#142 Classic episode – John McWhorter on why the optimal number of languages might be one, and other provocative claims about language
Published: January 6, 2026
Duration: 1:35:05
John McWhorter is a linguistics professor at Columbia University specialising in research on creole languages. He's also a content-producing machine, never afraid to give his frank opinion on anything and everything. On top of his academic work, he's written 22 books, produced five online university courses, hosts one and a half podcasts, and now writes a regular New York Times op-ed column.
Rebroadcast: this episode was originally released in December 2022.
YouTube video version: https://youtu.be/MEd7TT_nMJE
Links to learn more, video, and full transcript: https://80k.link/JM
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