Do you ever struggle to communicate with your mom? Or feel like you and your spouse sometimes speak different languages? This week, we revisit a favorite conversation with linguist Deborah Tannen. She shows how our conversational styles can cause unintended conflicts, and what we can do to communicate more effectively with the people in our lives. Then, in an all-new installment of "Your Questions Answered," Emma Levine responds to your questions and stories about the psychology of lying. What should you do when you achieve a big goal, but it doesn't bring the satisfaction or happiness you t...
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B1 · Intermediate
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One of the most famous comedy sketches of the 20th century is built on a simple misunderstanding.
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Is this episode right for you?
B1 · Intermediate
Fine if you can follow simple news
- 85% of the words are B1 or easier.
- 156 words a minute: a natural pace.
- 316 harder words (B2 and up) in the whole episode.
Transcript
The opening of the episode. The whole transcript is in the player.
harder words (B2+)
This is Hidden Brain. I'm Shankar Vedantam. One of the most famous comedy sketches of the 20th century is built on a simple misunderstanding. We'll just pretend that we're organizing a baseball team here at the retired actors' hall. And I am the manager.
It's the routine from Abbott and Costello, who's on first. Well, let's see now. We have on our team, we have who's on first, what's on second, I don't know who's on third. That's what I want to find out the guy's name. That's what I want to find out the guy's name.
I'm telling you who's on first, what's on second, I don't know who's on third. The duo first performed the sketch in the 1930s and continued to refine it over the next two decades. They rarely did it the same way twice. You know the guy's name's on the baseball game?
That was the opening. The rest of the episode (98 min) is in the player: every word clickable, with translation, saved words and flashcards.
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