Word for Word

#10 What's in a name?

Sep 05, 2017

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Or would it? In this episode, we dive headfirst into the history of naming. Tiger Webb from ABC Language helps us get to grips with given name trends, surname extinction and Australian place naming; the Macquarie Dictionary editors peel back the secret stories behind everyday eponyms; and Kate is hard at work cuddling babies.

Join us as we explore our language: the ways we use it, the ways we abuse it, and the ways we ultimately change it.

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Additional links

Given Names series on Radio National

Pronunciation of Wauchope

Acknowledgements

Word for Word is produced by Kate Sherington for Macquarie Dictionary and Pan Macmillan Australia.

Thanks to the wonderful Tiger Webb and to Melanie and her lovely crew of mums and bubs.

Stephen Bradbury clip used by permission of Seven.

"Jeffed" clip courtesy of the Australian Parliamentary Library.

Chopin's funeral march performed by The Edison Concert Band (1906) via the Public Domain Review.

Other sound effects and clips are public domain or royalty-free.

Music used in this episode is by Broke For Free, available from the Free Music Archive and used by permission of the artist. Find more music by Broke for Free including The Gold Lining; and If.

Additional music used in this episode can be found here: Prison lock from Dizzy Banjo via Freesound, Shop door from Shall 555 via Freesound, Golf clap from Kellie's Kitchen via Freesound, Fanfare from Neonaeon via Freesound, and Bush atmos from Kangaroo Vindaloo.

Our logo is by Amy Sherington.