language models mitigate biases?
They are trained to avoid stereotypes and hateful language by employing human feedback on what constitutes helpful responses.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Because Language

What is Because Language about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the fascinating world of linguistics, this podcast focuses on the science of language and its multifaceted implications in everyday life. Through insightful discussions and engaging conversations with experts in the field, the show covers an array of topics including language evolution, language games, social communication, and the intersection of language with technology and culture. It also emphasizes the relevance of linguistic knowledge to social justice and personal identity, making it accessible and engaging for both linguistics enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. Rather than sticking to a traditional format, the hosts blend humor with educational content, resulting in lively episodes that entertain while provoking thoug... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Because Language?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Because Language. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Because Language and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Because Language get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Because Language, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Because Language?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Because Language, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Because Language have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Because Language has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Because Language?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Because Language:

1. Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
2. Lexicon Valley
3. The Allusionist
4. Words Unravelled with RobWords and Jess Zafarris
5. The History of English Podcast

How many episodes of Because Language are there?

Because Language launched 15 years ago and published 100 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Because Language?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Because Language?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Because Language from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Because Language?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Because Language. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Because Language?

Recent guests on Because Language include:

1. Dr. Séan Roberts
2. Dr. Cole Robertson
3. Madeleine Beekman
4. Natan Last
5. Maia Chao
6. Martha Barnette
7. Adam Aleksic
8. Karen Yin

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days