The Pandemic's Effect on Language
Do Covid masks make it difficult to understand speech? That depends on your language.
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Show Notes
Turns out that some languages are less intelligible through a mask than others, and, believe it or not, it all depends on how often you use certain consonants. It’s called the McGurk effect and it’s the closest that linguistics comes to actual magic.
Visit Lexicon Valley. A Booksmart Studios production. Episode 222: "The Pandemic's Effect on Language." With John McWhorter. Produced and edited by Mike Vuolo. All rights reserved.
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