The Allusionist

122. Ghostwriter

The word for ‘ghostwriter’ in French is a racist slur. How did THAT come about? And what word could French-speakers use instead? Ngofeen Mputubwele and Gregory Warner investigate. This piece originally aired on NPR’s Rough Translation; hear their new season at npr.org and on your pod app. Content note: the piece is about, and therefore contains, offensive terms. And towards the end of the episode, in the Minillusionist, I get into the racist violent etymology of the word ‘bulldozer’. Find more information about these topics and guests at theallusionist.org/ghostwriter. The Allusionist music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or on Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. He also composed the music for the new kids’ science podcast Maddie’s Sound Explorers. I make two other podcasts, <a href="http://vmipod.com">Veronica Mars Investigations</a> and <a href="http://answermethispodcast.com">Answer Me This</a>, which are soothingly escapist. The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.<a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist" rel="payment">Support the show: http://patreon.com/allusionist</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.