I'm a university prof with a PhD in Medieval Studies. I use language, literature, and history to explore the web of connections in the world around us. Many of the videos on this channel start with a word as a jumping off point, with its history and etymology opening up a way to explore history and culture more widely. Others examine literary devices, cognitive science, myth, medieval literature, history of science, and a wide variety of other topics.

The "endless knot" is a common visual motif of an interconnected knot with no beginning or end, found in many cultures around the world. My use of the symbol is a reference to the 14th c. poem "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight", where it describes the pentangle which Gawain has emblazoned on his shield as a symbol of the interconnectedness of things. Here it also gains significance from its comparison to the cognitive science hexagram or heptagram which shows the interrelated nature of various fields in cognitive science.


Alliterative

ICYMI: The surprisingly connected origins of "cancel", "culture", “circumscribe”, and "polarize".

#etymology #culture #cancelculture #TaylorSwiftCancelled #CancelledSong

youtube.com/shorts/clTMW4H3MI...

13 hours ago | [YT] | 3

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The #ConnectedAtBirth #etymology of the week is FRANKENSTEIN/FRANCHISE/MONSTER/MONEY #wotd #Frankenstein #franchise #monster #money

4 days ago | [YT] | 21

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ICYMI: The surprisingly connected origins of "flu" and "influence". #etymology #fluseason #flushot
youtube.com/shorts/HGVoeIToed...

1 week ago | [YT] | 6

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The #ConnectedAtBirth #etymology of the week is CEASEFIRE/SUCCEED #wotd #ceasefire #succeed

1 week ago | [YT] | 23

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ICYMI: The surprisingly connected origins of "bicycle" and "wheel". #etymology
youtube.com/shorts/UsRgebYQhH...

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 7

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ICYMI: The surprisingly connected origins of "climate" and "lid". #etymology #climatechange
youtube.com/shorts/eaCWnTHDAi...

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 7

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ICYMI: The surprisingly connected origins of "in" and "inn". #etymology
youtube.com/shorts/QlrKOT-UFv...

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 4

Alliterative

Today is Goose Day when geese are often eaten for Michaelmas, so the #ConnectedAtBirth #etymology of the week is GOOSE/SMORGASBORD #wotd #goose #smorgasbord #gooseday #Michaelmas

1 month ago | [YT] | 13