Category: Language

Omniglot News (28/09/25)

By Simon

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Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Turu (Kιnyatυrυ, Kιrιmi), a Bantu language spoken in the Singida Region in central Tanzania.
  • Pnar (Ka Ktien Pnar), a Khasi-Palaungic language spoken in northeastern India and northeastern Bangladesh.
  • Wenzi (LiWenzi), a Bantu language spoken in the Kigoma Region in northwestern Tanzania.
  • Dimasa (Grao-Dima), a Brahmaputran language spoken in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur in the northeast of India.

New numbers pages:

  • Tz’utujil (Tz’utujiil), a Mayan language spoken in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.
  • Dimasa (Grao-Dima), a Brahmaputran language spoken in Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram in the northeast of India.
  • Tuyuca (Docapúaraye), an Eastern Tucanoan language spoken mainly in southeastern Colombia, and also in northwestern Brazil.

New constructed script: Latillawa, an alternative way to write Hindi inspired by the Pallawa script devised by Ezekiel-James.

Sample text in Latillawa

New adapted script: Cirth for Hungarian, a way to write Hungarian using Tolkien’s Cirth alphabet devised by Murray Callahan.

Sample text in Cirth for Hungarian

On the Omniglot blog there a new post entitled Select Choices in which we look at some Swahili words for selection, choice, listening and related things, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken mainly in New York in the USA.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Awa Pit (Cuaiquer), a Barbacoan language spoken in southern Colombia and northern Ecuador.

In this week’s Celtic Pathways podcast, Rich Kingdoms, we discover the Celtic roots of words for kingdom, rich and related things in Germanic, Romance and other languages.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Crested Combs about words for comb, crest and related things in the Celtic languages.

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

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Celtic Pathways – Rich Kingdoms

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode we discover the Celtic roots of words for kingdom, rich and related things in Germanic, Romance and other languages.

Kings & Queens

The Proto-Celtic word *rīgyom means kingdom, and comes from Proto-Indo-European *h₃rḗǵs (king). Related words in Proto-Celtic include *rīxs (king) and *rīganī (queen) [source]

Related in the modern Celtic languages include:

  • rí [ɾˠiː] = king and banríon [bˠau(n̪ˠ)ˈɾˠiːnʲ] = queen in Irish
  • rìgh [r̪ʲi] = king and banrigh [bãũn̪r̪ʲɪ] = queen in Scottish Gaelic
  • ree [ɾiː] = king and benrein = queen in Manx
  • rhi [r̥iː] = king and rhiain (woman, girl, queen, lady) in Welsh
  • ri = king in Cornish
  • ri [ˈʁiː] = king in Breton

More details of words for king, queen and related things in Celtic languages can be found in the Celtiadur post Kings and Queens.

The Proto-Celtic word *rīgyom (kingdom) was borrowed into Proto-Germanic as *rīkiją (rulership, goverment, authority, realm, kingdom), and is the root of such words as rijk (realm, kingdom, empire, state) in Dutch, Reich (empire, state, realm) in German, říše (realm, empire, kingdom) in Czech, and rike (realm, kingdom, empire, nation) in Swedish [source].

The Proto-Celtic word *rīxs (king) was borrowed into Proto-Germanic as *rīkijaz (kingly, royal, noble, mighty, powerful, rich), which became rich in English, ryk (rich, wealthy) in Afrikaans, ricco (rich, wealthy, affluent) in Italian, and rikas (rich, wealthy, opulent, plentiful) in Finnish [source].

The Proto-Celtic word *rīxs (king) also found its way into names such as Friedrich and Heinrich in German, Henrik in Dutch (and other languages), and Roderick, Frederick, Henry and Richard in English [source].

Other words from PIE root *h₃rḗǵs (king) include rey (king) and reina (queen) in Spanish, रानी (rānī – queen, princess) in Hindi, and royal, regal, viceroy and maybe realm in English [source].

Incidentally, the continents of America (initially it referred just to South America, then to North America as well) were named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, and the name Amerigo comes ultimately from the Proto-Germanic name Amalarīks, from amalą (hard work, stuggle) and *rīks (king, ruler), from Proto-Celtic *rīxs (king) [source].

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.




Omniglot News (21/09/25)

By Simon

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Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Shambala (Kisambaa), a Bantu language spoken in the Tanga Region in northern Tanzania.
  • Suabo (nidáibo), a Trans-New Guinea language spoken in Southwest Papua Province in eastern Indonesia.
  • Tongwe (Sitongwe), a Bantu language spoken in the Kigoma Region in northwestern Tanzania.

New numbers pages:

  • Bamunka (Ŋgieməkɔʼkə), a Southern Bantoid language spoken mainly in the North West Region of Cameroon.
  • Fon (Fɔngbè), a Niger-Congo language spoken in southern Benin and southern Togo.
  • Seychelles Creole (Seselwa), a French-based creole spoken in the Seychelles.

New adapted script: Angerthas Rossiya (Ангертас Россия), a way to write Russian with Tolkien’s Cirth alphabet devised by Murray Callahan.

Sample text in Angerthas Rossiya

New adapted script: Modern Arabic Latin Script (Al-Ƹarabijà al-Latinijjà al-moƹaṣir), a way to write Arabic with the Latin script devised by Sheth Al-Ghamidi.

Sample text in Modern Arabic Latin Script

On the Omniglot blog there a new post entitled Good Intentions we look into the origins of the expression the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken mainly in Colombia.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Liangmai (Lianglad), a Kuki-Chin-Naga language spoken in Nagaland and Manipur in the northeast of India.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology, Rest Awhile, we take awhile to unravel the roots of the word while, and discover what it has to do with resting.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Whey about words for whey and related things in Celtic languages

Improved pages: Cirth script and Garhwali phrases

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

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Adventures in Etymology – Rest Awhile

By Simon

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What does the word while have to do with resting? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology on Radio Omniglot.

Lying in the sun

While [waɪl / wæl] as a noun means an uncertain duration of time, a period of time, or an uncertain long (or short) period of time. As a conjunction it means during that same time, although or as long as, and as a verb it means to pass (time) idly, e.g. to while away hours, days, etc. or to occupy or entertain (sb) in order to let time pass.

It comes from Middle English whyle [ˈhwiːl(ə)] (while), from Old English hwīl [xwiːl] (while, period of time), from Proto-West Germanic *hwīlu (period of time, pause, while), from Proto-Germanic *hwīlō [ˈxʷiː.lɔː] (time, while, break, pause, period of rest), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (to rest, rest, peace) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include pokój (room, peace) in Polish, quedo (quite, still) in Spanish, quitter (to leave, quit) in French, tranquillo (calm, sober, tranquil) in Italian, hvile (rest, repose) in Danish, and quiet, quit, quite, quiescent, acquiesce, tranquil, requiem, and coy in English [source].

I hope that reading and/or listening to this podcast has been worth your while. In a while, there will be a new Adventure in Etymology. Meanwhile, you might find it worthwhile to while away a little (or long) while look at / listening to past episodes of this and other Radio Omniglot podcasts.

By the way, if someone tells you they’ll do something in a little while or in a while, how long would you expect to wait?

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com

I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.




Omniglot News (14/09/25)

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Rangi (Kɨlaangi), a Bantu language spoken in the Kondoa District of the Dodoma Region in central Tanzania.
  • Suabo (nidáibo), a Trans-New Guinea language spoken in Southwest Papua Province in eastern Indonesia.
  • Oko (Ọ̀kọ), a Volta-Niger language spoken mainly in the Ogori-Magongo LGA in Kogi State in the south of Nigeria.
  • Northern Popoloca (Ngigua / Ngiiwa̱), a Popolocan language spoken in the state of Puebla in southern Mexico.

New numbers pages:

  • Suabo (nidáibo), a Trans-New Guinea language spoken in Southwest Papua Province in eastern Indonesia.
  • Oko (Ọ̀kọ), a Volta-Niger language spoken mainly in the Ogori-Magongo LGA in Kogi State in the south of Nigeria.
  • Tai Laing (တႆးလꧥင်ꩽ), a Southwestern Tai language spoken in the Sagaing Region and in Kachin State in northern Myanmar.

New adapted script: Finnish Runes (ᛋᚢᚮᛗᛆᛚᛆᛁᛋᛖᛏ ᚱᛁᛁᛗᚢᛏ), a way to write Finnish using the Runic alphabet devised by Murray Callahan.

Sample text in Finnish Runes

New adapted script: Katalog (𑼒𑼔𑼭𑼴𑼔𑽁), a way to write Tagalog with the Kawi script divised by Chen Carson D. Callueng.

Sample text in Katalog

On the Omniglot blog there’s a new post entitled Nesting Niches in which we find connections between the words niche and nest, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in the northeast of India.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Even (эвэды торэн), a Northern Tungusic language spoken mainly in the Sakha, Northern Magadan, Chukot and Koryak regions in the Far Eastern Federal District of the Russian Federation.

In this week’s Celtic Pathways podcast, Engaged Hostages, we discover the Celtic roots of words for hostage in Germanic languages, and words related to engagement in Finnic languages.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Winnowing Wheat about words for wheat, winnowing and related things in Celtic languages

Improved page: Kawi script.

In other news, the number of subscribers to the Omniglot YouTube channel passed 3,000 this week, and I’d like to thank everyone who has subscribed to the channel. If you’re not aware of the channel, it’s been there since 2007, you can find it at youtube.com/@omniglot. It contains videos versions of Adventures in Etymology, Celtic Pathways and other Radio Omniglot podcasts, videos of songs and tunes I’ve written, and videos of linguistic and musical events I’ve taken part in.

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Unlimited Web Hosting - Kualo

Celtic Pathways – Engaged Hostages

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode we discover the Celtic roots of words for hostage in Germanic languages, and words related to engagement in Finnic languages.

Give me the best tuna can, or I will kill the hostage!

The Proto-Celtic word *geistlos means hostage or bail, and comes from Proto-Indo-European *gʰeydʰ- (to yearn for, to desire) [source]

Descendents in the modern Celtic languages include:

  • giall [ɟiəl̪ˠ] = hostage, pledge in Irish
  • giall [gʲiəl̪ˠ] = hostage, pledge in Scottish Gaelic
  • gioal = pledge, stake, wager in Manx
  • gwystl [ɡwɨ̞sdl] = pledge, assurance, security in Welsh
  • gostel = hostage, riot in Cornish
  • gouestl [ˈɡwestl] = hostage, pledge, guarantee in Breton

More details of words for hostage and related things in Celtic languages can be found in the Celtiadur post Captive Hostages.

Words from the same Proto-Celtic root, via Proto-Germanic *gīslaz (hostage), include gijzelen (to take hostage) in Dutch, Geisel (hostage) in German, and gissel (hostage) in Norwegian [source].

The Finnish words kihlata (to betroth) and kihlajaislahja (engagement present), the Estonian word kihlatu (to betroth) also come from the same Proto-Celtic roots via Proto-Germanic *gīslaz (hostage) and Proto-Finnic *kihla (pledge, bet, wager, engagement gift) [source].

Words from the same PIE root (*gʰeydʰ-) include geisti (to desire, crave, covet) in Lithuanian, gaidīt (to wait, expect) in Latvian, ždát (to ask) in Czech, and ждати (ždáty – to wait for, expect) in Ukrainian [source].

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.




Omniglot News (07/09/25)

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Inuinnaqtun (ᐃᓄᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓐ‎), an Inuit language spoken in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories in northern Canada.
  • Pare (Kipare), a Northeast Coast Bantu language spoken the Kilimanjaro Region in northeastern Tanzania.
  • Kwamera (Nɨninɨfe), a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Tanna Island in Tafea Province in the south of Vanuatu.

New numbers pages:

  • Inuinnaqtun (ᐃᓄᐃᓐᓇᖅᑐᓐ‎), an Inuit language spoken in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories in northern Canada.
  • Kwamera (Nɨninɨfe), a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Tanna Island in Tafea Province in the south of Vanuatu.
  • Luchazi (Chiluchazi), a Bantu language spoken mainly in Angola, and also in Zambia and Namibia.

New constructed script: Mata Kain, an alternative script for Malay and Indonesian created by Muhammad Rasyid Taufiqul Hafidz and inspired by traditional Malay weaving patterns.

Sample text in Mata Kain

New constructed script: Artist’s Neo-English, an alternative way to write English designed by Nixon Nguyen.

Sample text in Artist's Neo-English

On the Omniglot blog there a new post entitled Yielding Payment in which we find connections between the word yield and payments, tax and gold, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in Siberia.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Xârâcùù, a Southern New Caledonian language spoken in the North Province of New Caledonia.

In this week’s Adventure in Etymology, Unkempt Combs, we find links between the words unkempt, comb and cam, and find out whether you be just kempt.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Winnowing Wheat about words for wheat, winnowing and related things in Celtic languages

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Unlimited Web Hosting - Kualo

Adventures in Etymology – Unkempt Combs

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

You can be unkempt, but can you be just kempt? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology on Radio Omniglot.

Llama, Unkempt
An unkempt llama

Unkempt [ˌʌnˈkɛmpt] means uncombed or dishevelled (hair), disorderly, untidy, messy, rough or unpolished.

It comes from unkemmed, from Middle English kembed (well-combed, neat), from kemben [ˈkɛm(b)ən] (to comb), from Old English cemben [ˈkem.bɑn] (to comb), from Proto-West Germanic *kambijan (to comb), from Proto-Germanic *kambijaną (to comb), from *kambaz (comb) from Proto-Indo-European *ǵómbʰos (tooth, peg), from *ǵembʰ- (to bite, chomp) [source].

combs
Combs

Words from the same roots possibly include dhëmb (tooth) in Albanian, zub (tooth) in Slovak, kampa (comb) and hammas (tooth, cog, sprocket) in Finnish, kam (comb, ridge) in Dutch, and comb in English [source].

The word kempt does exist in English and means neat and tidy, especially when talking about hair. These days it is usually used humorously, but it was more commonly used in the past [source].

Camshaft
A camshaft

Incidentally, the English word cam, as in camshaft, camwheel, etc, comes from the same roots, via Dutch kam (comb, ridge). The Dutch word was also borrowed into French as came (cam, stuff, trinket), Italian as camma (cam), and into other languages [source]

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com

I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.




Omniglot News (31/08/25)

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Omniglot News

Here’s the latest news from the world of Omniglot.

New language pages:

  • Naman, a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Malekula Island in central Vanuatu.
  • Mbugu (kiMbugu) / Maʼa (kiMaʼa), a Bantu language spoken in the Lushoto District in the Tanga Region in the northeast of Tanzania.
  • Mwerlap (N̄wërlap), a Southern Oceanic language spoken in the Banks Islands in Torba Province of Vanuatu.

New adapted script: Tang-galog (𗒨𗓸𗈒𗄀𗄻𗄀𗈒), a way to write Tagalog with the Tangut script devised by Chen Carson D. Callueng.

Sample text in Tang-galog

New adapted script: New Futhorch (ᚾᚣᚹ ᚠᚢᚧᚩᚱᚳ), a way to write Modern English with Old English / Anglo-Saxon runes devised by John Higgins.

Sample text in New Futhorch

New numbers pages:

  • Naman, a Southern Oceanic language spoken on Malekula Island in central Vanuatu.
  • Mwerlap (N̄wërlap), a Southern Oceanic language spoken in the Banks Islands in Torba Province of Vanuatu.
  • Newar (नेपाल भाषा), a Tibeto-Burman language spoken mainly in central Nepal, and also in northern India.

On the Omniglot blog there a new post entitled Facting Facts about the verbification of the word fact, and other fact-related factlets, factettes and factoids, and there’s the usual Language Quiz. See if you can guess what language this is:

Here’s a clue: this language is spoken in New Caledonia.

The mystery language in last week’s language quiz was Iramba (Nilamba), a Bantu language spoken in the Singida Region in central Tanzania.

In this week’s Celtic Pathways podcast, Birches, we unearth the Celtic roots of words birch (tree) in various languages.

It’s also available on Instagram and TikTok.

On the Celtiadur blog there’s a new post entitled Coughing about words for cough and various other things in Celtic languages, and I made improvements to the posts entitled To Choke and Birch (Trees).

Eastgate, Chester

In other news, I spent yesterday exploring Chester with Richard Simcott and Israel Lai (see photo below), friends I know from language-related events. Richard was our guide – he grew up in Chester and has relatives there, although he lives in North Macedonia. He’s studied even more languages than I have, runs the Speaking Fluently blog, and is the organiser of the Polyglot Conference and other language-related events. Israel is a composer, language enthusiast and podcaster from Hong Kong, who lives in Mancester, where he did a PhD in music composition. He has also studied many languages, including Welsh, and runs the blog Rhapsody in Lingo and a podcast 絮言．狂想 (seoi5jin4 kwong4soeng2), which discusses language and linguistics in Cantonese. We had a great time exploring the city and nerding out about language-related things.

Chester canal

More of my photos of Chester

For more Omniglot News, see:
https://www.omniglot.com/news/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/omniglot/
https://www.facebook.com/Omniglot-100430558332117

JapanesePod101.com

You can also listen to this podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Podchaser.

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.




Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

Unlimited Web Hosting - Kualo

Celtic Pathways – Birches

By Simon

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode we unearth the Celtic roots of words for birch (tree) in various languages.

Birch forest

The Proto-Celtic word *betuyā means birch tree, and comes from Proto-Indo-European *gʷetu-yo-s, from *gʷet- (resin, gum) [source].

Descendents in the modern Celtic languages include:

  • beith = birch (tree), letter B in Ogham (ᚁ) in Irish
  • beithe [behə] birch, birch wood/forest in Scottish Gaelic
  • beih = birch (tree) in Manx
  • bedw [ˈbɛdʊ] = birch(es), birch grove, maypole, birch-rod in Welsh
  • besow = birches in Cornish
  • bezv [ˈbɛ(z)w] = birches in Breton

More details of words for birch in Celtic languages can be found in the Celtiadur post Birch (trees).

Words from the same Proto-Celtic roots, via Gaulish *bitu/betua and Latin *betius, include betulla (birch) in Italian, bouleau (birch) in French, βετούλη (vetoúli – birch) in Greek, and abedul (birch) in Spanish [source].

The botanical Latin name for the genus, Betula (birch), also comes from the same roots [source].

Incidentally, the English word birch comes from Middle English birche (birch), from Old English bierċe (birch), from Proto-West Germanic *birkijā (birch), from Proto-Germanic *birkijǭ (birch), from PIE *bʰerHǵos (birch), from *bʰerHǵ- (to shine, to gleam, whiten) [source].

Words from the same roots possibly include: bredh (fir tree) in Albanian, björk (birch) in Swedish, béržas (birch) in Lithuanian and březen (March) in Czech [source].

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.