This episode, and the next couple of episodes, are about word games! Today, Joshua Blackburn recounts how his sons' uninspiring English homework led to him inventing the language quiz game League of the Lexicon; and Kathryn Hymes and Hakan Seyalıoğlu of Thorny Games explain how they make topics like language loss and deciphering alien language into creative play. Get the transcript of this episode, and find links to more information about the topics therein, at theallusionist.org/wordplay2. Word Play part 1, featuring Leslie Scott from Oxford Games, is nine years down your podfeed. This episode was produced by me, Helen Zaltzman, with Martin Austwick of palebirdmusic.com. We'll be playing a space-themed show in the planetarium at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vancouver BC on 18 April 2024; get tickets via theallusionist.org/events. Become a member of the Allusioverse at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you get regular livestreams, insight into the making of this show, and watchalong parties - AND to hang out with your fellow Allusionauts in our delightful Discord community, where I am posting all my best/worst portmanteaus and portmantNOs. The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch via facebook.com/allusionistshow, instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow, twitter.com/allusionistshow etc. Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk lovingly and winningly about your product or thing on the show in 2024, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by: • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running your online empire. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. • Babbel, the language-learning app designed by real people for real conversations. Get up to 60% off your Babbel subscription at Babbel.com/allusionist.• Wildgrain, the subscription box for sourdough breads, fresh pastas, and artisanal pastries that you can cook from frozen in 25 minutes. Get $30 off your first box, PLUS free croissants in every box, when you start your subscription at Wildgrain.com/allusionist or use promo code ALLUSIONIST at checkout.• Home Chef, meal kits that fit your needs. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering Allusionist listeners 18 free meals, plus free shipping on your first box, and free dessert for life, at HomeChef.com/allusionist. Support the show: http://patreon.com/allusionist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This is the illusionist in which I, Helen Zaltzman, am checkmated by language.
This episode and the next couple are about word games fun today, well hear from game makers who've come up with very different approaches to making games about language.
In a way, this is a sequel to the episode featuring Leslie Scott, who invented Jenga when she was a teen and has since made dozens of other games including the word games Xlibris, anagram and Flummoxed.
That was episode 16 of the show, so were operating on a before sunset sequel.
Speed.
By the way, if youre in the UK you can listen to this show on BBC Sounds and you know who else is on there.
The Infinite Monkey cage.
The show hosted by Brian Cox, the celebrity physicist one, not the succession and manhunter one, and comedian Robin Ince.
And guess what?
My first ever professional radio recording was with none other than Robin Ince 19 years ago.
Wow.
And just look at him now.
Okay, listen to him now on the infinite monkey cage, the show wherein scientists and comedians look at science in a comedic way and consider matter dark and non dark, like the creatures that live in the deepest depths of the oceans, and how illusions work on our credulous human minds.
And whether fish can count.
And how big is big data?
Exactly.
And why do we laugh?
And what do astronauts really get up to in space?
Episodes are released on Wednesdays wherever you get your podcasts, but if you're in the UK, you can listen to the latest episodes a week early on BBC Sounds.
Speaking of astronauts, on the 18 April 2024, there is a special illusionist live show happening in the planetarium at the HR McMillan Space Centre in Vancouver, BC.