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Why is English so weird?

Michael Rosen hears why our language is messy from linguist Arika Okrent. Why do we say 'I climbed' not 'I clomb'? Why is there a 'p' in 'receipt'? Why is 'of' spelled with a 'f'?

Why do we say 'I climbed' not 'I clomb'? Why is there a 'p' in 'receipt' and not in 'deceit'? Why is 'of' spelled with a 'f' when it sounds like a 'v'?

Michael Rosen hears why from American linguist Arika Okrent. Together they talk about the strangeness of English and who is to blame for the mess.

Produced by Eliza Lomas for 大象传媒 Audio in Bristol.

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28 minutes

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