On the Ted radio hour, linguist Ann.
Curzan says she gets a lot of.
Complaints about people using the pronoun they to refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but it can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is the history behind words causing a lot of debate.
That's on the Ted radio hour from NPR.
This is FRESH AIR.
I'm Terry Gross.
Leigh Bardugo is one of today's most successful and popular authors, working in the fantasy genre, writing books for both the adult and Ya markets.
She became famous for her shadow and bone novels, which took place in a world inspired by 19th century Russia.
They were adapted into a series for Netflix.
Her latest novel, the Familiar, takes place in 16th century Spain.
Bardugo spoke with our producer, Sam Brigar.
Here's Sam.
The heroine of the familiar is Lucia, a young woman with little prospects working in the kitchen of a not very important noble and his wife in Madrid.
However, Lucia has a secret.
She's able to perform small miracles, like when the cook burns the bread, she's able to unburn it.
Her secret is discovered by her employer, the haughty woman of the house, Dona Valentina, who imagines she will be able to rise in society having such a woman working for her.
But the story of Lucia's parlor trick, like miracles, travels fast, and members of King Philip II's court take notice.
Perhaps they think she can serve a larger purpose in the pursuits of Spain's empire.