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 Tanya Mosley.
How did menstrual periods, a natural monthly occurrence for more than half of the population, become so taboo?
Periods.
Hmm.
Periods.
My palms are sweaty.
I feel awkward about it.
Cause it's really weird.
Like, there's a reason if you, like, cut yourself, then it starts bleeding.
But I don't really think there's a reason if you just start bleeding from your private.
I'm kind of nervous speaking about periods, to be honest.
Well, I call my period my evil best friend because she always come on time.
She give me a hard time.
And sometimes I'm happy to see her.