John McWhorter on the random chance of language change.

Much of Language Is Random Chance

Much of Language Is Random Chance

Slate
Lexicon Valley
A show about the mysteries of English.
Nov. 14 2017 1:15 PM

Sometimes Just Because

Language is often at the mercy of pure chance.

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Listen to Lexicon Valley Episode No. 122:

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John McWhorter looks at the ways languages develop and concludes that sometimes its just a matter of chance.

You’ll find every Lexicon Valley episode at slate.com/lexiconvalley, or in the player below:

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Podcast production by Mike Vuolo.