The Hidden Grammar Rules We Use Without Realizing, with Author Mark Forsyth

🚀 Subscribe to the newsletter: https://sketchplanations.substack.com... 📚 Buy the book: https://sketchplanations.com/big-idea... 🖼️ Get a print: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/167... We speak with Mark Forsyth about the English language rules that are hidden in plain sight, including the remarkable rule all native English speakers follow without realising it: the (surprisingly strict) order of adjectives. What our special guest on this episode, award-winning author, journalist, and etymologist Mark Forsyth, doesn’t know about the English language simply isn’t worth knowing. We also dive into more wonders of the English language: why we say tick-tock (not tock-tick), how English naturally falls into rhythm (yes, even in everyday speech), and why poetry makes far more sense when you read it aloud. Plus, Mark shares the big idea behind his new book, Rhyme & Reason, and how poetry went from popular entertainment to something many of us feel put off by after school. Rhyme & Reason: A History of British Poetry (For People Who Don't Usually Read Poetry): https://geni.us/forsyth-rhyme-reason Episode Summary 00:00 Welcome & Introduction to Mark Forsyth: Wordsmith Extraordinaire 01:05 Mark Forsyth's Journey with the English Language 01:44 The Fascinating World of Words and Their Origins 02:27 Mark Forsyth's Books and Their Unique Insights 06:32 The Popularity of Poetry Through the Ages 11:06 The Decline of Poetry and Rise of Pop Lyrics 12:48 Exploring English Syntax and Adjective Order 15:03 The Intricacies of English Grammar 21:38 Fun with Language: Reduplication and Compounds 27:38 Rhyme and Reason: Poetry in Society 29:27 The Unsung Heroes of Songwriting 30:42 The Evolution of Poetry's Popularity 41:33 The Rhythms of English Language 50:54 The Charm of Limericks 54:49 The Joy of Reading Poetry Aloud 56:45 Closing Thoughts and Farewell Sketches mentioned: Ordering adjectives: https://sketchplanations.com/ordering... Chiasmus: https://sketchplanations.com/chiasmus Ablaut reduplication: https://sketchplanations.com/ablaut-r... And you can follow Mark's musings and love of language on: his blog The Inky Fool https://blog.inkyfool.com/ Twitter: https://x.com/Inkyfool and Instagram: Instagram: markforsythauthor All music on this podcast series is provided by ‪Franc Cinelli Product links may provide commission