04/01/2011
Michael Rosen lends an ear to the last fifty years of the song-lyric and debates the influence of Bob Dylan.
In January 1961 in New York's Greenwich Village, Bob Dylan was beginning a career that would revolutionise song-writing. Michael Rosen lends an ear to the last fifty years of the song-lyric.
Dylanologist Michael Gray explains why Bob matters. A sceptical David Quantick argues that Dylan's influence was not entirely helpful to rock music. And singer-songwriter KT Tunstall pays tribute to one of her biggest influences.
Producer: Peter Everett.
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Broadcasts
- Tue 4 Jan 201116:00BBC Radio 4
- Mon 10 Jan 201123:00BBC Radio 4
Listen to Michael Rosen in conversation with The Open University
Hear Michael reveal his own language journey.
Idioms Quiz
Explore why languages have idioms with The Open University’s quiz.
Explore the OU’s Cultural Idioms Guide
Explore how some cultural idioms entered the English Language.
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Exploring creative descriptions for wind, rainfall and sunny spells from around the world
Digital body language – how to communicate better online
We need to find new ways of talking to each other “virtually”.
Coinages that changed the world – and some that tried to...
Exploring the hidden histories of obscure words, and common buzz phrases.
Ittibitium, borborygmus, and Ba humbugi – 14 wonderful science words you’ve never heard of
Michael Rosen puts the language of science under the microscope.
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Keywords for Our Time
Series of programmes examining key phrases in public debate.
Smiley face: Seven things you didn't know about emoji
Some facts about emoji - possibly the world's first truly global form of communication.
The funny words that kids invent
Have a look at some of the fantastic words that children invent and reimagine.
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Word of Mouth
Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them
