Episode

Who invented the English language?

Podcast: But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
Published: Aug 8, 2025
Duration seconds: 2070
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Canonical source: http://www.vermontpublic.org/podcast/but-why-a-podcast-for-curious-kids/2025-08-06/who-invented-the-english-language
Audio: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/tracking.swap.fm/track/sblTq32fyWAjsHzze2LG/dovetail.prxu.org/_/326/7412559d-3fd9-4f09-a386-e72969a9694d/ButWhy_Words_Ep268.mp3
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Summary

Where did the English language come from? Why do words have silent letters? Why do some people have accents? Why do some words sound similar? Answers to all of your questions about English and words with sociolinguist Erica Brozovsky, host of a PBS digital show called Otherwords . Download our learning guides: PDF | Google Slide | Transcript