These Words Don’t Mean What They Used To | Otherwords
From Storied.
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Sometimes, words can change their meaning in just one or two generations! Here's how it can happen...
Otherwords is a PBS web series on Storied that digs deep into this quintessential human trait of language and finds the fascinating, thought-provoking, and funny stories behind the words and sounds we take for granted. Incorporating the fields of biology, history, cultural studies, literature, and more, linguistics has something for everyone and offers a unique perspective on what it means to be human.
Host: Erica Brozovsky, Ph.D.
Creator/Director: Andrew Matthews & Katie Graham
Writer: Taylor Behnke
Producer: Katie Graham
Editor/Animation: Dano Johnson
Executive Producer: Amanda Fox
Fact Checker: Yvonne McGreevy
Executive in Charge for PBS: Maribel Lopez
Director of Programming for PBS: Gabrielle Ewing
Assistant Director of Programming for PBS: John Campbell
Stock Images from Shutterstock
Music from APM Music
Otherwords is a production of Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.
© 2026 PBS. All rights reserved.
sources:
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/chat_v1?tab=meaning_and_use#9632378
https://www.parents.com/why-kids-are-calling-each-other-chat-11759362
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B0080448542010178?via%3Dihub
https://traugott.people.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj28616/files/media/file/traugott2017a.pdf
https://traugott.people.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj28616/files/media/file/traugott2017a.pdf
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2021/5/4/22418174/cheugy-hey-bestie-girlie-tiktok-girlboss
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/chapter/referencework/abs/pii/B0080448542010178?via%3Dihub
https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/a-short-history-of-hack
https://www.vox.com/2014/4/22/5636156/basic-a-beginners-guide-to-everyones-favorite-new-insult
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/unplug_v?tab=meaning_and_use#1316792470
Otherwords is a PBS web series on Storied that digs deep into this quintessential human trait of language and finds the fascinating, thought-provoking, and funny stories behind the words and sounds we take for granted. Incorporating the fields of biology, history, cultural studies, literature, and more, linguistics has something for everyone and offers a unique perspective on what it means to be human.
Host: Erica Brozovsky, Ph.D.
Creator/Director: Andrew Matthews & Katie Graham
Writer: Taylor Behnke
Producer: Katie Graham
Editor/Animation: Dano Johnson
Executive Producer: Amanda Fox
Fact Checker: Yvonne McGreevy
Executive in Charge for PBS: Maribel Lopez
Director of Programming for PBS: Gabrielle Ewing
Assistant Director of Programming for PBS: John Campbell
Stock Images from Shutterstock
Music from APM Music
Otherwords is a production of Spotzen for PBS Digital Studios.
© 2026 PBS. All rights reserved.
sources:
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/chat_v1?tab=meaning_and_use#9632378
https://www.parents.com/why-kids-are-calling-each-other-chat-11759362
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B0080448542010178?via%3Dihub
https://traugott.people.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj28616/files/media/file/traugott2017a.pdf
https://traugott.people.stanford.edu/sites/g/files/sbiybj28616/files/media/file/traugott2017a.pdf
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2021/5/4/22418174/cheugy-hey-bestie-girlie-tiktok-girlboss
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/chapter/referencework/abs/pii/B0080448542010178?via%3Dihub
https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/a-short-history-of-hack
https://www.vox.com/2014/4/22/5636156/basic-a-beginners-guide-to-everyones-favorite-new-insult
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/unplug_v?tab=meaning_and_use#1316792470
