Thanks to the British Academy and to the Schröder Fund, University of Cambridge, for the financial support which made the podcast possible.

In this episode, we look at how patterns make us engage with our environment and how it applies to language. Rhythmic patterns can convey a lot of meaning – and breaking the pattern can be as pleasurable as following it. We try out some limericks and by using examples in other languages, we hear how the rhythm can create meaning, even when we don’t understand the words.

Presented by Hannah Morrison, produced by Carl Homer for Cambridge TV.

Linguists: Dr Charlotte Lee and Dr Timothy Chesters from the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, University of Cambridge

Guest:

Kelly Hunter, Flute Theatre: https://www.flutetheatre.co.uk/

Link to ‘Sie saßen und tranken am Teetisch’ (‘They talked of love and devotion’), by Heinrich Heine:

http://www.zeno.org/Literatur/M/Heine,+Heinrich/Gedichte/Buch+der+Lieder/Lyrisches+Intermezzo/50.+%5BSie+sa%C3%9Fen+und+tranken+am+Teetisch%5D

Here is a translation of the first verse (quoted in the podcast) by Hal Draper:

They talked of love and devotion

Over the tea and the sweets –

The ladies, of tender emotion;

The men talked like aesthetes.

Verse extracts:

English

‘Sonnet 73’, by William Shakespeare; read by Charlotte Lee.

Arabic

‘Bewildered’, by Abu Ala Al Ma'arri; read by Elmi Elmi.

Spanish

‘Pronuncia con sus nombres los trastos y miserias de la vida’ (Names life’s bits and bobs and misfortunes), by Francisco de Quevedo; read by Rodrigo Cacho.

English

‘Pat-a-Cake’ (Anon.); read by Elena Cicuta.

Watch the accompanying film, "Language and Rhythm": https://www.youtube.com/@mmllcambridge

For more information about languages in Cambridge: mmll.cam.ac.uk

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