Word of Mouth

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BBC Radio 4 FM

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Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them

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Word of Mouth: The Language of the Pandemic

The Language of the Pandemic

BBC Radio 4 - Word of Mouth, The Language of the Pandemic

Professor Tanya Byron examines the language of Covid-19 with author Mark Honigsbaum.

Professor Tanya Byron sitting in for Michael Rosen examines the language of Covid-19 with author Mark Honigsbaum. Since the outbreak of coronavirus we have had to adopt a new way of talking about life during a pandemic. We've been 'shielding' and 'socially distancing'. Some of us have been 'furloughed'. We've been dismayed by the irresponsible behaviour of 'covidiots' and tried to avoid too much 'doom scrolling'. But has communication about the virus been clear and effective enough? Medical historian Mark Honigsbaum in his book The Pandemic Century - 100 years of Panic, Hysteria and Hubris - argues that words matter and that we should learn the lessons of previous pandemics from Spanish Flu to Ebola.

Producer: Maggie Ayre

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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Word of Mouth

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