Linguist Answers Word Origin Questions | Tech Support | WIRED

Linguist Gareth Roberts joins WIRED to answer the internet’s burning questions about the etymologies of English words. How did the first languages first form? Was there once a single common language that all the others evolved from? When were swear words invented? Have words like “dude“ and “bro“ become gender neutral? Who came up with the word poop? Is “unalived“ a real word now? Answers to all of these questions and plenty more await on Etymology Support. 0:00 Etymology Support 0:14 Etymologies rock 1:05 Gender neutral dude bros 2:50 Silent letters: Why? 3:47 “Unalived” 4:55 Grimm’s Law 5:57 %^*&*%!!! 6:47 Making up new words 8:41 How did each language form? 12:05 What was there before we had language? 14:06 Orange 14:47 💩 15:09 Fall into Autumn 15:54 Did we ruin demure? 16:35 New Slang 18:00 NO 18:34 The Great Vowel Shift 19:51 Shakespeare! 20:34 Why did we stop saying ’thee’ and ‘thou?’ 21:57 …..word? 22:21 Pregnant: Origins 23:25 Doggos Director: Anna O’Donohue Director of Photography: Caleb Weiss Editor: Richard Trammell Expert: Gareth Roberts Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi Associate Producer: Brandon White Production Manager: Peter Brunette Production Coordinator: Rhyan Lark Casting Producer: Nicholas Sawyer Camera Operator: Christopher Eustache Sound Mixer: Sean Paulsen Production Assistant: Sonia Butt Post Production Supervisor: Christian Olguin Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen Additional Editor: Paul Tael; Jason Malizia Assistant Editor: Andy Morell Still haven’t subscribed to WIRED on YouTube? ►► Listen to the Get WIRED podcast ►► Want more WIRED? Get the magazine ►► Follow WIRED: Instagram ►► Twitter ►► Facebook ►► Tik Tok ►►@wired Get more incredible stories on science and tech with our daily newsletter: Also, check out the free WIRED channel on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Android TV. ABOUT WIRED WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. Through thought-provoking stories and videos, WIRED explores the future of business, innovation, and culture.