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Naming Family Relationships - Step, Half or 'Blended'?
Michael Rosen and Laura Wright look at the names people give to family relationships, like step, half or 'blended', with Dr Wednesday Martin. What effect do the words chosen have?
Michael Rosen & Dr Laura Wright consider the names we give to our family relationships: stepmother, half-brother or "blended" family. Author and social critic Dr Wednesday Martin has strong opinions on the effects of these linguistic choices. Where do the words we use for our relatives come from and what do the choices we make say about us?
Producer Beth O'Dea.
Last on
Mon 4 May 201523:30
BBC Radio 4
Broadcasts
- Tue 28 Apr 201516:00BBC Radio 4
- Mon 4 May 201523:30BBC Radio 4
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Word of Mouth
Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them












