The World in Words 17: global swearology, Georgian polyphony and a nonsense song

The World
The World

For blogger Stephen Dodson (languagehat.com), swearing is liberation. And the more languages you can swear in, the more liberated you’ll feel. Dodson is the co-author of a new book on global cursing, and we feature an interview with him. Also this week, the story of YouTube sensation (now that’s a 2008 cliche) Peter Nalitch, a Russian who sings nonsense English. And we’ll hear from a group of Georgian choral singers. They’re part of a revival of Georgian-language hymns and folk songs following decades of Soviet repression. It’s some of the most hauntingly beautiful music I’ve ever heard.

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