A Word in Your Ear

ABC Radio

Emeritus Professor Roly Sussex walks you through the linguistic mindfield, explaining the weird and wonderful aspects of English and many other languages.

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A Word In Your Ear with Professor Roly Sussex

A Word in Your Ear

05/18/17 • 24 min

Your favourite bugbear this afternoon - Americanisms. Language Professor Roly Sussex is having a "Word In Your Ear"

A Word in Your Ear

02/03/18 • 24 min

Roly Sussex is talking about words which appear to be vanishing from everyday use.

The Professor Roly Sussex Debate

A Word in Your Ear

08/29/17 • 61 min

Roly Sussex has been with the ABC for two decades now, and to celebrate, a special debate was held in Roly’s honour.

A Word in Your Ear with Professor Roly Sussex

A Word in Your Ear

04/13/17 • 20 min

Although most of us have been taught at school not to use the word 'get' in writing, it's still the third most common verb in the English language after 'be' and 'have'.

A Word in Your Ear with Professor Roly Sussex: everyday Latin

A Word in Your Ear

04/27/17 • 26 min

The English language has adopted many Latin expressions and abbreviations. Professor Roly Sussex helps to sort your "ipso facto" from your "carpe diem".

A Word in Your Ear with Professor Roly Sussex: Changing language across generations

A Word in Your Ear

04/20/17 • 23 min

We don't speak English the same way as they did in Shakespeare's day, so why would we expect to be communicating in the same way as we did in the 1950s or even the 70s?

A Word in Your Ear with Professor Roly Sussex: The informality of Australian English

A Word in Your Ear

04/06/17 • 23 min

Today we look at the informality of English as used in Australia, and the ways in which it is less formal than in many other countries.

A Word In Your Ear with Professor Roly Sussex: Military words and expressions

A Word in Your Ear

03/23/17 • 47 min

Military words and expressions turn up in everyday usage, but few people know where they really come from. Roly Sussex is joined here by military historian and journalist, Major Ross Eastgate to discuss the language of the armed forces.