First Words: How do children develop language?
Michael Rosen finds out about the first sounds, words and phrases that babies recognise and learn to say. He talks to author Tom Chatfield and his 15-month-old son, and to linguists Laura Wright and Kriszta Szendroi.
Producer: Beth O'Dea.
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Broadcasts
- Tue 16 Dec 201416:00BBC Radio 4 FM
- Christmas Day 201406:00BBC 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.
From blunk to brickfielder: our wonderful words for weather
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.
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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.
Podcast
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Word of Mouth
Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them
