Yes indeed: the linguistic podcast with the loveliest and expertest guests, an undeniably enthusiastic host, and distinctly okay audio editing is getting a fourth series! Three interviews recorded so far, first episode coming by the end of the month. Please hold me to that.

Thank you!! Being your favo(u)rite is an accolade that I treasure. This is very gracious

That "hence" is intentionally ambiguous in what relation it expresses – I presume that the lenga d'òc/Occitan at least get its name from a popular recognition of a distinctive feature, rather being down to Dante?

Dante also called Italy itself "bel paese là dove 'l sì suona" = "beautiful country where the sì resounds" in canto 33! (and of course sì is "yes" in Italian)

In Canto 18 of his Inferno, Dante puts a lot of people from Bologna in Hell, and mentions their local word for 'yes': sipa. Words for 'yes' matter to Dante; he's the first on record to recognise sì, òc and oïl as alternatives in Romance – hence the lenga d'òc (Occitan) and langues d'oïl in France.

Aha! This supports my hypothesis

Obviously – so, reading (1) isn't possible for you?

The "you bow to no one" bit in The Return of the King has me, amidst the usual tears, thinking about using it as an example of linguistic ambiguity. Do you take it to mean: 1) you are bowing to me, Aragorn, and I am no one compared with you 2) you are bowing, but there is no one you should bow to

"YOU’RE LISTENING TO SISYPHUS FM, THE HOME OF NON-STOP ROCK"

I'd say so, yes, a donation from Old Norse þorskr

It was always going to be a long shot! But I strongly recommend the book – do consider a Lingthusiasm episode on decipherment?

A big topic! On transliteration in general or on a language specifically, e.g. Tajik?

Thank you! I've had little luck in making events happen on my own, whereas personal endorsements have worked magic. If a bookshop or faculty in Durham is ever in need of an enthusiastic and reliably entertaining speaker, I'll be there

Closer, but could be closer still. I live in hope of an event that will take me back to Durham, somewhere I have nothing but fond memories of...

Do join!