Podcast: Pathways Radio
Michael Erard: Babel No More: The Search for the World’s Most Extraordinary Language Learners
January 24, 2012
Today on Pathways we are visiting with Michael Erard, author of the new book, Babel No More: The Search for the World’s Most Extraordinary Language Learners. He has graduate degrees in linguistics and rhetoric from the University of Texas at Austin. He’s written about language, linguists, and linguistics for Science, Slate, Wired, The Atlantic, The New York Times, and New Scientist, among many other publications. Erard is a contributing writer for Design Observer and blogs for Psychology Today. He is also the author of Um…: Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders, and What They Mean. Erard speaks some Chinese and some Spanish but does not call himself trilingual. In the course of writing BABEL NO MORE, he had his own brain scanned, travelled to three continents and made a fool of himself – while thoroughly enjoying doing so – in Hindi, Italian, Spanish and other languages.
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About the interviewer: Paul O'Brien
Paul O'Brien has been the host of Pathways on Oregon's KBOO FM radio for over 25 years, an interview program focused on personal and cultural transformation. PaulO founded Tarot.com, authored the acclaimed book Divination, co-authored The Visionary I Ching, and currently writes the syndicated advice column Paulo's Perspective and the Decision Maker's Corner blog.
As an author, spirtual counselor, ordained New Thought minister, inspirational speaker and Executive Director of the non-profit Divination Foundation, Paulo's passion remains helping people fulfill their life purpose and master the art of being happy. When he's not doing all that, he's spending as much time with his grandson as time allows.
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