Michael Adams

Michael Adams, Professor of English Language and Literature at Indiana University, discusses the importance of foul language in popular speech in his book, "In Praise of Profanity."

Michael Adams is an associate Professor of English at Indiana University who studies one important intersection of language and identity: slang. He says slang keeps us sharp — and tha...

In the age of a far-reaching internet and high-stakes trademark disputes, new band titles have become notoriously difficult to come by. But does that excuse handles like “Babe Rainbow,” “Wakey! Wakey!” or “Ham Sandwich”? Chris Richards of the Washington Post joins us to discuss whether we have reached the new nadir of names. (P.S. Don’t even bother Googling it- The New Nadir is already taken.) Plus, linguistics professor Michael Adams of Indiana University gives us a lesson in onomastics, or the study of proper names.